How to convert a bitmap image into a line drawing

Adobe Illustrator

🕑 This lesson will take about 5 minutes

Converting a bitmap image to a line drawing in Adobe Illustrator is a useful technique for creating clean, scalable graphics from photographs or other bitmap images. By converting the image to a line drawing, you can create a vector graphic that can be resized and edited without losing quality. You can also create drawings suitable for laser engraving or laser cutting.

In this lesson, you will learn how to convert a bitmap image to a line drawing in Illustrator.

Step 1

Create a new document in Adobe Illustrator

Step 2

Copy the image you would like to use and paste it into your Adobe Illustrator document.

Step 3

From the top menu, click on Object > Image Trace > Make and Expand.

If you are using a sharp, clean image then Illustrator should detect the shape and make a vector graphic from it. You will notice that Illustrator makes a black and white version of the image. This technique won’t work well with images that are very detailed, highly compressed or of low resolution/quality.

You can now change the Fill and Stroke Colours of the shape and use the Direct Selection Tool to manipulate the different lines and points on the shape.