To vectorize an image in Illustrator, place the image, select it, click Image Trace in the Properties panel (or choose Object > Image Trace > Make), fine tune the result in the Image Trace panel, then choose Object > Image Trace > Expand to turn the trace into editable paths. That is the whole process. The rest of this guide covers which preset to pick, how to clean up the result, and how to export it the right way for DTF printing.
- Tool
- Image Trace
- Quick start
- Object > Image Trace > Make
- Full controls
- Window > Image Trace
- Make it editable
- Object > Image Trace > Expand
- DTF export
- Transparent PNG, 300 DPI at print size
Why vectorize at all?
A raster image (JPG, PNG, a screenshot, a phone photo of a sketch) is a grid of pixels. Blow it up past its native size and edges go soft and blocky. A vector is built from math: paths, points, and fills. You can scale it to a full back print or shrink it to a pocket logo and the edges stay crisp.
For shirt printing, vectorizing is most useful when:
- You only have a small or blurry logo. A clean trace gives you sharp edges at any size.
- You want to recolor the art. Once expanded, every shape is a fill you can change in a click.
- You need to remove a background. Tracing with Ignore White drops the white box behind a logo.
It is not magic. Photos with soft gradients, skin tones, and fine texture do not trace well. For those, you are usually better off upscaling the raster file instead. Our guide on how to make an image 300 DPI covers that route.
How to vectorize an image in Illustrator, step by step
- Place the image. Open a new document, then use File > Place to bring in your raster file. Start with the largest, cleanest version you have. A trace can only be as good as its source.
- Select it. Click the image with the Selection tool.
- Run a trace. You have three ways in. Choose Object > Image Trace > Make to trace with default settings. Or click the Image Trace button in the Properties panel (or the Control panel) and pick a preset. Or open Window > Image Trace to get the full panel with every option.
- Pick a preset. Start with the preset that matches your art (see the list below), then adjust.
- Adjust the settings. In the Image Trace panel, open Advanced and tweak Paths, Corners, and Noise until the edges look right.
- Expand. Choose Object > Image Trace > Expand. The trace becomes regular vector paths you can select and edit.
- Ungroup and clean up. Expanded traces come in as a group. Ungroup, delete stray shapes, and fix colors.
Which Image Trace preset to use
Illustrator ships with a set of presets. These are the ones you will reach for most when prepping shirt art:
| Preset | Best for |
|---|---|
| Black and White Logo | One color logos, text, stamps |
| 3 Colors, 6 Colors, 16 Colors | Flat illustrations and multi color logos |
| Line Art / Technical Drawing | Hand drawn sketches and outlines |
| Shades of Gray | Grayscale art with a few tones |
| High Fidelity Photo / Low Fidelity Photo | Photo style art (expect heavy files) |
A practical rule: use the lowest color count that still looks right. A 4 color logo traced at 16 Colors gives you dozens of near duplicate shades and tiny slivers along every edge. Start low and work up.
The Image Trace settings that matter
Open Window > Image Trace and expand the Advanced section. These are the settings worth learning:
- Mode and Colors. Black and white, grayscale, or color, plus how many colors the trace can use.
- Paths. How tightly the paths hug the original pixels. Higher is more accurate but can turn edges lumpy. More is not always better.
- Corners. How much Illustrator respects sharp corners. Lower values round them off, which can soften blocky lettering.
- Noise. Ignores specks smaller than the set size. Raise it to clean up JPG artifacts and paper texture, but too high and small details vanish.
- Method. One option cuts shapes so they sit side by side, the other stacks shapes on top of each other. Side by side shapes usually give cleaner files for print.
- Fills and Strokes. For most shirt art, trace with fills only. Strokes add extra shapes that complicate the file.
- Snap Curves To Lines. Straightens curves that are almost straight. Great for geometric logos, not for organic drawings.
- Ignore White. Drops white areas from the result so you do not get a white box behind your art. Turn this on for almost every DTF trace.
Toggle the Preview checkbox so you can see changes as you go, and zoom in to 200% or more on edges and small text before you commit.
Cleaning up the trace
Even a good trace needs a few minutes of cleanup. After you expand and ungroup:
- Delete stray specks. Zoom in and remove tiny shapes floating around the art. They will print.
- Merge near duplicate colors. Select one shape, use Select > Same > Fill Color, and recolor them all at once.
- Check for leftover white. If you skipped Ignore White, white shapes will print as white ink on the shirt. Delete any you do not want.
- Fix lettering. Traced text is rarely perfect. If you know the font, retyping it is often faster and cleaner than fixing traced letters.
- Thicken thin lines. Very fine hairlines are hard to print and press on any transfer. Bulk them up where you can.
Exporting a vectorized image for DTF
Your vector file is the master. What you send for DTF printing is a high resolution transparent PNG made from it. We recommend a transparent PNG at 300 DPI at the size you want it printed. Full details are on our artwork specs page.
- Set the artboard to print size. If you want a 10 inch wide chest print, make the art about 10 inches wide and fit the artboard to it (Object > Artboards > Fit to Artwork Bounds).
- Export. Choose File > Export > Export As, pick PNG as the format, and check Use Artboards so it exports the artboard area.
- Set PNG options. Set Resolution to 300 ppi, set Background Color to Transparent, and leave anti-aliasing on for smooth edges.
- Check the file. Open the PNG and confirm the background is transparent and the pixel size makes sense. A 10 inch wide print at 300 DPI is 3000 pixels wide. You can run it through our DPI checker to be sure.
If your design was placed as a linked image before tracing, make sure nothing in the final file still points to an outside file. Our guide on how to embed images in Illustrator explains linked versus embedded art.
Common Image Trace problems
The trace looks blobby
Your source is too small or too compressed. Find a larger original, or upscale the raster first, then trace again.
There are hundreds of colors
You used a photo preset or a high color count. Switch to a lower color preset and raise Noise.
The background came along with the art
Turn on Ignore White in the Advanced settings, or delete the background shapes after expanding.
Image Trace is grayed out
Image Trace only works on raster images. If you selected a vector object, a group, or nothing at all, the option will not be available.
FAQ
Where is Image Trace in the current version of Illustrator?
Select a placed raster image and click Image Trace in the Properties panel, choose Object > Image Trace > Make, or open the full controls with Window > Image Trace.
Do I have to expand the trace?
Only if you want to edit the paths. Until you expand, the trace is still a live tracing object tied to the original image. Expand when you are happy with the settings.
Do I need to send a vector file for DTF?
No. For DTF, send a transparent PNG at 300 DPI at print size. Vectorizing is just a good way to get clean, sharp art before you export that PNG.
Can I vectorize a photo?
You can, but photo traces get heavy and usually look posterized. For photo prints, upscale the raster image and send it as a high resolution PNG instead.
Turn your trace into transfers
Export your cleaned up art as a transparent PNG and drop it on a gang sheet. Orders placed before 1PM PT ship the same business day.