Working with Images in Illustrator

[scotman]

Hey guys, i figured this was the best place to put this. I use ilustrator for my designing. For the most part. I just love the great vector resolution. My problem is that when i design this PHENOMINAL piece that wont have any pixels because of vector, WHEN I WANT to combine an image into illustrator the image is either blocky, choppy, etc. It just doesnt look good inside of illustrator. Like when i rescale it in AI it messes up the picture.

How do I work with pictures inside of AI. Or do i need to export my AI file into a PSD format and then add my images. BUT, do i lose my vector graphics and lose quality when it goes to print. Please Help.

[SMGINC]

Best bet is to leave the vectors in illustrator and the photos in photoshop though to make it as simple as possible. You can save vector files as smart objects and then import that smart object into photoshop. If you want to make changes to the vector file for any reason just go back into illustrator open up the smart object and edit away, the changes upon saving your work will automatically update in photoshop. hope this helped.

[scotman]

ok, sayi have a page layout. the grunge etc. how do i export the smart objects for best import. I thought that was the way i had to go, just wasnt 100% sure of how... Nice. Finally a 2 year old problem solved

cheers

[scotman]

i just tried placing the AI file into PS. but i get the issue that when i zoom to anything more than 100% its pixelated. is there a way to be able to get my AI artowork to come in as paths, that no matter how much i scale or zoom no pixels. (just how it is in AI) maybe im trying to accomplish something thats not possible. i just want to the best resolution possible. with my text, graphics, and images. thanks

[milksac]

Text and graphics will scale up cleanly using smart vector objects as described by SMGINC. However images (photos or other raster based images) have a fixed resolution.


WHEN I WANT to combine an image into illustrator the image is either blocky, choppy, etc. It just doesnt look good inside of illustrator. Like when i rescale it in AI it messes up the picture.
You can't simply throw a photo into AI and turn it into a vector image. It doesn't work that way. If you need the ability to zoom in on your photos you'll need to start with high resolution photos.

If you have a lot of spare time on your hands and a desire to learn to use AI's gradient mesh tool you can turn photo's into vector images.
Take a look at this: Warning some images are NSFW
http://www.hemmy.net/2008/03/26/photo-realistic-vector-art/

[scotman]

Im sorry for not explaining it right. I tried exporting my AI graphics out for PS. But my illustrator vector graphics are now pixelated in PS. SHould paths in AI be paths in PS. After reading SMG he said that its best to use photos in PS.. so after i design my page in AI i then want to take it to PS for adding the high res graphics.

Thats where it stands right now. Im not trying to convert images into vector. Thats way to hard and time consuming for me. I just want my layouts to look as sharp and clear as a ESPN magazine etc.

[milksac]

Yeah, I misunderstood what you were asking. I don't know - it's working fine here. I simply copy and paste from AI to PS. When you paste into PS it asks, Paste as: Smart Object, Pixels, Path or Shape Layer. Smart objects should get the job done.

[Kyle Stebbins]

My advice:

Design your vector art in Illustrator, your photos in Photoshop, and piece your document together in InDesign.

InDesign will retain the infinite resolution of your vector components, and the finite resolution (preferably as high as you can get... edit in full resolution in PS) of your photos. If there is one thing I can't stress enough, it is to take FULL advantage of Adobe Creative Suite's seamless integration and flow between all applications.

It sounds like you are designing some sort of page layout, so this method is most ideal for you.

I always think of it like this:

Photoshop - Photos
Illustrator - Vectors
InDesign - EVERYTHING (plus text!)

Let me know if you have any more questions.

[Kyle Stebbins]

http://www.hemmy.net/2008/03/26/photo-realistic-vector-art/

Those are some freakin fantastic pieces!!!! Thanks for sharing!!