Low Quality Raster LOGO Reconstruction in Vector Format

Preparation

For this assignment, I was given a horrible quality Batman logo, and the goal was to deliver a high quality Batman logo. While scanning this photo, I set the resolution to 600, the color mode to greyscale since there is no color to the picture, and scaled at 100%. After selecting the preferred area of the I wanted to scan, I saved the scan as a descriptive name, location, and as a TIFF file.

Bad Quality TIFF File (Original)

Clean Up in Photoshop

In Photoshop, I made sure that the color mode was still in greyscale. Next I adjusted the leaves of the image to clear out the background from the pixels. I found that if I moved the level options to the the middle, I found that it made the background more white, and still maintaining the logo. I also changed the the width to 8600.

Cleaned Up Photoshop Logo

Live Trace in Illustrator

After Photoshop, I opened up the cleaned logo from Photoshop into Adobe Illustrator. In the Image Trace dropbox, I selected Black and White Logo and hit expand. It made the image look better and I'd recommend doing this step to others.

Live Trace Batman Logo

Logo Reconstruction Using the Pen Tool in Illustrator

I opened a new document in Adobe Illustrator using the live trace image file. Next, I used the Pen Tool to draw an oval like the one in the Batman logo using only 2 anchor points. By starting at the middle of the logo, I started my line. Using the shift key, it straightens out your line when you're about to curve it. I clicked and dragged the curve so it outlined the left side of the logo to the middle of the bottom of the logo. I clicked and dragged the curve and then connected it to the anchor. After aligning the oval with the Batman logo, I added the a black stroke it that had 25 pts, and a yellow fill.

It was time to move onto outlining the bat. Using the Pen Tool, I started at a point on the bat, connected it to an area diagonal of it, and clicked and dragged the curve. I repeated this method all around the bat until I connected it to the initial anchor.Once I got around the entire bat, I shaped up the curves to fit the bat better, and adding and subtracting the anchors where it needed, and used the command and option keys. 

Finally put the stroke of the bat to black, I moved the Bat logo in front of the oval, and created a new and improved Batman Logo.

Pen Tool Batman Logo

File Formats

The file formats that I used during this assignment was a TIFF, PSDs, AIs, and JPGS. I used the TIFF format after I scanned the logo into the computer. I saved as PSD on the files I used in Photoshop and also saving the file as a JPG for sending purposes.  I saved as AI on the files I used in Adobe Illustrator and also saving the file as a JPG for sending purposes. 

Advice on Vector Creation

I would advice anyone that you're not going to get it all right in the first time you try it. Practice makes better and keep trying until you get it right. 

Vector File Size Comparison

 Simple Vector

I opened a new document in Adobe Illustrator using Photoshop selfie. I Image Traced and selected 3 colors and hit expand. After I saved the image, I went under the Object drop list, path, simplify and the checked the preview to get the number of points the image has. This image has 1,234 pts, and the file size is 2.7 MB. This file size is smaller than the Complex image because it uses less colors and no High Fidelity.

Complex Vector

I replaced my Photoshop selfie in a new document. Now I Image traced the image and changed the preset settings to High Fidelity which makes the quality of the image better. Once I saved the image, I went under the Object drop list, path, simplify and the checked the preview to get the number of points the image has. This image has 6,533 pts, and the file size is 2.7 MB. This file size is bigger than the Simple vector because it's of a higher quality image.

Line Vector

I opened a new letter sized document in Adobe Illustrator and created a curved line that has only 2 anchors using the Pen Tool. To make the image have 10 pts, go to the Windows tab and click Stroke. Next, where it says weight, change the point size to 10 pts. After saving this, I went under the Object drop list, path, simplify and the checked the preview to get the number of points the image has. This image has 2 pts, and the file size is 1.6 MB.

Vectorize Raster Logos

Rastering RGB and Indexed Increased Resolution Quality Comparison

Sony Logo in RGB

For this logo, I saved the photo in RGB color mode. By making the color mode RGB, it creates a smoother edges than the indexed color. Since the image is in RGB, that creates more colors.

Sony Logo in Indexed color

For this logo, I set the color mode for this image in Indexed Color. The problem with saving as an Indexed Color is that it makes the edges of the image look unsmooth. Also, by using Indexed Color, there are only two color values for that color mode. It's better to save this kind of logo in RGB so that you'll have a higher selection of colors. By saving it as a GIF, it makes the image safe to send, and you always save an Indexed Color image as a GIF.

High Quality RGB Converted to Vector 

 What really makes a difference in the quality of the image better is by saving the image as High Fidelity Quality and changing it to an RGB color mode. By saving the color mode in RGB in Photoshop, it the create more color options to 256 colors while you're saving the image as a GIF while in Adobe Illustrator. When Image Tracing, by changing the preset to High Fidelity Quality, it makes the quality of the image even better and smoother. The Older Sony Logo is jagged around the image, not as clear, and not something you'd want to use as a printed logo.

Sony Logo Bad Quality

Vector and Raster Logos

This assignment was designed to show us the importance of vectorizing an image, an rasterizing it. First I opened up a logo into Adobe Illustrator. The image was too big, so to reduce it, I held down the shift key so that the image kept it's ratio. Next I hit the Trace Image, and adjusted the amount of colors I wanted. After I that I preset the image to high fidelity which makes the image quality better. Then I hit expand and that vectorizes the image. The issue I had while working in this assignment was that I saved all my files and didn't select high fidelity, so I had to redo my images.

Apple Logo with 32 colors

I decided to save this as a gif with 32 colors so that it can make the quality of the photo better and less jagged.

Batman Logo with 16 colors

The image only has two colors, so to save it, I saved it as a Gif so that I can adjust the amount of colors the image has. 

Firefox Logo with 16 colors

The raster version.

Sony Logo with 16 colors

The raster version.

Pen Tool

For this exercise, we used the pen tools to create different shapes in Adobe Illustrator. This assignment was designed to make us adjusted to using the pen tool, and learning the different effects that this tool can bring to design. I liked this assignment because I really had to learn from the computer, rather than relying on someone else's assistance. Below are the following effects that I created using the Pen Tool.

Geometric Rectangle

By using the Pen Tool, on an open document, click anywhere, drag the line, and click. Keep doing this until you get your desired geometric shape.

Curved Organic Shape

Using the Pen Tool, anywhere on a document, click and then hold down the mouse while dragging the line to make it curve. Also holding the shift key down will help you get this effect. I initially had problems with making mine curve until I finally figured out the method that worked best for me.

Straight Line with a Curved Arrow at the End

In the Pen Tool, create a straight line, after, go into your windows tab and check "Stroke". Then you will find options for arrowheads and select the curved arrow.

Curved Line with Curved Arrow at the Start

Using the Pen Tool, create a curved line. Next, go into your windows tab and check "Stroke". Then you will find options for arrowheads and select the curved arrow.

3 Point Curved Line with Different Stroke Type

Once again, create a curved line with the Pen Tool. Then, go into your windows tab and check "Stroke". You will find options for arrowheads and customize to your liking. On that palette, make sure where it says "Dashed Line" is checked. Underneath you can input how many points you want the line to be.

Add Anchor Point Tool

By right clicking the Pen Tool in the Tool Bar, select Add Anchor Point Tool. This allows you to add more curves to your line by selecting the anchor points of the line. 

Delete Anchor Point Tool

By right clicking the Pen Tool in the Tool Bar, select Delete Anchor Point Tool. This tool deconstructs the curves which makes the line become straighter. To achieve this click on the anchors of the curve and hold down the shift key.

 

Command Tool

This tool rotates the vector over the x-axis.

Shapes in Adobe Illustrator

Shapes

This assignment is designed to become familiar with the different kinds of shape tools in Adobe Illustrator. I decided to create an image of a house and the environment that was made up all of the shapes required, and then label them on the photo as well.

Rectangle shape

To achieve this shape, I simply used the Rectangle tool.

Perfect Square shape

In order to create a perfect square, you need to click on the Rectangle Tool, and press down the shift key.

Rounded Rectangle Tool

To achieve this tool, I simply used the Rounded Rectangle Tool.

Elliptical Tool

I used the Ellipse Tool.

Circle Tool

To create a perfect circle, hold down the shift key when using the Ellipse Tool.

Polygon with 6 Sides

To create a polygon with 6 sides, click the Polygon Tool, click anywhere on the document, and an option tab will pop up and you can adjust the number of sides you'd like to have.

Polygon with 3 sides

To create a polygon with 3 sides, click the Polygon Tool, click anywhere on the document, and an option tab will pop up and you can adjust the number of sides you'd like to have.

Star with 5 points

To create a star with 5 points, click the Star Tool, click anywhere on the document, and an option tab will pop up and you can adjust the number of points.

Star with 6 points

To create a star with 6 points, click the Star Tool, click anywhere on the document, and an option tab will pop up and you can adjust the number of points.

Flare Shape

While using the Flare Tool, click on an area in the document and the Flare Tool options will pop up. You will then have the option to adjust the center, the number of rays, the growth (size), and the halo of the flare.

Option Tool

When using any of shapes, by holding down the option key on a selected shape, it creates a duplicate shape.