Expert: Amy - 4/19/2007

Question
Hi Amy,

Needing a bit of help using the "Auto Trace" tool in Illustrator 9.0. I have an embedded CMYK image and I need to create a White Flood that will lay behind the image for specific printing purposes.... I have never mastered the "Auto Trace" tool.... I need the simpiest and quickest way to achieve this...
Thanks so much for your help.
Valerie

Answer
HI Valerie -

The autotrace tool in 9 is not that wonderful. It rarely does what you need it to do. If the shape is simple, it works all right. You still need to clean up the path after you create it. If the shape is complicated, it's usually best to search for other methods of accomplishing the task, honestly.

I think, from what you describe, that you'd be better off creating the flood fill in PhotoShop, using the original image as a starting point and saving as a tif.

Or you could use the pencil tool and draw the outline of the flood fill behind your image if it's simple enough.

Maybe there's another way of doing what you're trying to do? Opacity masks, for example? Maybe if you tell me a little about why you need to do it, I can help you better?

You can write me at AmyLynPace@yahoo.com and attach the file if you like!

-Amy