Tracing Photo-1

Tracing Photo-1

Full detailed tutorial on how to draw and trace people from a photo. Learn how to create realistic illustration with just simple gradient fill. No massive Gradient Mesh!

Version: Illustrator 9+

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1. Place a photo

First place a photo in Layer 1 by File > Place or Copy & Paste from clip board. Double click on Layer 1 to change the Layer Options. Set Dim Images to: 30% and lock layer.

2. Start tracing

Make a new layer (Layer 2). Hold down Ctrl key and click on the eye icon of Layer 2 to view Layer 2 in Outline mode.

Use the Pen Tool and start tracing the basic features of the girl. While you are tracing, there are couple shortcut keys you should know in order to work more faster.

These shortcuts are:

• Ctrl+[ = Send Backward (This will send object back 1 step)
• Ctrl+] = Bring Forward (This will bring object front 1 step)
• Ctrl+Shift+[ = Send to Back (This will send object all the way to the back)
• Ctrl+Shift+] = Bring to Front (This will bring object all the way to the front)
• Ctrl+F = Paste in Front (This will paste object in front with same position)