Optimize Your Image Before Using PowerTRACE to Trace Bitmap in Corel Draw!

CorelDRAW lets you trace bitmaps to convert them to fully editable and scalable vector graphics. You can trace scanned sketches, artwork, digital photos, and logos and easily integrate them into your designs.

Before you trace a bitmap, it's recommended that you optimize the bitmap first. Consider the following tips:

• Use high-quality source bitmaps. If dithering or JPEG compression was used in the source bitmap, it may contain additional noise. For best traced results, remove the noise before tracing the bitmap.You may choose Edit Bitmap option to do it.
• You can adjust the traced results at any time, including during a trace, by changing the settings in PowerTRACE.
• To trace a specific area in a bitmap, you can use the Shape tool to define the area before clicking Bitmaps > Trace bitmap.
• If important detail has been removed from the traced results, disable the Remove background check box on the Options page of PowerTRACE. Also, you can try enabling the Specify color option on the Options page and sample the color you want to specify as a background color.
• If background color is removed around the edges but remains in inside areas, enable the Remove from entire image check box.
• If too many colors or details are removed, make sure that the Number of colors box is set to the maximum number of colors.
• To preserve detail in bitmaps that have fine details, thin lines, and no anti-aliasing applied, choose Line art from the Type of image list box on the Options page.

To trace a bitmap in PowerTRACE
1. Select a bitmap.
2. Click Bitmaps > Trace bitmap, and click one of the following:

• Line art — to trace black-and-white sketches and illustrations
• Logo — to trace simple logos with little detail and few colors
• Detailed logo — to trace logos containing fine detail and many colors
• Clipart — to trace ready-to-use graphics containing a varying amount of detail and number of colors
• Low quality image — to trace photos that lack fine detail or in which the fine detail is not important
• High quality image — to trace high-quality detailed photos in which detail is important

3. Move either of the following sliders:

• Smoothing — lets you smooth curved lines and control the number of nodes in the traced result. Higher values result in fewer nodes and produce curves that follow lines in the source bitmap less closely. Lower values result in more nodes and produce more accurate trace results.
• Detail — lets you control how much of the original detail is preserved in the traced result. Higher values maintain more detail and result in a greater number of objects and colors; lower values discard some detail and result in fewer objects.

You can also

• Change the preset style - Choose a preset style from the Type of image list box.
• Keep the source bitmap after a trace - In the Options area, disable the Delete original image check box.
• Discard or preserve the background in the traced result - Enable or disable the Remove background check box.
• Specify the background color you want to remove - Enable the Specify color option, click the Eyedropper tool, and click a color in the preview window. To specify an additional background color to remove, hold down Shift, and click a color in the preview window. The last specified color is displayed beside the Eyedropper tool.
• Remove a background color from the entire image - Enable the Remove color from entire image check box.
• Undo or redo an action - Click the Undo or Redo button.
• Revert to the first traced result - Click Reset.