Adobe Photoshop

**mumford** · 08-16-2006, 03:55 PM

Hi

I need to trace this location map www.clientpreview.co.uk/necr/map.png, I have downloaded Illustrator CS2, as it had the trace command with it, I have tried it and the result is not bad, but I dont know what to do next.

How do I edit certain paths etc, am I better off tracing the example by hand using the pen tool (although my illustrator skills are novice!), it just seems a very daunting task using the pen tool to do such an area.

Any help, or suggestions with this is really appreciated, as I need to crack this as soon as poss.

Thanks fo ryour help!

**LadynRed** · 08-16-2006, 05:52 PM

Do you need to recreated the ENTIRE map or just the major roads ??
If just the major roads, I would use the pen tool in Photoshop, I've done similar things before. You can use the pen tool in MAGNETIC mode and it works pretty handily, then you would only have minor adjustments to make to smooth it out.

**mumford** · 08-17-2006, 08:51 AM

Hi

The thing is it needs to be paths so it can be scalable, i am really struggling with this, everything I do looks really bad!

**LadynRed** · 06:55 PM

Doing that much with the pen tool is very tedious.

Do you have photoshop ??
If so, try this, it may get you started.

Open the PNG in PS
use your Magic Wand set to "add" mode
Select the colored roads with the magic wand, you'll get the selection borders. Keep adding until you've got them all outlined.
Go into your paths palette
Convert the selection to a path (3rd icon from the right at the bottom of the palette).
Now you have editable paths for the colored areas.
I would do the same then for the white roads, either in sections or all as one selection.
Once you've got the paths done, you can use the pen tool and the path editing tool to refine the lines.

It may not be perfect, but at least you have paths done and probably need minimal editing.
Oh yeah.. after you make each set of paths, duplicate the work path (drag it down to the new path icon) and label the new path. That way you will not lose your sections of work.

**mumford** · 08-19-2006, 08:26 AM

thanks i will give it a go