Instructions for using AI to define Bezier curves
You will probably have better results over all if you scan the image into
into photoshop, save it as a greyscale .tiff; make sure that the canvas
size matches the required window size in Processing. Place it into AI
as a linked file (described below). Dimming the picture on a locked layer
while tracing it on a new layer set to outline mode works the best.
- Start a new AI doc
- File -> Place
- Choose the file you scanned into photoshop
- Double-click on 'Layer 1' in your layers pallett
- Check both 'Lock' and 'Dim' then hit OK
- Create a new layer
- Hold command (ctrl on PC's) and click on the eyeball icon next to 'Layer 2.'
You are now set up to trace your scan. When you are done you are gonna delete
'Layer 1' by dragging it into the layers pallett's trash can. 'Layer 2' is now
in artwork mode so you can see the actual splines you are creating.
- Use the pen tool to create Bezier curves.
If you need help with the Pen Tool, the Illustrator Help page for the Pen Tool will be useful. The terminology is different for Adobe’s Bezier curves, i.e.,
- Control Points are called Direction Points
- End Points are called Anchor Points
- You can read the coordinates of each point in your trace inside
of AI or by saving the trace as a SVG file and reading the SVG file using
this guide.