Vectorizing images with gradients and soft color blends into line art graphics using 100% vectors

If the original image to be vectorized has soft color blends and gradients and it needs to be changed to a line art graphic (or 100% vector art) which does not use color blends - the new vector image will look considerably different.

If you need a vector image WITH soft color blends and gradients, see other options for vectorizing full color images and images with gradients and soft color blends.

Some processes like sign cutting and engraving require 100% vector line art graphics. See samples below:

vectorization of full color image into vector spot color line art graphic

Vectorization of full color image into vector lineart

sample of an image with gradients vectorized as line art

Vectorization of full color image with soft color blends and gradients into a line art graphic with solid Pantone colors

vector line graphic without drop shadow effect

sample of an image with highlights and shadows vectored into a line art graphic

Sample of a full color image vectorized as line art graphic

The original image below left uses black to white color gradients. The vector file on the right uses no graduation from one color to another but distinct areas of different shades.

vectorized sample of a line art graphic image

The samples on the left are the original full color images. The samples on the right side have been vectorized by manually drawing the image using a vector program.

If your original image is a full color image and you need a vector graphic that uses a limited amount of colors (spot color separation) your new vector image will also have to be changed to a line art graphic. CMYK vs SPOT color separation.

Vector programs do have the ability to create gradients, soft color blends like shadows and highlights but this is accomplished by using raster effects within the vector program. Images with raster effects are not considered 100% vector art.

Vector conversion to vector illustration with raster effects

If you need a vector image WITH soft color blends and gradients, see other options for vectorizing full color images and images with gradients and soft color blends.

See general samples
See line art samples
See vector illustrations
Tracing photographs

Note: Vector images do not display on the web therefore all images on this website have been rasterized as pixel graphics for you to see. The actual vector files can only be viewed with a vector program and do not lose quality when scaled or zoomed.