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Author scanning & masking?
Sharon_L_Benedict@adobeforums.com

2006-08-23, 7:06 pm

i've found this forum so helpful so forgive me for asking multiple questions that may not all have to do specifically with illustrator.

1. i'm scanning some drawings that will be multiple layers over an original map image. re: scanning - these are drawn on tracing paper and i will need to change the color of the lines and shapes once scanned. it needs to be high quality and preserve the "
by hand" illusion. should i scan at 24-bit color or color smoothing?

2. what is the best way to trace the drawing so that i can then adjust color, transparency, etc? a mask? a path? live trace?

thanks!
sharon
Scott_Falkner@adobeforums.com

2006-08-23, 7:06 pm

Bit depth is irrelevant if you are re-tracing with Illustrator's pen or pencil tools, which is what I would do.

Scan. Place the scan on a Template layer (select Template in the Layers palette menu) and work or layers above the template layer. Keep like items on their own layers. So, one layer for major roads, one for minor roads or side roads, one for rivers and la
kes (or one for each) one for highway symbols, one for text, one for boundaries, etc.

Use Graphic Styles to format everything. This ensure consistency (all Interstate highways will look the same) and makes for easier alterations, since a change to the Graphic Style will propagate to the artwork, maintaining consistency and saving a lot of
work changing all those roads.
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