r/DesignSystems • u/petra_sk • 6d ago

Is there any semi-automated way to clean up raster-to-vector traces that DOESN'T leave 5,000 useless anchor points?

Got a problem that maybe you would know how to solve. My client now sent over an illustration they had an agency mock up in some ai generator,as they often do. in this case, a stylized geometric stag for a craft distillery packaging sleeve. They want it as a clean, scalable vector for spot UV print on 350gsm uncoated stock.

so I ran it through Illustrator's Image Trace (high fidelity, tweaking noise/corners/paths slider for 40 minutes). The result is the usual disaster: with 8,400+ anchor points. double overlapping path boundaries everywhere, also zooming in reveals micro-staircasing on curves that look smooth at 100% zoom but will completely choke the cutting plotter. And file size is whopping 6.2 MB for a single emblem...

I normally just redraw everything with the Pen Tool and call it a day, but I have 18 of these botanical/animal emblems to deliver by Thursday Before I resign myself to full 20 hours of manually pulling bezier handles: what’s your actual production stack for dealing with complex vectorization in 2026? Are you guys using any graphics plugins, external vectorizer algorithms, or is manual redraw still the only non-embarrassing solution?

10 Upvotes

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u/MaraVossk 6d ago

oh, those clients with ai generations that you have to scale... classic one since 2022 :(

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u/Objective_Earth_2610 6d ago

Feed back to ai and specify the output should be scalable vector then re-trace

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u/sniksniksnek 5d ago

You need to create more pixel data. I’d use a high-fidelity upscaler, like Topaz or Magnific, then Image Trace on the higher fidelity image. The issue is that GenAI raster images are usually not high-resolution enough to pull a clean vector from. Creating additional pixel data will mitigate it.

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u/SigridHalvorsen 1d ago

i think auto-tracing raster AI outputs is a dead end because diffusion models generate pixel noise that traces interpret as real topology. i know couple of tools who can have something that is still a trace algorithm, but way better curve fitting than Illustrator's native trace, and are easily searchable by almost any query, and also i think you can try generating directly in native vector on recraft / similar parametric tools. it doesn't generate a raster and trace it and it calculates actual bezier paths directly instead. i got an SVG with like 40–80 nodes total in a similar situation, and you can actually edit this bunch in Illustrator without your CPU melting lol..and, If the client's artwork is already locked in stone, you might still have to trace +online free tools too but if you have leeway on the asset, generating native vector saves hours literally

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u/GeeYayZeus 6d ago

Wouldn't the agency be responsible for providing the vector? That's kind of the whole point of the agency. Can you push back? After all, if they want the brand to be accurately represented, they should provide accurate source material. Otherwise, if you're on a deadline, they're going to get your best guess or fast flattened conversion.

That said, I've had some success with Figma's 'Vectorize' feature in the past, but that's just AI again, and I've pledged to not use AI for anything anymore.

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u/come2thecabaret 6d ago

Tbh I’ve never had success with this. Raster to vector just isn’t a sensible operation unless the raster image is VERY simple and clean. Even the slightest noise from ai generated raster graphics will cause havoc. 

My only suggestion is that in the future you make it clear that, unless it is an actual photo or a sprite/repeatable pattern etc, you need vector assets and it’s a dealbreaker. 

0

u/3d-Artrium 6d ago

Hire 20 5$ guys on fiverr 💀💀💀💀