How to Vectorize an Image in Photoshop 2025,
Therefore, Photoshop is primarily a raster graphics editor, so it doesn’t have a direct “vectorize” tool like Adobe Illustrator’s Image Trace. Instead, vectorizing an image in Photoshop involves manually tracing the raster image using vector-based tools to create paths and vector masks.
How to Vectorize an Image in Photoshop 2025,
Therefore, here’s the general method to “vectorize” an image using Paths and Vector Masks in Photoshop 2025:
🎨 Key Vectorization Steps in Photoshop:
- Prepare the Image and Selection
- Therefore, open your image in Photoshop.
- Isolate the subject: Use a selection tool (like the Object Selection Tool, Magic Wand, or Select Subject) to accurately select the part of the image you want to vectorize.
- Therefore, Right-click on the active selection and choose “Make Work Path…”
- In other words, A small window will appear asking for a Tolerance value. A value of 1.0 pixels usually works well for creating a relatively smooth path. Click OK. This converts the selection into a temporary vector path visible in the Paths Panel.
- Create a Vector Mask
- Therefore, ensure your image layer is selected in the Layers Panel.
- In other words, select the Pen Tool (P) from the Toolbar.
- Right-click directly on the image canvas (or the selected path).
- In other words, from the context menu, select “Create Vector Mask.” This step converts the path into a Vector Mask on your layer, effectively creating an infinitely scalable outline of your image’s subject.
Vectorize an Image in Photoshop 2025,
- Refining and Exporting
- Therefore, you can now use the Direct Selection Tool (white arrow, under the Path Selection Tool) to click on and adjust the individual anchor points and curves of the Vector Mask for a cleaner, more refined vector look.
- In other words, to save the vector path data for use in true vector programs like Illustrator, go to File > Export > Paths to Illustrator… and save the file as an .AI (Adobe Illustrator) or .EPS file.
- Alternatively, you can save the whole file as a Photoshop EPS to retain the vector mask when opening in other programs (Go to File > Save a Copy… and choose Photoshop EPS as the format).
How to Vectorize an Image in Photoshop 2025,
💡 Important Considerations:
- Photoshop vs. Illustrator: While this method creates vector paths for the mask, Photoshop remains a raster editor. For complex vector work, like creating logos or illustrations that require true infinite scaling without any pixel data, Adobe Illustrator is the industry-standard software and has dedicated, automated vectorization tools (Image Trace).
- Vector Shape Tools: You can also use Photoshop’s dedicated Shape Tools (Rectangle Tool, Ellipse Tool, Pen Tool in Shape mode) to create native vector shapes directly, which are infinitely scalable within Photoshop.
This video demonstrates a process similar to the one described for converting a subject selection into a vector mask in Photoshop.
