Soft 3Ds awfully nice Autotrace feature

[janina-overley]

Hi there

Does anyone know if XSI has any equivalent to Soft3Ds Autotrace tool?

Alternatively has anyone come across a plugin or similar that does the job?

All help appreciated

jON

[richard-sher]

I normally use the autotrace function in Photoshop and export the selection as an eps to XSI.

I've found that the autotrace function in Photoshop is much better than the one that was in the old SI3D anyway.

[janina-overley]

Thanks Ed, that's useful to know.

I've actually just been trying to do this, but I can't get XSI to import the EPS files that Photoshop creates.

I'm in Photoshop (7), I make a selection using the wand tool and so forth, then convert it to a path. I then remove all layers (the background layer is white) and save as an EPS, selecting the ASCII option.

I then use the import->EPS tool in XSI, but it imports a curve of no length.

I'd be really greatful if you could spot whatever is the mistake I'm mkaing.

jON

[richard-sher]

Oops, when I said EPS, I meant AI.

Converting to a path is correct. still, in photoshop, choose File>Export>Paths To Illustrator. Load that file into XSI. Works great.

Tip: If you want to seperate shapes in XSI, use Modify>Curve>Extract From Subcurve.

[janina-overley]

Fantastic

Thanks Ed, I hadn't spotted that the EPS importer would take AIs as well

Thanks again for your help

jON

[richard-sher]

They should rename the importer to EPS/AI importer.

You are welcome.

[joojaa]

AI = EPS

[richard-sher]

Yes... but a lot of people don't know that.