How to Scan an Image in Adobe Illustrator?

Unfortunately, you can't directly scan an image into Adobe Illustrator. Illustrator is a vector graphics editor and doesn't have built-in scanning functionality. However, here's the typical workflow for bringing a scanned image into Illustrator:

1. Scan the Image: Use a scanner and its associated software (e.g., Epson Scan, HP Scan) to scan your image and save it as a common image format like JPG, TIFF, or PNG.

2. Place the Scanned Image in Illustrator:

   • Open Adobe Illustrator.
   • Go to File > Place...
   • Navigate to the location where you saved the scanned image.
   • Select the image and click "Place".
   • Click on your artboard to place the image at its original size or click and drag to resize as you place it.

3. Optional: Image Trace (Vectorize): If you want to convert your scanned image into editable vector graphics (shapes, paths), use Image Trace. This is not scanning, but it's a common next step after placing a raster image:

   • Select the placed image.
   • Go to Window > Image Trace to open the Image Trace panel.
   • Adjust the settings to achieve the desired result. Key settings include:
     • Preset: Choose a preset that best suits your image (e.g., High Fidelity Photo, Low Fidelity Photo, Black and White Logo).
     • Mode: Color, Grayscale, or Black and White (influences the tracing outcome).
     • Paths: Controls the accuracy of the tracing (more paths = more detail, but can also increase file size).
     • Corners: Controls how sharp corners are handled.
     • Noise: Filters out small imperfections.
   • Click "Trace".
   • Once tracing is complete, click "Expand" in the Control panel (or go to Object > Expand) to convert the tracing into editable vector paths. You can now edit the individual paths, colors, and shapes.

In summary: You don't directly scan within Illustrator. You scan with dedicated scanning software and place the resulting image into Illustrator, where you can then optionally use Image Trace to vectorize it.