How to Copy a GIF in Illustrator

You can use Adobe Illustrator to convert a GIF image to a vector graphic file, which you then can copy into another Illustrator image file. Vector graphics are composed of objects such as points, lines and curves. A GIF is a type of raster graphic, meaning it is stored as an array of pixels. Adobe Illustrator has an automatic live tracing tool to help you convert a GIF into a format Illustrator can work with.

Instructions

1. Open Adobe Illustrator.

2. Click the "File" menu, click "Place," locate and select your GIF image file.

3. Click the "Object" menu, click "Live Trace" and then click "Tracing Options." If desired, change any of the settings for the listed options, such as paths, colors, areas and anchor points. These settings affect how the "Live Trace" feature works. Click "Trace" when you are done.

4. Click the "Object" menu, click "Live Trace" and click "Expand." This converts the tracing result to paths.

5. Click the "Selection" tool, click the top left corner of your image and use the mouse to drag the selection box around the entire image. The keyboard shortcut for the Selection tool is "V."

6. Click the "Edit" menu and click "Copy." This makes a copy or your selection. The keyboard shortcut for the copy command is "Ctrl + C."

7. Click the "File" menu and open the image file you want to copy your GIF into.

8. Click the "Edit" menu and click "Paste." This pastes a copy of your image into the new file. The keyboard shortcut for the paste command is "Ctrl + V."

References

• Adobe: Trace artwork
• Adobe: Move objects