Anti-alias Preview for Placed Bitmap Images

[T***@adobeforums.com]

Hello everyone,

I'm graphic designer working 3 years with Corel Draw and now decided to change the software with Adobe Illustrator. I already learned to work with Illustrator CS3, but there is one (very important for me) thing that I still can't find any solution. Actually I have a problem with the placed bitmap images preview in Illustrator CS3. The problem is that, everything like the vector objects and the raster effects applied to them (glow, shadows etc.) are anti-aliased, but the placed images are not. I found
2 options in Illustrator CS3 for anti-alias that I tried; the fist one in General Preferences (Anti-aliased Artwork) that is for the vector objects, and the second one in Documents Raster Effects Settings that is only for the aplied raster effects. When I check the anti-alias there, changing the raster effects only and not the bitmap image that I've placed into the document. When I zoom the bitmap image in normal preview mode it looks with jaged edges and pixelated (please check the link below with images - Illustrator ScreenShot.jpg). In Corel Draw X4 I have not this problem, because there is an option in the Corel display preference settings: checkbox - anti-alias bitmaps in preview (CorelDraw ScreenShot.jpg) You can see what is the differences between the programs.

My question is: is there in Illustrator CS3 a similar option for anti-alias preview on the placed bitmap images or anything else that have the same result? This will help me a lot for my work because without the anti-alias preview I can't work in zoom mode. I use it a lot for many projects ... first I draw sketch on a paper then scanning it and import in Illustrator. Set as template and start to draw with pen tool over the layer. Without anti-aliased preview I can't see correctly the small parts of the sketch and the line art in zoom mode.

Also I suppose that can be other Anti-alias option out of Illustrator, but I've tried that too. I checked two windows options for that: the first called Clear Type (its checked)and the second is from my Video Card NVIDIA Control Panel Display settings there is an Antialias option that is turned on too, but I'm not shure is that affect all aplications or for 3d only. For example, Photoshop and my default windows picture viewer program has
no antialias and show the images pixelated in zoom mode too, however if I open the same image in Microsoft Office Picture Manager it looks nice in zoom mode and blur. So this is the reason to think probably it should be any option inside the aplication, since some of them has anti-alias and some not. For me the only important thing is to be able to see the placed images antialiased incide the Illustrator CS3.

Because I have not so much experience with Illustrator CS3, hope someone can help me to resolve this problem and tell me the right solution. Thank you in advance !!!

Link for sample images: <http://notorious-vip.blogspot.com>

My Computer System Details:

OS: Windows Vista Home Premium
Model: Hewlett-Packard HP Pavilion dv6700 Notebook PC
processor: AMD Turion 2.00GHz
memory RAM: 3.00 GB
Operating System: 32-bit

Video Card: GeForce 7150M/nForce 630M

Graphic Software: Adobe Illustrator CS3

[J***@adobeforums.com]

No, Illustrator does not have a display option for live antialiasing of raster images onscreen.

For others not familiar: Draw has a preference setting (Tools>Options>Display>AntialiasBitmapsInEnhancedView) which antialiases the onscreen display of raster images when the View mode is set to Enhanced.

This is just an onscreen display. It re-antialiases the display of raster images on-the-fly when you zoom.



Tony evidently values this when tracing with the drawing tools over a placed raster scan (a common practice in both programs). Personally, I don't really see an advantage in that regard.

This will help me a lot for my work because without the anti-alias preview
I can't work in zoom mode.




Why not? You can still zoom at will. In AI, when you are zoomed excessively relative to the resolution of the scan, you see pixelization. In Draw, you see a blur. Either way, you have to use your own intelligence about the meaning of the sketch to decide exactly where the path you're drawing needs to be.

I use it a lot for many projects... first I draw sketch on a paper then
scanning it and import in Illustrator.




It's a very common practice in all vector drawing programs.

Without anti-aliased preview I can't see correctly the small parts of
the sketch and the line art in zoom mode.




Antialiasing doesn't add detail. It just blurs whatever amount of detail is already there.

I think you're just accustomed to it; but I don't really think it amounts to a functional hill of beans. If it is a big deal to you, though (as you say it is), I'd just mark it as one reason for you continue using Draw.

JET

[M***@adobeforums.com]

As James said - not a real problem IMO. Shouldn't matter, whether you base your decisions on your own biased perception or let the program moosh it up, as it were. Neither will give a result superior to the other.

Mylenium

[T***@adobeforums.com]

Hi again everyone,

First of all would like to thank you guys for your quick and accurate responses! I was looking for answers in many places including the Illustrator Help and didn't find any option to turn on the antialias for the placed bitmaps. All I needed was just that, to see them blured in zoom preview. Now I understand that there is no such option in Illustrator, like the display option in Corel Draw.I was hoping also that can be set somewhere outside Illustrator, because in my old notebook Sony Vaio, I remeber how the Photoshop previewed the images with anti-alias when I zoom them. Probably the Illustrator too, I don't know because used Corel Draw at this time. On my new one HP, Photoshop its the same like Illustrator (jaged edges when zoom). So I was thinking that could be depending of the OS or any settings in the videocard. I really don't know for sure what is the main reason for that issue.

"For others not familiar: Draw has a preference setting (Tools>Options>Display>AntialiasBitmapsInEnhancedView) which antialiases the onscreen display of raster images when the View mode is set to Enhanced."

Thank you James for your advise! This is the option that I used in Corew and was hoping can find a similar one in Illustrator too.

"Tony evidently values this when tracing with the drawing tools over a placed raster scan. Personally, I don't really see an advantage in that regard. "

James, I agree with you. Its not a big advantage, but for me its just more difficult to work in this way since I worked long of time with blured images in Corel Draw. You are right its not a big deal, but for me will be just more easy for working, especially with the little details of the images and line art in verry close view. Somethimes
is difficult to follow the lines because of the pixelation and need to zoom out for a while so see it correctly, then zoom in again to continue the tracing. Just it takes more time, thats it. With the blured images I can see the lineart even in verry close view.

"Antialiasing doesn't add detail. It just blurs whatever amount of detail is already there."

Yes doesn't add detail, but just looks more detailed. Also there is a big difference between the two things. Trying to find the answer on my problem I learned few thing about the anti-alias. Also one of the things I tried at the beginning is to add a blur effect into the bitmap, but this doesn't work. Make it just blured and you can't see it well, the anti-alias makes blured but provide clear result and you can see verry detailed image at verry close view.

Actually I found soulution these days, but just would like to ensure first as asking the experts. The other thing I've tried is to open the bitmap in Photohop, then with Ctrl+Alt+I going to Image Size settings and raise the dpi. In this case the Mustang bitmap was 72dpi, I rased it to 300dpi (if the bitmap is 300 raise to 600), also set the "Bicubic Smoother" option that is best for enlargement, then place it in Illustrator and Presto! The desired from me result was reached! Probably will continue to work in this way, because it works nice and when the bitmap has more quality looks same like the antialiased image. Please check the image at the link below:
<http://notorious-vip.blogspot.com> - Illustrator View 2

I was wonder if I can make the same thing inside the Illustrator but once I opened document for instance at 72dpi then cannot change it. The dpi option is hidden when you've opened the document already, or I can't find it?

Thank you again to both of you for your expert opinion! I really want to work with Illustrator CS3 instead Corel Draw X4, because its better software and I found many options and useful things that the Corel can only dream about...

[Scott Falkner]

Photoshop does not antialias previews when zoomed in to more than 100%. It would be so counterproductive that I can't imagine even Adobe being so dumb as to add such a "feature".

[T***@adobeforums.com]

Scott, I know that in Photoshop this will definitely harm in case this is a photo editing software and its for raster images, so you need to see the pixels of the bitmaps in the correct way (the way they are, with no anti-alias). But I'm looking for the anti-alias iside the Illustrator that is vector editing software and doesn't allow you to make corrections on the bitmaps. When Illustrator has
an option for anti-alias for the vector objects and the applied to them raster effects (that is bitmaps images as the shadows, glows etc.) I thing should be the same for the plased bitmap images too?! Also in case Photoshop has the ability for vector work, I thing the anti-alias will be helpful if there is an option to turn it on and off, same like the anti-alias for the type tool, elliptical marquee tool and etc. Also in most cases you save as for web or just exporting your images you using the anti-alias checkbox option to be
applied on the images as final result. So will be nice if you can see them inside the program in the same way before prepare them for final output.

James, I was wondering if can tell me that: Is it possible in Illustrator CS3 if I've open a document already with raster resolution 72dpi, can I change it later to 300dpi in the same document for instance. Because once I've set the resolution of the document I can't find the same option to change it if need.
Not like the document size that you can change anytime?

Thanks you!
Regards, Tony