Creating Vector Images with Midjourney | Adobe Illustrator Tutorial

Can you Generate SVGs with Midjourney

Midjourney is an online platform that utilizes AI to generate high-quality images from user provided prompts. If you're wondering whether you can make actual vector images with Midjourney, the answer at this time is no, Midjourney does not produce vector files such as a SVG. You can however, create images in the style of vectors that can then be transformed into vector graphics using Adobe Illustrator. 

Are you interested in creating high-quality vector images from your hand-drawn sketches or AI-generated art? With the rise of AI, it has become easier than ever to convert sketches or other art into vector images. In this article, we will discuss the benefits of vector images, how to convert sketches or PNG files into vector graphics, and how to use Adobe Illustrator to create vectors from Midjourney art.

What is a Vector Image?

Before we get into the steps for creating vector images, let's first define what a vector image is. A vector image is a digital image that is made up of geometric objects like segments, polygons, arcs, and points. Each of these objects is defined by mathematical attributes such as shape, position, and color. Unlike raster images, vector images are not made up of pixels, but instead are made up of lines that connect nodes.

Benefits of Vector Images

One of the biggest benefits of vector images is that they can be scaled to any size without losing their quality. Raster images like JPG or PNG can lose quality when they are enlarged because they are made up of pixels that become more visible when they are enlarged. Vector images, on the other hand, remain sharp and clear even when they are scaled up.

Can You Convert a PNG into a Vector Graphic?

Yes, you can convert the PNG files that Midjourney generates into vector graphics. If you have a PNG image that you want to turn into a vector graphic, you can turn them into vectors using Adobe Illustrator and the methods explained below.

Can You Turn a Normal Image Into a Vector?

Yes you can. If you want to turn a normal image [ .jpg or .tiff ] into a vector graphic, for example if you have drawn a sketch and scanned or snapped a photo you can convert them into vectors with the same methods as for converting PNGs to Vectors.

The first step is to choose the right vector graphics software. Adobe Illustrator is the industry standard for creating vector graphics. You can find some free online image-to-vector converters, but they may not provide as much creative control as Adobe Illustrator.

How to Create Vectors in Adobe Illustrator

Adobe Illustrator is a powerful tool designed for creating vector graphics. In this section, we'll cover the basics of creating vector graphics using Adobe Illustrator. We'll also provide some tips and tricks to help you get started. There are as many ways to create vector graphics with Adobe Illustrator on desktop or on iPad, as there are ways to cook eggs. The most common ways to create vectors in Adobe Illustrator are the pen tools, the shapes tools and with image trace.

Creating Vectors With The Pen Tool

Depending on the complexity of the image you generate with Midjourney you may want to use the pen tool to turn your image into a vector graphic. For simple images that you want to use as icons or logos it may be more beneficial to use the pen tool than with the image trace tool.

Your aim may be that you want to use the generated art from Midjourney simply as practice for developing your pen tool skills in Adobe Illustrator as the pen tool is a powerful skill to have as a graphic designer.

Master These Pen Tool Skills

Knowing how to adjust these may seem like a ridiculously simple concept and to be fair it probably is, but knowing when and how in your workflow is something that develops with time and personal preferences. Do you prefer to get as close to the final stroke width before you start drawing or are you comfortable to start drawing knowing later you will adjust the stroke and fill once you have the general shape pinned down? Fill or no Fill while drawing? Will you use the width adjustment tool or will you outline the vector lines and use fill instead?

Creating straight lines is simply a click and release to create anchor points and moving to the next anchor point location and repeating the click and release. Creating Curve lines are a click, hold and drag at each anchor point. Will you create your straight lines separately or will you prefer to develop the skill to transition between the two as you go about your drawing.

To change directions of a path while still drawing, drag out your curve and release then go back over the direction line and hold down option(Mac)/alt(Windows) drag towards the new direction. You can also remove the direction line altogether so that you can go from curve to straight and vice versa.

Creating Vectors with Shapes and the Shape builder tools

Another way that you can create your vector graphics is by using the simple and ever humble shape tool in combination with the shape builder tools. There are some talented designers out there that use the humble ellipse and rectangle tools to do the heavy lifting in their workflow so don’t dismiss these workhorses. Some would say it is faster than the pen tool and others would say that it is the combination of both the pen tool and shapes that make the designer.

Creating Vectors with Image Trace Tool

This is where a majority of new DIY designers may start, particularly those that are wanting to quickly convert their Midjourney generated designs into vector graphics. This is also a good option for those not wanting to change much in the way of the design that they have generated with text to image AI generators. Which is great there is no need to reinvent the wheel so to speak if you don’t need to, and Image trace is a great way to convert your images into vector art easily.

You will want to get familiar with the image trace tool options and adjustments that work for you and your style and also I would look at getting familiar with the simplify paths tool also depending on your final output needs as the more anchor points you have the bigger the file size will be. There may even be some anchor point limits for certain outputs such as creating custom fonts such as sticker fonts using the Fontself Maker extension for Adobe Illustrator.