Not knowing what your map looks like I am assuming it is black lines
on a white background. Because it is a GIF it is a raster file, so I
will do the beginning work in a raster editing program, Photoshop. It
is much easier to leave it in Photoshop as a raster file, make
selections and place filled selections on multiple new layers. Since
you want to get to Illustrator, you probably want the end file to be a
vector file. Here is one way to get there:
1. First open the map in Photoshop and go to Image>Mode>RGB
2. Using the Magic Wand, select the outline of the map. Shift+Select
to select more than one area at a time.
3. Go to Selection>Save Selection and this places the selected shapes
in the Channels menu. If you accidentally deselect this selection, go
to Channels, highlight the selection Layer and click on Load Channel
As Selection icon in the bottom of the menu.
4. Click on the Paths tab
5. From the Paths menu, select make Workpath
6. From the Paths menu, Select Save Path and name it. Continue to
select and make paths for all of the parts of your map.
7. Once the paths are completed, go to File>Export>Paths to
Illustrator and rename and save the document
8. Open this exported file in Illustrator. You now have a vector file
of the outline of your map. Select all and fill with black.
9. Finally, select the parts of the outlined map that you want to
create color panels to fill. Copy and Paste each selection onto a new
layer.
10. Copy and Paste each selection onto a new layer.
11. Fill the selection.
12. Continue until your map is complete.
The time this process takes is dependant upon the state of your
origial map and how many sections or color layers you want to create
in the final file. |
