can I vectorize this?

[papaschtroumpf]

I have way too many idea for possible side arts on my machine! All I know is that I don't want the "traditional" side art (like the great vectorized galaga side-art posted on this board). I like the idea of a single large character on each side. I'm also not attached to any arcade related graphic (actually I like the idea to stray away from recognizable arcade characters).

Anyway, I'd love to use this character:




After reading Frostillicus' vectorizing tutorial I'm not sure this image is very suitable for vectorizing, aren't most of the textures and color gradients going to get lost? Do you think it can be done and still look good?
Of course the other question is can I do it given that I only yesterday acquired a copy of illustrator (got version 8 from a friend for 10 bucks) and have never done vector graphics before?

Any advice or comments would be welcome...

[motorfish]

It would be more trouble than it's worth to vectorize that image, and yes, you would lose the gradients in the image.

I say that you try to either find an original of the image and scan it in at a high resolution (probably 400 to 600 dpi) Other than that, I'm not sure what to do for a high quality, high resolution version of that image.

[Frostillicus]

It could be done, but wouldn't be 100% accurate.  I could probably get it to 97% accurate, but it would take waaaay too much time.   Just scan it.  You can get some great gradients in illustrator obviously, but you need to take time to match the colors and angles up correctly.  

Not all chars are simple shapes and fills.  Check out the geese I did, and especially the Iori.  They took awhile, but are filled with gradients.  I find that either use all gradients, or very very few at all, and you'll get the best results.

[Jakobud]

Thats not the type of image you vectorize.... sorry  It just would not look right.