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Contents
Inside Adobe Illustrator
  Vector graphics and Objects
  The Work Area
Working with Files
  Opening, Creating, Placing Files
  Viewing Artwork
The Selection Tools
Drawing With Illustrator
  Paths and Anchor Points
  Direction Lines
  Drawing Straight Lines
  Drawing Curves
  Drawing Basic Shapes
Manipulating Objects
Working with Type
  Setting Type Attributes
  Manipulating Type
  Typing Along A Path
  Using Type Containers
Working with Imported Artwork
  Tracing an Image
Painting in Illustrator
Saving and Exporting Files
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Assignment
  Tracing an Image
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In design we make reference to other drawings, sketches, and plans all the time There is a reason that designers we all crave tracing paper.
So it is with using Illustrator. You can import an image into an artwork on its own layer, and then use it as a template for tracing outlines and fine details accurately.
 
To trace an image:
Place the image into an Illustrator document. You will have the most control over the image if you paste it onto its own layer.
Choose Window>Show Layers if the layers palette is not visible. The layers palette is grouped with the swatches palette.
In the layers palette double click on the image layer to display the Layer Options dialog box.
Select the Dim Images option, which makes a given layer appear dimmed on screen. This option screens back the placed image to make it easier to edit objects on top of it.

Select OK and create a layer to trace onto.
 
Go Forth and Trace