An　array　can　be　synthesized　by　first　optimizing　a　relevant　continuous　aperture　(CA)　and　then　transforming　it　to　the　array;　this　article　presents　a　skeletonization-scheme-based　method　for　such　a　transformation.　First,　the　continuous　aperture　source　(CAS)　integral　is　analyzed　and　it　is　shown　that　the　uniform　discretization　of　the　integral　requires　a　large　number　of　elements　to　match　the　CAS　radiation　pattern.　Second,　the　CAS　is　discretized　into　a　set　of　indexed　discrete　sources,　and　the　CAS　integral　is　represented　by　a　matrix　whose　column　indexes　correspond　to　the　discrete　source　indexes.　Third,　skeleton　columns　of　the　matrix　are　identified　by　the　skeletonization　scheme,　and　an　array　is　constructed　using　the　discrete　sources　whose　indexes　are　the　same　as　the　skeleton　column　indexes.　In　order　to　match　the　CAS　radiation　pattern,　values　of　the　discrete　sources　are　computed　using　a　transformation　matrix　obtained　during　the　skeletonization　process.　Finally,　numerical　experiments　are　conducted　and　the　results　show　that　arrays　synthesized　with　the　proposed　method　accurately　reproduce　the　CAS　radiation　patterns.　In　comparison　with　the　generalized　Gaussian　quadrature　method,　the　proposed　method　not　only　needs　fewer　elements　but　also　can　be　applied　to　electrically　large　apertures.　©　1963-2012　IEEE.