How it works
The PNG to SVG converter traces a raster bitmap image into a vector SVG using a browser-based autotrace algorithm. Upload a PNG (typically a logo, icon, or simple illustration), and the tool generates an SVG path representation that can be scaled to any size without pixelation.
Vectorization is needed when you have a raster logo (received as a PNG from a client, scanned from print, or exported from a non-vector tool) and need to scale it for large-format printing, laser cutting, vinyl cutting, animation, or any other context requiring sharp edges at any scale.
How to use it: upload your PNG. The tool runs a Potrace-based vectorization algorithm in WebAssembly. Adjust the threshold (the brightness cutoff between foreground and background) and the smoothing parameter (curve vs. corner preference). Preview the SVG overlay on the original. Download the SVG.
Vectorization quality guide: works best on simple logos, icons, silhouettes, and line drawings with strong contrast. Results are poor for photographs and images with gradients, noise, or complex textures — vectorization algorithms convert photos into enormous SVG files of overlapping shapes that don't scale cleanly.
Color vectorization: the tool supports multi-color vectorization by separating the image into color layers and tracing each separately. The resulting SVG contains one path per color.
Output quality: the SVG output is a series of Bezier path curves. Complex images produce large SVG files. For web use, run the SVG through an optimizer (like SVGO) after tracing.
Privacy: vectorization runs as a WebAssembly workload in your browser.
Frequently Asked Questions
- Simple logos, icons, silhouettes, clip art, and line drawings with strong contrast between foreground and background vectorize well. Full-color photographs, images with gradients, and images with fine texture produce poor results — the output SVG is enormous and doesn't scale cleanly.
- Increase the smoothing parameter in the Advanced options. Higher smoothing values allow the Bezier curves to deviate more from the exact pixel edges, producing smoother outlines. Very high smoothing may round sharp corners — experiment to find the right balance for your image.
- Yes. Enable multi-color mode, which separates the image into color layers and traces each separately. The output SVG contains one <path> per color layer. This works well for flat-design logos with distinct color fills; it works poorly for photos.
- Run the output through an SVG optimizer like SVGO to reduce file size (the raw Potrace output is not minified). Then open in Inkscape or Illustrator to clean up individual paths, remove stray nodes, and refine the tracing. Raw autotrace output almost always needs manual cleanup for production use.