Are images uploaded while tracing?
No. Image preparation, Potrace processing, preview generation, and SVG download all run inside your browser.
Private raster-to-vector tracing
Image to SVG Tracer
Convert PNG, JPG, GIF, BMP, and WebP images into scalable SVG paths in your browser. Trace black-and-white artwork or posterized color layers without uploading the source.
Files stay on your deviceBlack-and-white and color tracingLive SVG preview and download
Vectorize raster images locally
The tracer prepares large images, converts pixels into vector paths with Potrace, and renders the SVG preview in this browser. Presets give you a fast starting point while advanced controls remain available.
- Use B&W mode for logos, signatures, silhouettes, and line art.
- Use Color mode for flat illustrations and stylized posterized artwork.
- Reduce large sources automatically and retry complex traces with safer dimensions.
- Tune noise filtering, corner smoothing, curve optimization, and color layers.
Tracing works best with clean, high-contrast sources. Photographs usually need stronger downscaling and fewer color layers.
Runs 100% in your browser
No server uploads
Tracer loads on first use
Drop an image or click to browse
PNG, JPG, GIF, BMP, and WebP supported
Presets
Tracer mode
Preprocessing
128
Pixels darker than this become black.
Scale
1×
Reduce image size before tracing. Larger values produce a smaller SVG with less detail.
Tracing parameters
2
Ignore blobs smaller than this. Higher values produce cleaner output with less detail.
1.00
0 gives sharp corners; 1.334 gives the smoothest curves.
Choose how the tracer resolves ambiguous path corners.
0.20
Higher values produce simpler curves and a smaller file.
Trace to SVG
Potrace converts your raster image into scalable vector paths.
Best results
- Logos and signatures: Use B&W mode and adjust the threshold.
- Line art: Use B&W mode with a low turd size to preserve detail.
- Flat illustrations: Use Color mode with 4–8 posterize levels.
- Photos: Scale down first and use fewer colors.
- Large files: Increase the scale-down factor.
How to trace an image to SVG
- Drop an image or choose a PNG, JPG, GIF, BMP, or WebP file.
- Pick a preset or choose B&W for line work and Color for illustrations.
- Adjust the threshold or posterize levels, then refine scale and curve controls.
- Trace the image, inspect the SVG preview, adjust zoom, and download the file.
What the tracing controls change
- Threshold: decides which pixels become black in B&W mode.
- Turd size: removes small blobs and visual noise.
- Alphamax: controls how strongly corners are smoothed.
- Turn policy: resolves ambiguous corners in traced paths.
- Posterize levels: sets the number of extracted color layers.
- Scale-down factor: reduces path complexity and SVG size.
Best practices for clean SVG output
- Start with the highest-contrast source available.
- Keep the noise filter low when thin strokes and small details matter.
- Use 4–8 posterize levels for flat illustrations before adding more colors.
- Increase the scale-down factor if tracing runs out of memory or creates an oversized SVG.
- Enable curve optimization and increase tolerance when you need simpler paths.
When to trace and when to keep raster
SVG tracing suits logos, icons, signatures, line art, silhouettes, and flat illustrations. Photographs, gradients, and complex textures usually look better as raster images.
Frequently asked questions
Which source formats can I trace?
The upload control accepts common browser image formats, including PNG, JPG, GIF, BMP, and WebP.
Should I use black-and-white or color mode?
Use B&W for logos, text, signatures, silhouettes, and line art. Use Color for flat illustrations or when you want a deliberately posterized result.
Why was my large image downscaled?
Complex sources can exceed browser memory during tracing. The tool reduces oversized images locally to keep path generation stable and the resulting SVG manageable.
How can I make the SVG smaller?
Increase the scale-down factor or noise filter, reduce posterize levels, and use curve optimization with a higher tolerance.
Will a traced photograph remain photorealistic?
No. Tracing turns pixels into paths and color layers, so photographs become stylized. Keep the raster image when photographic detail matters.