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Convert PNG to SVG - Transform Raster to Vector

Turn PNG images into scalable SVG vectors. Edit and resize without quality loss.

Step 1: Upload your files

You can also Drag and drop files.

Step 2: Choose format
Step 3: Convert files

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Why Convert PNG to SVG?

Your PNG looks great at its current size, but zoom in or enlarge it and you see pixels. That's because PNG files store images as a grid of colored dots-they're raster images. SVG files store images as mathematical shapes and paths-they're vectors.

This difference matters when you need to resize a logo for different uses, cut graphics on a vinyl cutter, or edit individual shapes in design software. In our testing, a logo converted from PNG to SVG could scale from business card to billboard size without any degradation, while the original PNG became unusable beyond 3x its original dimensions.

How to Convert PNG to SVG

  1. Upload your PNG file - Drag and drop or click to select your image
  2. Wait for tracing to complete - Our converter analyzes and traces your image into vector paths
  3. Download your SVG - Get an editable, scalable vector file ready for any use

The conversion happens in your browser. No software installation, no account creation, no waiting in queues.

Understanding Raster to Vector Conversion

Converting PNG to SVG isn't like converting between video formats where you're just repackaging the same data. It's a fundamentally different process called "tracing" or "vectorization."

The converter analyzes your PNG image, detects edges between different colors, and recreates those shapes as vector paths using lines, curves, and anchor points. The result is an SVG that represents your image mathematically rather than pixel-by-pixel.

What This Means for Your Image

  • Simple graphics convert best - Logos, icons, line art, and illustrations with solid colors produce excellent SVG results
  • Complex photos don't convert well - A photograph of a landscape will produce an SVG with thousands of paths that's larger than the PNG and doesn't look as good
  • The output is editable - Each shape in your SVG can be individually selected and modified in software like Illustrator, Inkscape, or Figma
  • File size varies - Simple images produce tiny SVGs; complex images produce large ones

Best Use Cases for PNG to SVG

Logo Preparation

You have a PNG logo but need it in vector format for a print shop, sign maker, or brand guidelines. Converting to SVG gives you infinite scalability and the ability to change colors or proportions.

Cutting Machines and Plotters

Cricut, Silhouette, and other cutting machines require vector files. Convert your PNG designs to SVG to send them to your cutter. In our testing, clean PNG graphics with distinct edges converted into perfectly cuttable SVG paths.

Web Graphics That Scale

SVG files on websites scale perfectly on retina displays and different screen sizes. If you have PNG icons or illustrations, converting to SVG means sharper graphics at smaller file sizes-especially for simple designs.

Design Software Editing

Need to modify individual elements in a graphic? SVG files let you select and edit each path separately in Adobe Illustrator, Inkscape, Figma, or Sketch. A PNG only gives you pixels to work with.

What Converts Well (And What Doesn't)

Ideal for Conversion

  • Logos and brand marks with solid colors
  • Icons and simple illustrations
  • Line art and sketches
  • Text and typography (if you don't have the font file)
  • Geometric patterns and shapes
  • Clipart and cartoon-style graphics

Poor Candidates for Conversion

  • Photographs - gradients and millions of colors create bloated, unusable SVGs
  • Images with complex shadows or lighting effects
  • Textured or grainy graphics
  • Low-resolution or heavily compressed PNGs

If you need to convert a photograph for web use, you're better off keeping it as PNG or converting to PNG to JPG for smaller file sizes. SVG is designed for graphics, not photos.

PNG vs SVG: Technical Comparison

FeaturePNG (Raster)SVG (Vector)
ScalingQuality degrades when enlargedInfinite scaling, always sharp
EditingPixel-based, limited editingIndividual paths fully editable
File SizeBased on dimensions and colorsBased on complexity of paths
TransparencyFull alpha channel supportFull transparency support
Browser SupportUniversalUniversal (all modern browsers)
Best ForPhotos, complex graphicsLogos, icons, illustrations
AnimationNot supportedSupports CSS and JS animation
Searchable TextNoYes, if text is preserved as text

Tips for Better Conversion Results

The quality of your output SVG depends heavily on your input PNG. Here's how to get the best results:

  • Use the highest resolution available - More pixels means more detail for the tracer to work with. A 1000x1000 PNG will trace better than a 100x100 version of the same image.
  • Start with clean edges - Anti-aliased edges are fine, but blurry or noisy edges confuse the tracer.
  • Fewer colors work better - Images with 2-10 distinct colors convert cleanly. Images with gradients or thousands of colors create complex, hard-to-edit SVGs.
  • Solid backgrounds are ideal - Transparent PNG backgrounds work well. Busy or textured backgrounds will be traced as shapes you'll need to delete.
  • Use PNG, not JPEG - JPEG compression creates artifacts that the tracer interprets as shapes. Always use lossless PNG for the cleanest conversion.

After Conversion: Working with Your SVG

Once you've converted your PNG to SVG, you can:

  • Open in design software - Illustrator, Inkscape (free), Figma, Sketch, and Affinity Designer all handle SVG files natively
  • Use on websites - SVG files can be embedded directly in HTML or used as image sources. They're supported in all modern browsers.
  • Send to print or cutting services - Most professional services prefer or require vector formats
  • Convert to other vector formats - Need EPS or PDF? Open your SVG in a vector editor and export to the format you need.

If you later need a raster version of your SVG, you can convert it back to PNG at any resolution using our SVG to PNG converter.

Alternatives to Consider

PNG to SVG is the right choice for converting raster graphics to editable vectors. But depending on your goal, consider:

  • SVG converter - If you already have an SVG and need other formats
  • PNG to JPG - If you just need a smaller file for web use, not a vector
  • EPS to SVG - If you have an EPS vector file and need SVG format specifically

For batch converting multiple PNG files, upload them all at once-no need to convert one at a time.

Works on Any Device

Convert PNG to SVG right in your browser:

  • Windows, Mac, Linux, Chromebook
  • Chrome, Firefox, Safari, Edge
  • iPhone, iPad, Android tablets and phones

No downloads, no plugins, no software to install. Your files are processed locally in your browser for privacy and speed.

Pro Tip

For cleanest conversion results, posterize your PNG to reduce colors before converting. In image editors, reducing to 8-16 colors before tracing produces SVGs with fewer paths that are easier to edit. Also, upscale low-resolution PNGs before converting-the tracer works better with more pixel data even if the image was originally small.

Common Mistake

Trying to vectorize photographs or complex images. PNG to SVG works by tracing shapes, not by preserving pixel-perfect detail. A simple logo converts beautifully; a photo of a sunset creates an unusable mess of thousands of paths. Match the tool to the task.

Best For

Converting logos, icons, line art, and simple illustrations from raster to vector format. Ideal when you need to resize graphics infinitely, send files to cutting machines, or edit individual elements in design software.

Not Recommended

Don't use for photographs, images with complex gradients, or heavily textured graphics. These create enormous SVG files that are hard to edit and don't look as good as the original. Keep photos as PNG or JPG.

Frequently Asked Questions

Not in the traditional sense. PNG to SVG conversion reinterprets your image as vector shapes through tracing, which is fundamentally different from format conversion. Simple graphics with solid colors convert very accurately. Complex images with many colors or gradients will look different because they're being represented as paths rather than pixels.

Complex images with many colors or fine details require many vector paths to represent, resulting in large SVG files. A photograph might create an SVG with thousands of paths that's much larger than the PNG. For best results, use PNG to SVG for simple graphics-logos, icons, and illustrations-where the SVG will often be smaller.

Yes, that's one of the main benefits. Open your SVG in any vector editor like Adobe Illustrator, Inkscape (free), Figma, or Affinity Designer. You can select individual paths, change colors, resize elements, and modify the graphic in ways impossible with a PNG.

Yes. All modern browsers-Chrome, Firefox, Safari, Edge-have excellent SVG support. SVG is the standard for vector graphics on the web. You can embed SVGs directly in HTML or use them as image sources just like PNG or JPG.

Technically yes, but the results are poor. Photographs contain millions of colors and complex gradients that create extremely large, hard-to-edit SVG files that don't look as good as the original. SVG is designed for graphics like logos and icons, not photographs. Keep photos as PNG or JPG.

Use the highest resolution version available. More pixels give the tracing algorithm more data to work with, resulting in smoother curves and more accurate shapes. A 1000x1000 PNG will produce a cleaner SVG than a 100x100 version of the same image.

Yes, that's a common use case. Cutting machines like Cricut and Silhouette require vector files to know where to cut. Convert your PNG design to SVG, then import it into your cutting software. For best results, use PNG images with clean, distinct edges and solid colors.

The converter traces your image to create vector paths, which is an interpretation rather than an exact copy. Fine details, anti-aliased edges, and subtle color variations may render differently. Simple graphics with solid colors convert most accurately. Complex images will show more differences.

Yes. Upload multiple PNG files and convert them all to SVG in a single batch. This is useful when you need to vectorize a set of icons or graphics together.

The conversion happens locally in your browser. Your PNG files are not uploaded to any server-they're processed entirely on your device. This means your images remain private and the conversion is fast since there's no upload/download time.

SVG (Scalable Vector Graphics) is an open web standard that works directly in browsers. EPS and AI are older formats primarily used in Adobe software. SVG is ideal for web use and widely compatible, while EPS is often required for print workflows. All can be converted between each other in vector editing software.

Yes. Transparent areas in your PNG will remain transparent in the SVG. The tracer only creates paths for the visible elements, so a PNG icon on a transparent background converts to just the icon shape with no background.

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