Understanding when and how to vectorize images can save you hours of frustration and deliver much better results. Here's what actually works.
Ideal scenarios for vectorization
Logos and icons are perfect candidates for vectorization. Raster images with high contrast, geometric shapes, or minimal colors convert beautifully because they already have the clean, defined characteristics that vectors excel at representing. Company logos, signage, and icons benefit tremendously from this treatment since they need to scale crisp at any size.
Technical drawings and maps also vectorize exceptionally well. Schematics, blueprints, and diagrams gain cleaner lines and better scalability for print or CAD/CAM software when converted to vector format.
No color overlapping, clear silhouette, and crisp edges make this ChatGPT raster image a good candidate for vectorization
Artwork with clear outlines translates smoothly to vectors. Illustrations, cartoons, or any flat artwork with strong outlines and uniform fills can be accurately traced and rendered with minimal loss in detail.
The common thread? These images feature simple shapes, clean boundaries, and distinct colors. When your source material has these characteristics, vectorization tools can work their magic effectively.
Tip: Recraft's vectorizer performs best with clean, simple images. If your input is highly textured or visually complex, you might notice extra details that require cleanup. For better results, try starting with a more simplified image, or use Recraft's prompt-based vector generation to create SVGs directly, without the need for conversion.
When vectorization doesn't work well
Photographs and realistic images are poor candidates for vectorization. Images with continuous tones, gradients, and rich texture lose their realism and often become blocky or cartoonish when converted. That beautiful landscape photo or detailed portrait? Leave it as a raster image.
Highly detailed or noisy images struggle in the conversion process. Images full of overlapping details, soft edges, or visual "noise" are challenging to convert and may not yield usable vector shapes without extensive manual cleanup.
This Midjourney raster image looks simple at first glance, but its many opacity layers and colors would flatten and degrade when vectorized
Subtle shading and gradients don't translate well to vector format. Raster images that rely on smooth color transitions struggle because vectors aren't well-suited for blending multiple shades without creating complex, large files or introducing banding effects.
Choosing between automatic and manual vectorization
Automatic vectorization works best with simple, clear sources. When your image has clean lines, solid colors, and minimal complexity, tools like Recraft's vectorizer or Vectorizer.io can produce excellent results with little intervention. Recraft often creates cleaner paths with fewer points compared to Illustrator’s Image Trace, which means less cleanup later.
Manual tracing becomes necessary for complex or artistic sources. If automatic tools produce results that need extensive cleanup, you might find it more efficient to manually trace key elements in a tool like Illustrator.
How to vectorize in Recraft: 1. Upload your PNG or JPG into Recraft 2. Choose Vectorize from the tools panel 3. Adjust colors or simplify details if needed 4. Export your file as an SVG or PDF for print, web, or editing in Illustrator/Figma
Consider your end purpose
Vectorization makes sense when scalability, print clarity, or CAD compatibility is a priority. If you need graphics that will appear across different sizes, from business cards to billboards, vector format is essential.
Stick with raster when you're working with digital display, photo editing, or any scenario where the natural characteristics of pixel-based images serve your purpose better.
The key is matching the right approach to your specific needs rather than assuming all images should be vectorized.
Why Recraft stands out: Unlike many auto-trace tools, Recraft doesn’t just vectorize — it can also generate original vector art directly from a text prompt, giving you editable SVGs without the detour through raster. That makes it ideal for tasks like logo design, icon sets, or stylized illustrations where crisp lines and flat colors are essential.
If you’re looking to convert raster to vector online, create SVG files for print, or vectorize images with AI, Recraft combines both approaches in one tool.
