How to create SVG files from any png file using adobe illustrator

The SVG file format stands for scalable vector graphics that means you can scale it at any size without losing the quality. We all know PNG and JPG image formats that are widely used in photos. But, PNG and JPG format files are not scalable, which means if you zoom in, it will lose the quality and gets pixelated. All the cutting machines like Cricut and silhouette or brother supports SVG files as it provides a seamless cutting experience with perfectly sharp edges. If you are also a crafter and searching for a way to convert PNG files into SVG format, this post is for you.

The normal way generally people use is to hire someone to recreate the whole PNG file into an SVG file by tracing and making a new exact copy. This may cost you $5 to $50 as per the complexity of the image. If you want lots of files converted to SVG, paying a freelancer for each image will cost you a lot and not all small businesses can afford it. So, here I am sharing a trick that you can use to create your own SVG file almost instantly from any png or jpg file.

Required things for SVG conversion:

1. You will need a working computer with adobe illustrator software installed. ( you can get a free trial from the official site if you do not want to buy it. )

2. JPG or PNG file that you want to convert into SVG file.

Steps to convert any PNG file to an SVG file.

Step 1: Open adobe illustrator and load the PNG or JPG file.

First, click on the adobe illustrator icon or launch it from the start menu. Then drag and drop the PNG or JPG file directly from your folder, it will load the file in illustrator. Or, you can click on the "create" button and select an 800X800 pixel board and then drop the PNG file in it. Remember, the SVG file that you will create in any size can be scaled to any big or small size so nothing to worry about the size for now.

Step 2: Find image trace option

Once you loaded the PNG/JPG image, click on the image, it will select the image and create a blue line around it so you know you have selected it. After selecting the image you will get the option "image trace".

Step 3: Select the exact option

You will be able to see a small arrow beside the image trace button. Click on it and it will give you some more options to select from. If you want to covert colorful png files to SVG with exact colors, click on the low fidelity option and it will start processing.

You can also select the silhouette black option to covert your png file into a silhouette SVG file. it is a very fun and easy way.

Just try all the options one by one to see what type of output it gives. You can press control + z or command + z to undo any conversion and try the next one.

Step 4: save the SVG file

Once you convert your png file into an SVG file, just go to file >> save >> select the SVG option from the dropdown menu in the save dialogue.

This will save your SVG file on your selected path and you can use it with your Cricut machine directly. If the output file is not working on your Cricut or Silhouette machine, export the file instead of saving as an SVG file. After converting your PNG file to SVG file in adobe illustrator, just click on file >> export >> export as >> select SVG option from the drop-down and save it at your desired folder. Both ways to save SVG file is different and somehow creates a different type of SVG file so check which type of file working with your Cricut or Silhouette software and then use that method to create others.

How does it work?

Adobe illustrator smartly finds the colors from the image and creates a layered SVG file based on the pixel mapping. You might see some distortion in the output or some random pieces of colors sometimes if your imported PNG or JPEG file is not of good quality. But you can fix it very easily within illustrator.

Check out below video tutorial if you are completely new to adobe illustrator.