JPG → SVG is a tracing operation, not a format swap. The output is a vector reconstruction, not a pixel wrapper.
Best candidates
- Posters with solid colors
- Stylized illustrations
- Maps
- Simple diagrams
- Hand-drawn graphics
Not suitable for
- Photographs (produces huge, ugly files)
- Images with fine detail (hair, fur)
- Gradients (bands badly)
The tracer
Based on Potrace, tuned for JPG artifacts. Handles:
- Color clustering
- Path smoothing
- Noise reduction
- Background separation
Output
SVG is editable in Illustrator, Inkscape, or Figma. Scale to any size without loss.
When to skip tracing
If you just need a scalable image, use the original JPG upscaled. Tracing only helps when you need editable vector paths.