How to Vectorize a PNG Logo into SVG: The Complete Guide

Why vectorize your logo?

If you have a PNG logo, you have a "bitmap" logo: made of pixels. It is perfect for the web, but unsuitable for professional printing, screen printing, embroidery, or use at large scale. A vector logo (SVG, EPS, AI) is made of mathematical formulas and can be enlarged infinitely without losing quality.

Method 1 — Adobe Illustrator (professional)

Tool: Adobe Illustrator (subscription ~€25/month)

Quality: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

Open your PNG in Illustrator
Select the image → Window → Image Trace
Choose the "High Fidelity Logo" or "16 Colors" preset
Adjust the Threshold, Paths and Corners sliders according to the complexity of your logo
Click Trace then Expand
Simplify the superfluous anchor points (Object → Path → Simplify)
Export as SVG or EPS

Tip: Always start from the highest resolution available. A 2048×2048px PNG gives better results than a 256×256px one.

Method 2 — Inkscape (free, open source)

Tool: Inkscape (free, available on Windows, Mac and Linux)

Quality: ⭐⭐⭐⭐

Open your PNG in Inkscape (File → Import)
Select the image → Path → Trace Bitmap
Choose "Colors" and set the number of scans (8-16 for a color logo)
Tick "Stack scans" for better precision
Click "OK" and move the vector that has been created
Delete the original bitmap image
Export as SVG (File → Save As → Plain SVG)

Method 3 — Online vectorization (fast)

Several online tools offer automatic vectorization with nothing to install:

vectorizer.io: very good quality for simple logos
Adobe Express: vectorization built into the Adobe ecosystem
remove.bg + SVG: background removal, then SVG export

Limitation: Lower quality than Illustrator for complex logos. Suitable for 2-3 color logos with clean shapes.

Method 4 — Recreate your logo directly in vector form

If your PNG logo is poor quality, pixelated, or too complex for automatic vectorization, the best solution is sometimes to start from scratch. With BrandMotion Lab you get a logo already vectorized as SVG, EPS and PDF — with no vectorization step at all.

It is the simplest and cheapest method: instead of paying a designer to vectorize your old logo (€50-150), regenerate a modern, professional logo.

Checking the quality of your vectorization

After vectorizing, always check:

Zoom to 1000%: the edges must be crisp, with no pixel staircasing
Test in black and white: the shapes must stay legible
Check the number of anchor points: a simple logo should not have more than 500 points
Test-print on a laser printer if you can