VTracer Spline Mode — Smooth Gradients

Photo to SVG —
Vector Art from Any Photograph

Vector Squid uses VTracer's spline-based colour tracing to convert photographs into smooth, gradient-rich SVG art. Unlike Potrace-style converters, spline tracing captures smooth curves and colour transitions from real photos.

Convert a Photo to SVG → Try Hybrid Mode →

Two Photo Vectorization Modes

Choose based on how you want the output to look.

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Photo Mode (VTracer)

Pure spline-based multi-colour tracing. Captures gradient transitions and rich colour depth. Best for portraits, landscapes, and anything with smooth tonal variation.

Hybrid Mode (VTracer + Potrace)

VTracer colour rendering clipped by a crisp Potrace silhouette outline. Best for subjects with sharp edges against a background — product shots, isolated portraits.

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Background Removal First

Remove the background before converting to SVG for a cleaner result — especially useful for product photos or portrait shots where the subject is the focus.

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Speckle & Smoothness Controls

Adjust speckle suppression to remove noise, and curve smoothness to control how tightly the splines follow the original colours. Preview updates in real time.

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Your Photos Stay Private

No photo is ever uploaded. All conversion happens in your browser using Rust compiled to WebAssembly. Zero server, zero storage.

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Refine After Converting

Use the Refine tab to recolour paths, merge layers, remove unwanted details, or adjust fill colours before exporting.

Convert a Photo to Vector Art Free

No account needed. Drop any photo and download SVG vector art in seconds.

Open Vector Squid in Photo Mode →

FAQ

Can Vector Squid turn a photo into vector art without losing gradients?

Yes. Photo mode uses VTracer's spline-based tracing instead of flat colour segmentation, so smooth tonal transitions in portraits, landscapes, and product shots are preserved as curved colour regions rather than banding.

What's the difference between Photo mode and Hybrid mode?

Photo mode traces the whole image with VTracer's gradient-rich splines. Hybrid mode clips that same colour tracing with a crisp Potrace silhouette outline — better when the subject has sharp edges against a background, like a product photo or isolated portrait.

Will a photo-to-SVG conversion create a huge file?

Speckle suppression and curve smoothness controls keep path counts manageable. Complex photos still produce more paths than a simple logo, so for very detailed images consider cropping to the subject or removing the background first.

Do I need to upload my photo to a server?

No. Vector Squid runs entirely in your browser using WebAssembly — Rust-compiled VTracer and Potrace both execute locally. Your photo is never uploaded, which matters for private or unreleased product photography.