How to Convert PNG to SVG in Inkscape (2026 Step-by-Step)
A step-by-step guide to converting a PNG to SVG in Inkscape using Trace Bitmap — including single-color vs. full-color tracing, cleaning up the result, and saving a real vector file. Tested in Inkscape 1.4.
Inkscape is the most capable free way to convert a PNG to SVG, because it does real tracing — it rebuilds your image as vector paths instead of just wrapping the pixels in an SVG tag. It runs entirely on your computer, so nothing gets uploaded, and you get full control over the trace. The trade-off is that it's a manual process with a few settings to understand. This guide walks through the whole thing.
Everything below was tested in Inkscape 1.4 on macOS. The menu paths are the same on Windows and Linux, and they've been stable across the Inkscape 1.x releases.
What Inkscape can and can't do
Inkscape's Trace Bitmap works beautifully on logos, icons, line art, and other flat, high-contrast graphics. It does not turn a photograph into a clean vector — you'll get a huge, blotchy file. Start with the cleanest, highest-resolution PNG you have.
Step 1: Install Inkscape
Download Inkscape for free from inkscape.org. On macOS you can also install it with Homebrew:
brew install --cask inkscapeOpen the app and you're ready. No account, no sign-in.
Step 2: Import your PNG
Open a new document and bring in the image
Go to File → Import (or just drag your PNG onto the Inkscape canvas). In the import dialog, keep the defaults — Embed is fine for a one-off — and click OK. Your PNG now sits on the canvas as a bitmap object.
Select the image
Click the image once with the selection tool (the arrow, keyboard S). You should see the selection handles around it. Trace Bitmap only works on a selected bitmap.
Step 3: Open Trace Bitmap
Go to Path → Trace Bitmap… (shortcut Shift + Alt + B). A panel opens with a live preview on the right and two modes at the top: Single scan and Multiple scans. This is where the real work happens.
Choose single-color or full-color
- For a one-color silhouette (a solid black mark, or artwork you'll recolor yourself), use Single scan → Brightness cutoff. Drag the Threshold slider until the preview captures the shape you want — higher values include more of the image.
- For a multi-color logo, switch to Multiple scans → Colors. Set the number of Scans to roughly the number of distinct colors in your logo (start with 4–8). This keeps your reds red and your blues blue instead of flattening everything.
Tune the clean-up options
A few settings make a big difference:
- Smooth softens jagged edges from the original pixels.
- Speckles (speckle suppression) removes tiny stray dots left by anti-aliasing.
- Smooth corners and Optimize reduce the number of anchor points for a cleaner, lighter path.
- Stack scans keeps the color layers tidily on top of one another (leave it on for multi-color).
Watch the preview update as you change them. There's no single correct setting — nudge until the preview matches your artwork.
Apply the trace
Click Apply. Inkscape traces the image and drops the new vector paths directly on top of the original bitmap. It looks like nothing changed, but there are now real vector shapes sitting over your PNG.
Step 4: Remove the original bitmap
The trace result and the original PNG are stacked in the same spot. You want to keep only the vector.
Drag the vector aside
With the selection tool, click and drag the top object (the trace) to an empty area of the canvas. The original PNG is left behind underneath.
Delete the PNG
Click the leftover bitmap and press Delete. Now drag your vector back into place. To confirm it's a real vector, open Path → Object to Path if needed, then zoom way in — the edges should stay crisp with no pixelation.
Step 5: Save as a real SVG
Go to File → Save As and choose one of:
- Plain SVG — a clean, standard SVG that works everywhere. Best default.
- Optimized SVG — smaller file, strips Inkscape-specific metadata. Great for the web.
- Inkscape SVG — keeps editing metadata; use it only if you'll keep editing in Inkscape.
Pick Plain SVG (or Optimized SVG for web use), name your file, and save. That's a genuine, scalable vector you can resize to any dimension, recolor, or hand to a printer.
Exporting back to PNG
Need a PNG of your finished vector at a specific size? Inkscape does that from the command line too, which is handy for batches:
inkscape logo.svg --export-type=png --export-filename=logo.png -w 1024That command was tested in Inkscape 1.4 and produces a 1024×1024 PNG with transparency preserved.
When Inkscape isn't the right tool
Inkscape is unbeatable for free, private, hands-on tracing. But it's manual, and it can't improve a low-quality source — tracing a blurry or tiny PNG just gives you a blurry, lumpy vector.
If you'd rather skip the manual steps, our online PNG to SVG converter traces in color in your browser with no install and no account to try. And if your PNG is too rough to trace cleanly, the real fix is a better source: generate a fresh, high-resolution logo with AI and export a clean vector from the start.
Frequently asked questions
Why does my traced SVG look pixelated?
It usually isn't — the original bitmap is still sitting underneath the trace. Make sure you dragged the vector aside and deleted the PNG (Step 4). If the vector itself looks rough, your source PNG was probably low resolution; trace a larger, cleaner version.
How do I keep the colors when converting?
Use Multiple scans → Colors in Trace Bitmap, not Single scan. Set the number of scans close to the number of colors in your logo, and leave Stack scans on.
My trace has thousands of tiny dots. How do I fix it?
Raise the Speckles (speckle suppression) value and turn on Smooth. Those stray dots come from anti-aliased edges in the PNG; suppressing speckles and smoothing removes most of them.
Is Inkscape really free?
Yes — it's open-source and free for any use, with no watermark, account, or paywall. The only "cost" is the manual effort of tracing.
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