How do I vectorize an image for a school or university project for free?

Updated on 6 October 2026

Drop the image into the Homotope workshop, pick a preset and download the SVG or PNG: it is free, with no account and no limit (except transparent background and recolouring, Pro), and the image stays on your computer.

PNG illustration: potted plant shaded in two tones, dark brown outline, yellow sun. — 600 × 600 px PNG and the SVG produced by the engine, Illustration preset, “Number of colours” set to 10, untouched: the ten colours of the drawing, none invented: one per thread, screen or vinyl.

The same illustration traced to SVG, each area a single colour. — 600 × 600 px PNG and the SVG produced by the engine, Illustration preset, “Number of colours” set to 10, untouched: the ten colours of the drawing, none invented: one per thread, screen or vinyl.

×6 detail: a leaf: outline, light fill and shadow fill. Drag the slider to compare; hover over the image or hold your finger on it to move the magnifier.

Try it with your image Open this example in the workshop

Which projects

A poster: the SVG scales without blur from A4 to A1.
A dissertation or report: a diagram or logo that prints sharp, as an SVG or an enlarged PNG (×0.5 to ×8, or a set width).
A mock-up or a presentation: shapes you can recolour in your layout software.
A student society logo: grabbed as a blurry JPEG, made sharp with the Logo preset.

Open the workshop and drop your PNG, JPG or WebP.
Pick Logo, Illustration or “Line art” (scanned sketch), and compare with the slider.
Download the SVG, or export a PNG.

Nothing leaves your computer: see vectorize without uploading.

Image rights and the makerspace

Vectorizing an image does not make it copyright-free: use an image you are allowed to reuse (your own, one under an open licence, or with its author’s permission) and credit its source in your work, as you would a quotation.

For the makerspace laser cutter or plotter you need a DXF, a PDF or a single-stroke trace: those are production exports, which need an account (2 free per month). See the laser cutting guide and pencil sketch to SVG.

Production exports (DXF, EPS, PDF, separations): 2 free per month with an account, unlimited with Pro; without Pro, 1 credit each beyond those 2. Prices are on the Pricing page.

The limits

There is no student plan and no discount: what is free is free for everyone, details on the students page and in how much vectorizing costs. A photo becomes a posterised image, not a line drawing; a small PNG that is upscaled cannot invent missing details: start from the largest version.

Frequently asked questions

Do I need an account for a class presentation?

No: tracing, SVG and PNG are free and need no account. An account is only for production exports and the gallery.

Can I vectorize an image I found online for my dissertation?

Only if you are allowed to use it: vectorizing changes nothing about copyright. Always credit the source.

Is there a student discount?

No, there is no student offer: the essentials are already free for everyone, and production exports cost 1 credit each after the 2 free ones a month with an account.

Guides and conversions

Try it with your image