Best Practices for Successful Vectorization

Introduction

The quality of your vectorization largely depends on preparing your source image. Follow these best practices to get optimal results with Vectosolve.

Preparing Your Source Image

1. Optimal Resolution

Recommendation: 300 DPI minimum

A high-resolution image provides more details for AI to create precise vectors.

Good: 2000x2000 pixels
Medium: 1000x1000 pixels
Avoid: less than 500x500 pixels

2. High Contrast

AI detects shapes better with good contrast:

Pure white background (#FFFFFF)

Elements in saturated colors

Avoid ambiguous medium grays

3. Sharp Edges

Do:

Use defined edges

Avoid artistic blur

Clean JPEG artifacts

Avoid:

Heavily compressed images

Blurry or shaded contours

Excessive antialiasing

4. Appropriate Background

Ideal: Transparent background (PNG) or solid white

Problematic:

Textured backgrounds

Complex gradients

Photos in background

Image Types and Expected Results

Excellent Candidates

#### Logos

Result: Near perfect

Tips: Provide the sharpest version available

#### Icons

Result: Excellent

Tips: Simple and geometric shapes ideal

#### Flat Design Illustrations

Result: Very good

Tips: Solid colors, distinct shapes

#### Text

Result: Good

Tips: Sans-serif fonts recommended

Acceptable Candidates

#### Detailed Illustrations

Result: Good with simplification

Tips: Accept some loss of detail

#### Complex Graphics

Result: Variable

Tips: May require manual touch-ups

Difficult Candidates

#### Realistic Photos

Result: Artistic stylization

Tips: Expect an illustrative render, not realistic

#### Highly Textured Images

Result: Significant simplification

Tips: May not suit all uses

Optimizing Conversion Parameters

Detail Level

High: For images with many small elements

More anchor points

Heavier file

Better fidelity

Medium: Recommended general balance

Good size/quality compromise

Suitable for most uses

Low: For simple shapes

Light file

Smoothed curves

Ideal for web

Number of Colors

Adapt according to your image:

2-8 colors: Simple logos, icons

8-16 colors: Basic illustrations

16-32 colors: Detailed illustrations

32+ colors: Complex images (heavier file)

Recommended Post-Processing

1. Check Paths

After conversion, examine:

Junctions between shapes

Overly complex curves

Small parasitic elements

2. Clean SVG Code

Remove:

Empty groups

Unnecessary attributes

Export metadata

3. Optimize Colors

Use named colors or CSS variables

Group elements of the same color

Check consistency with your brand guidelines

4. Test Scalability

Check your SVG at different sizes:

16x16 pixels (favicon)

200x200 pixels (standard web use)

1000+ pixels (printing)

Practical Cases

Case 1: Old Company Logo

Problem: Pixelated logo in low-resolution JPEG

Solution:

1. Scan the printed logo in high resolution if possible

2. Clean the image (contrast, noise removal)

3. Convert with Vectosolve at high detail

4. Manually refine curves if necessary

Case 2: Application Icons

Objective: Consistent set of SVG icons

Approach:

1. Create/obtain icons as 512x512 PNG

2. Transparent background

3. Uniform stroke thickness

4. Batch convert with same parameters

5. Check style consistency

Case 3: Complex Infographic

Challenge: Many elements and text

Strategy:

1. Separate elements if possible

2. Convert by sections

3. Assemble resulting SVGs

4. Check text readability

Common Mistakes to Avoid

1. Source Image Too Small

Problem: Blurry and imprecise result
Solution: Always use the highest resolution available

2. Excessive JPEG Compression

Problem: Artifacts reproduced in SVG
Solution: Use PNG or maximum quality JPEG

3. Expecting a Realistic Photo

Problem: Disappointment with the result
Solution: Understand that vectorization naturally simplifies

4. Ignoring Post-Processing

Problem: Non-optimized file
Solution: Always clean and optimize the final SVG

Recommended Workflow

1. Evaluation: Is the image suitable for vectorization?

2. Preparation: Clean, improve contrast

3. Conversion: Use Vectosolve with the right parameters

4. Review: Examine the result at different sizes

5. Optimization: Clean the code, reduce size

6. Test: Check in final use context

Complementary Tools

Image Preparation

Photoshop / GIMP for cleaning

Remove.bg for background removal

SVG Post-Processing

Inkscape for modifications

SVGO for code optimization

Vectosolve for color editor

Conclusion

Successful vectorization is the result of good preparation, appropriate parameters, and careful post-processing. By following these best practices, you'll get high-quality SVGs optimized for all your needs. Vectosolve simplifies this process, but understanding these principles will help you maximize the quality of your results.