Guide · 4 min read

Vectorize an image in Canva, or bring in a clean SVG.

Canva's free Tracer and Vectorizer apps turn a picture into vectors. Or convert it first and upload a clean SVG: every color one shape you can recolor in Canva.

A rose pink tulip with darker pink petal edges in front of a butter yellow sun, a sage stem and two broad sage leaves, inside a round plum badge, on a transparent background
The PNG as uploaded1,606 KBVecSnap's SVG2.4 KB79 anchor points

To vectorize an image in Canva, open Apps, search for Tracer or Vectorizer, both free on any plan, or Vectorify on a paid plan, then convert the picture and add the result to your design. Downloading a PNG as an SVG is not the same: the SVG keeps the picture's pixels inside. For a logo you can recolor anywhere, convert it first and upload the SVG: Canva lists each color of its shapes, ready to change.

Updated 10 sources ↓

In Canva

Can Canva vectorize an image?

Yes, with an app. Open Apps, search for Tracer or Vectorizer, both free on any Canva plan, or Vectorify on a paid one, then convert the picture and add the result to your design.

Canva's own pages call it the AI Vectorizer. The three apps are made by other developers and listed in Canva's Apps: Tracer in black and white or full color, still in beta; Vectorizer in full color; Vectorify in full color or black and white.

  • Inside CanvaAn app from Canva's Apps
    • Tracer and Vectorizer: free on any plan
    • Vectorify: on a paid Canva plan
    • The result is added to your design
    • Downloading it as an SVG needs a paid plan
  • Before CanvaUpload a clean SVG
    • Drop the picture on VecSnap, check it up close
    • Download the SVG and upload it to Canva
    • Each color one shape: recolor it in Canva
    • Converting and previewing are free
    PNG to SVG

The SVG trap

Does downloading a PNG as an SVG vectorize it?

No. An SVG can hold a picture as it is, its pixels inside the file. Downloading a picture as an SVG does not draw it again as shapes, so it still blurs up close, and a cutter or Illustrator finds one image where it expects paths.

Canva's own elements, its shapes and lines, download as vector shapes. A picture you uploaded is not one, so in the SVG it stays a picture. To tell, open the file in a text editor: an image element is pixels, paths and circles are shapes.

A picture saved as an SVG file
<svg viewBox="0 0 1200 1200">
  <image width="1200" height="1200"
    href="data:image/png;base64,iVBORw0KGgoAAAANSUhEUgAA…"/>
</svg>
  • One image element: the pixels inside
  • Squares when you zoom in
The florist's real SVG
2.4 KB, the whole file
<svg xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg" viewBox="0 0 2048 2048">
<circle cx="1024.05" cy="1023.47" r="657.64" fill="#4c2943"/>
<path fill="#87aa91" d="M1073.63 1179.09l.03 501.41q-42.34 3.48-99.29-.13L974.4 1179q1.06.36 5.78.94c22.65 2.78 45.5 4.96 68.41 2.17l25.04-3.02z"/>
<path fill="#f4ca67" d="M826.46 1099.28A348.95 348.95 0 0 1 679.2 905.35c-74.8-245.34 129.98-484.28 382.75-457.5 242.52 25.7 392.98 280.23 289.42 503.96-27.66 59.58-73.79 113.2-129.74 147.43q-4.52 4.86-13.92 13.37c-37.27 33.88-84.53 57.12-134.08 66.48l-25.04 3.02c-22.91 2.79-45.76.61-68.41-2.17q-4.72-.58-5.78-.94-80.49-14.18-146.1-77.82c-.73-.82-1.05-1.46-1.84-1.9z"/>
<path fill="#d1576d" d="M1221.63 1099.24q-4.52 4.86-13.92 13.37c-37.27 33.88-84.53 57.12-134.08 66.48l-25.04 3.02c-22.91 2.79-45.76.61-68.41-2.17q-4.72-.58-5.78-.94-80.49-14.18-146.1-77.82c-.73-.82-1.05-1.46-1.84-1.9-47.58-49.64-74.51-114.48-75.75-183.58l-.05-208.87c-.37-17.32 13.12-31.4 30.54-31.08A251.08 251.08 0 0 1 905.12 710.8q30.68-62.59 89.69-98.49c25.28-15.46 33.31-15.24 58.45-.11 39.31 23.27 69.9 57.31 89.83 98.5q57.29-33.15 125.04-34.97c15.34-.24 28.76 13.23 28.98 28.44l-.18 211.47q-.02 3.6-.05 3.94c-1.48 67.64-29.1 131.16-75.25 179.66z"/>
<path fill="#87aa91" d="M1456.79 1135.98c5.27 5.01 9.67 13.64 9.79 21.13l-.02 171.9c.03 1.35.02 2.8-.17 4.05-1.55 62.19-29.82 90.82-74.58 128.08-66.65 55.97-138.2 92.86-222.33 116.33-17.31 4.72-38.01-11.3-38.12-29.09l-.21-172.37c-.55-142.15 106.97-249.3 248.76-249.35l57.39.38c6.6.15 14.79 4.46 19.49 8.94z"/>
<path fill="#87aa91" d="M591.19 1135.97q9.35-9.23 24.83-9.16l55.95-.01c138.28.76 244.86 108.44 244.9 246.69l-.24 174.85c-.06 18.42-20.7 33.82-38.44 28.89-79.34-22.08-146.97-56.05-211.13-107.48-52.85-42.36-84.92-72.17-85.49-144.77l-.08-162.77q-.14-16.64 9.7-26.24z"/>
<path fill="#e37182" d="M823.66 740.46c6.48 2 13.69 3.77 20.17 6.17 77.45 28.51 127.74 100.62 130.14 182.71-.05 1.87.16 3.7.13 5.54l.05 170.8c-57.46-15.13-104.39-52.85-130.52-106.03-14.86-30.23-19.95-59.5-20.03-92.98l.06-166.21z"/>
<path fill="#e37182" d="M1073.88 1105.61l.12-171.3q0-6.84.2-8c2.29-81.48 59.26-158.93 137.88-182.1l12.32-3.71.1 166.85c.1 65.09-25.45 121.33-76.3 161.68q-32.26 25.45-74.32 36.58z"/>
<path fill="#e37182" d="M1023.89 663.28c31.45 18.76 56.38 49.21 71.71 83.14q-31.37 30.1-50.08 65.56-11.01 20.87-21.53 54.84c-4.39-13.56-9.34-29.27-15.81-43.43q-19.27-42.18-55.63-76.84c15.47-34.35 39.58-63.25 71.34-83.27z"/>
</svg>
  • Every part a shape
  • Sharp at any zoom

Recolor

How do I change a logo's colors in Canva?

Upload it as an SVG made of shapes: Canva shows each color of the file in its toolbar, and one change repaints every shape of that color. A picture only takes an effect laid over it, such as Duotone.
A rose pink tulip with darker pink petal edges in front of a butter yellow sun, a sage stem and two broad sage leaves, inside a round plum badge, on a transparent background: as drawnAs drawnthe file's own colors
A rose pink tulip with darker pink petal edges in front of a butter yellow sun, a sage stem and two broad sage leaves, inside a round plum badge, on a transparent background: new brand colorsNew brand colorsthe badge navy, the tulip coral
A rose pink tulip with darker pink petal edges in front of a butter yellow sun, a sage stem and two broad sage leaves, inside a round plum badge, on a transparent background: for springFor springa green badge, a paler sun
A rose pink tulip with darker pink petal edges in front of a butter yellow sun, a sage stem and two broad sage leaves, inside a round plum badge, on a transparent background: graysGraysfor a print in one ink

Canva's rules

What kind of SVG does Canva accept?

Canva asks for an SVG under 3 MB, with its strokes and text expanded into shapes, same-colored shapes grouped, no gradients or textures, and no stray anchor points.

Grouping same-colored shapes and clearing stray anchor points are worth a check in any editor before you upload.

  • Under 3 MB

    Why it matters
    A heavier file is refused at upload
    The florist's file
    2.4 KBthe Web file

  • Strokes and text expanded

    Why it matters
    A line or a font may not come through as drawn
    The florist's file
    Filled shapes onlyno strokes, no live text

  • No gradients or textures

    Why it matters
    A flat color is what Canva lets you change
    The florist's file
    Flat colors only

In one step

How do I vectorize a PNG for Canva for free?

Drop it on VecSnap: it draws the picture again as shapes, free to convert and preview. Then upload the SVG to Canva, on any plan.

Drop your logo. Get its SVG.

  1. Drop the picture: a logo, an icon or a sticker.
  2. Check it up close, anchor points on.
  3. Choose fewer colors if you want fewer swatches in Canva.
  4. Download the SVG and upload it to Canva.

Questions

Canva and SVG, answered.

Sources

Yes. Its listing in Canva's Apps says it is free to use with any Canva plan; its full-color mode is still in beta.

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Drop an image. Check the file.

Converting is free. You see the whole result before you spend anything.