Best Tools to Convert Image to Vector (Illustrator & Alternatives!)

Wade McMaster - Creator Impact
14 May 202415:09

TLDRThis video reviews the best online tools and software for converting images to vector formats. The host tests several tools using different images, including a simple hamburger, a detailed samurai helmet, and a complex image of a girl with gradients. Vectorizer AI stands out for its quality and consistency, though it requires a subscription. Adobe Express offers a free option but with less precision. Adobe Illustrator's in-app converter and Vector Magic provide more control with varying results. CorelDRAW's vectorizer impresses with speed and detail, making it a strong contender. Vectorizer.io offers the most control but at a higher cost. The video concludes with a direct comparison, recommending Vectorizer AI for its balance of quality and cost.

Takeaways

  • 😀 The video reviews the best tools for converting images to vector formats, including Adobe Illustrator and alternatives.
  • 🔍 The test uses three different images with varying levels of detail to evaluate the converters' effectiveness.
  • 💰 Vectorizer AI is highlighted as a top choice with a simple interface and good results, but it comes at a cost of about $10 per month.
  • 🎨 Adobe Express offers a free PNG to SVG converter that, while basic, provides decent results for the price.
  • 🤖 Adobe Illustrator's in-app image trace feature is capable but may require manual adjustments for optimal results.
  • 🏎️ CorelDRAW's trace function is noted for its speed and power, making it a strong contender, especially for those who already own the software.
  • 🔧 Vector Magic and Vectorizer.io provide more control over the conversion process with various settings to adjust detail and color handling.
  • 🌟 Vectorizer AI stands out as the best overall service for its balance of quality and cost, though it may not be suitable for all types of images.
  • 📊 The video concludes with a direct comparison of the converters, showing the strengths and weaknesses of each in handling detailed images.
  • 🔗 Links to all the apps and websites mentioned are provided in the video description for further exploration.

Q & A

  • What is the main topic of the video?

    -The main topic of the video is to find and test the best online tools and programs for converting images to vector files.

  • Which images were used in the video to test the vector conversion tools?

    -Three images were used: a simple hamburger image, a detailed vector-style image of a Samurai helmet, and a complex image of a girl with gradients.

  • What is the first vector converter tool discussed in the video?

    -The first vector converter tool discussed is Vectorizer AI, which has a simple drag and drop interface and offers various file format options.

  • How much does Vectorizer AI cost?

    -Vectorizer AI costs about $10 a month for its service.

  • How does Adobe Express's free PNG SVG converter perform in the video?

    -Adobe Express's free converter performs decently for free, but it can be a bit rough and may require some manual work to clean up the results.

  • What is the advantage of using Adobe Illustrator's in-app converter?

    -Adobe Illustrator's in-app converter offers more control over the conversion process with various settings and presets, but it may not be as efficient as other tools.

  • What is the main difference between Vectorizer AI and Vector Magic?

    -Vectorizer AI is praised for its consistency and quality, while Vector Magic offers more control over the detail level and has a slightly different interface.

  • How does CorelDRAW's vectorizing tool compare to the others in the video?

    -CorelDRAW's vectorizing tool is noted for its speed and power, offering detailed settings and producing cohesive shapes, but it requires the purchase of CorelDRAW software.

  • What is Vectorizer.io and how does it perform in the video?

    -Vectorizer.io is another vector conversion service that provides a lot of control over the conversion settings. It performs well, especially for highly detailed images, but can be more complex to use.

  • Which tool is recommended as the best by the video?

    -Vectorizer AI is recommended as the best tool overall due to its balance of quality, cost, and ease of use.

  • What are some other considerations mentioned in the video for choosing a vector conversion tool?

    -Other considerations include the need for a free option, the speed of conversion, the level of control over the conversion process, and the quality of the final vector image.

Outlines

00:00

🍔 Testing Vector Converters with Various Graphics

The video explores the best online vector converters and tests them using three different graphic images: a simple hamburger, a detailed Samurai helmet, and a complex image of a girl with gradients. The author starts with Vectorizer AI, noting its drag-and-drop interface and ability to handle details well. Despite the $10 monthly cost, it produces clean and consistent vector files. The Samurai helmet is converted with good detail, while the girl's image shows some pixelation in shadows and gradients, indicating a limitation with flat colors. The platform's performance is solid, even with challenging images.

05:01

🆓 Adobe Express's Free PNG to SVG Converter

The video then reviews Adobe Express's free PNG to SVG converter. The process involves uploading an image and downloading the SVG. The results for the three test images are shown in Adobe Illustrator, revealing some rough edges and gaps, typical for a free service. The Samurai helmet and the girl's face show room for improvement, suggesting that while free, the converter may require manual cleanup for professional results. The video acknowledges Adobe Express's value for simple, scalable graphics despite its limitations.

10:01

🎨 Adobe Illustrator's In-App Converter and Vector Magic

The author tests Adobe Illustrator's in-app converter, using presets like 'Low Fidelity Photo' and adjusting settings to improve the vector output. The results show fewer gaps but still have some artifacts. Adobe Illustrator's converter is not as impressive as Vectorizer AI, but it's decent for quick jobs. The video also tests Vector Magic, which, despite taking longer, produces clean and sharp results. It offers different detail levels, with the 'low' setting performing well for the simple hamburger image. Vector Magic's paid service provides a solid alternative to Vectorizer AI, with a one-time charge for the desktop application.

15:03

🏺 Comparing Vectorizers: CorelDRAW, Vectorizer.io, and Final Thoughts

CorelDRAW's trace function is tested next, offering quick conversion with settings to adjust detail and smoothing. The results are powerful and cohesive, making it a strong contender, especially for those who already use CorelDRAW. The video then examines Vectorizer.io, which provides extensive options and settings, delivering smooth and detailed results, particularly for complex images. It's noted as the best for highly detailed images but is a paid service. The author concludes that Vectorizer AI is the best overall, offering quality at a reasonable price. CorelDRAW is praised for speed and control, while Vectorizer.io provides the most control. The video ends with a direct comparison in Photoshop, highlighting the strengths of each converter.

👋 Wrapping Up the Vector Conversion Test

In the conclusion, the author summarizes the findings, recommending Vectorizer AI for its quality and cost-effectiveness. Adobe Express is suggested for those needing a free option, despite its limitations. The video also endorses CorelDRAW for speed and Vectorizer.io for detailed control. A direct comparison in Photoshop visually demonstrates the quality differences between the converters, with Vectorizer AI standing out. The author thanks viewers for watching and provides links to the apps and websites discussed in the video.

Mindmap

Keywords

💡Vector Converters

Vector converters are tools or software that transform raster images (pixel-based images like JPEGs) into vector images (shape-based images like SVGs or AI files). In the video, the host tests various online and program-based vector converters to see how well they handle the conversion of different types of images, including a simple hamburger image, a detailed Samurai helmet, and a complex image of a girl with gradients.

💡Raster Images

Raster images, also known as bitmaps, are digital images composed of a grid of pixels. Each pixel contains color information that, when viewed from a distance, forms a coherent image. The video mentions raster images in the context of the starting point for conversion to vector format, highlighting the differences in handling detail and complexity between raster and vector formats.

💡Vectorizer AI

Vectorizer AI is a specific online vector conversion tool mentioned in the video. It offers a drag-and-drop interface and provides options to compare the original and converted images. The video demonstrates that Vectorizer AI handles detailed images well, creating clean shapes and maintaining consistency across various image types, although it comes at a monthly subscription cost.

💡Adobe Express

Adobe Express is highlighted as a free tool within the Adobe suite that includes a PNG to SVG converter. The video shows that while Adobe Express provides a free conversion option, the results may require some manual cleanup due to gaps and artifacts in the converted images. It's noted for its ease of use but also its limitations in quality compared to paid services.

💡Image Trace

Image trace is a feature within vector graphic software like Adobe Illustrator that allows for the conversion of raster images into vector formats. The script describes using the 'Image Trace' feature in Adobe Illustrator to convert a bitmap image into a vector graphic, adjusting settings to optimize the conversion process.

💡Vector Magic

Vector Magic is another vector conversion tool discussed in the video. It is noted for its simple drag-and-drop interface and the ability to adjust detail levels in the conversion process. The video compares Vector Magic's performance with other tools, noting that while it takes longer to process, it provides solid results, especially at lower detail settings.

💡CorelDRAW

CorelDRAW is a vector graphics editor software that includes a trace function for converting raster images to vectors. The video mentions CorelDRAW as a powerful and fast option for vectorization, particularly when settings are adjusted for detail and smoothing. It's noted for its ability to handle complex images but also for the need to manage the balance between detail and processing power.

💡Vectorizer.io

Vectorizer.io is a vector conversion service that offers advanced control over the conversion process through various settings like detail level and color management. The video describes it as a service that provides highly detailed and smooth results, particularly for complex images, but also notes that it is a paid service with different pricing options.

💡Detail Level

Detail level is a setting in vector conversion tools that determines the complexity and accuracy of the vector image produced. The video discusses how adjusting the detail level can affect the outcome of the conversion, with higher detail levels capturing more nuances but potentially increasing processing time and complexity.

💡Gradients and Fades

Gradients and fades refer to smooth transitions between colors in an image. The video script discusses the challenges these present in vector conversion, as many tools are designed to work with flat colors. The host tests how each tool handles images with gradients, noting the differences in the quality and accuracy of the converted images.

Highlights

Testing various online and in-program vector converters using three different graphics.

Vectorizer AI offers a simple drag and drop interface and handles simple images well.

Vectorizer AI provides various file format options and quality controls for output.

Adobe Express's free PNG SVG converter is basic but free, with some rough edges.

Adobe Illustrator's in-app converter offers presets and advanced options for image trace.

Vector Magic provides a simple interface with different detail levels and output options.

CorelDRAW's trace function is fast and offers a high level of detail and control.

Vectorizer IO provides a lot of control over the vectorization process with various settings.

Comparison of the converters shows Vectorizer AI producing the smoothest and most accurate results.

Adobe Express converter is free but produces results with gaps and rough edges.

CorelDRAW's vectorizer is fast but can have issues with corners and details.

Vectorizer IO offers impressive color blending but can have weird corners in the results.

Vectorizer AI is recommended for its quality and simplicity in vectorizing images.

CorelDRAW is a good option for those who need speed and control, but it requires a subscription.

Vectorizer Magic and Vectorizer IO are good for more control but may not be as user-friendly.

The video provides a direct comparison of the vectorization results in Photoshop.

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