Settings shown by default
VectorizeThis only shows controls that apply to the current image and use case. A missing control usually means that the source analysis found no relevant choice to make. Changing a tracing setting recalculates the SVG; display-only controls do not.
Simplify
Simplify controls how closely paths follow small changes in the raster image. Raise it to produce smoother shapes with fewer nodes and often a smaller SVG. Lower it when corners, narrow details, or subtle contours have been rounded away. A very low value can retain raster noise as geometry, while a very high value can change the intended silhouette.
Background
Background controls how a detected flat outer background is handled:
- Auto uses source analysis and the selected use case to decide whether the background belongs in the output.
- Remove excludes the detected outer background so the SVG can sit on other colors.
- Preserve traces the background as artwork.
This control may be absent for an image that already contains transparency or when a reliable outer background cannot be identified.
Remove inner background
This checkbox appears only when VectorizeThis finds enclosed areas whose color matches, or is very close to, the detected background. Enable it to remove those inner regions too. It is useful when white holes should remain transparent, but it can also remove intentional white artwork, so compare the preview before downloading.
Use currentColor
For eligible one-color Web or Logo results, Use currentColor replaces the fixed output color with the SVG keyword currentColor. The SVG then inherits CSS text color from the page where it is embedded. Disable it to choose a fixed color with the swatch. This option is not shown where inherited color would be unsuitable, including fabrication outputs.
Crop SVG to meaningful content
This option appears when the detected artwork has meaningful empty space around it. Enabling it adjusts the SVG viewport to the visible content. It does not stretch the paths. Keep the original viewport when the whitespace is part of the intended alignment or composition.
Longest side and units
Fabrication use cases can expose a physical Longest side value in millimetres or inches. It assigns an intended real-world size to the output while keeping the original aspect ratio. It does not prove that thin features, kerf, clearances, or machine-specific requirements are safe.
Max colors
Max colors limits the palette available to color tracing. Lower values can consolidate similar shades and reduce paths; higher values can preserve gradients and subtle detail at the cost of more layers and larger files. The number is a tracing limit, not a promise that every color will appear. The control is hidden for monochrome sources or where color tracing does not apply.
Advanced settings
Open Advanced settings when the default result needs a specific tracing or output change. Availability still depends on the image and use case.
Color mode
- Auto keeps the source-aware color strategy chosen by VectorizeThis.
- Black & White traces a single foreground shape. On switching to this mode, the editable swatch starts at black. Returning to Auto restores the earlier source color.
Black & White can remove color noise and create simpler geometry, but it also discards intentional color separation. The one remaining swatch can still be edited after the switch.
Clustering
Clustering determines how raster pixels are grouped into regions before their outlines are traced:
- Binary separates foreground from background and works best for high-contrast, one-color art.
- Color cluster groups similar colors into layered regions and is the general choice for flat multicolor artwork.
- Watershed separates regions using local image structure and can help where touching areas need different boundaries.
The best choice depends on edges and color distribution. A method that adds detail can also add paths or small islands.
Merge paths
Merge paths lets SVG optimization combine compatible geometry. It can reduce markup and path count without visibly changing the result. Disable it when a downstream editor needs separate paths or when you are investigating an unexpected merge.
Remove width and height (use viewBox instead)
This removes fixed width and height attributes while retaining the viewBox. The resulting SVG scales responsively through CSS or its container. Fabrication workflows may retain explicit dimensions because physical size matters.
Enhance trace input
This conditional option preprocesses the raster before tracing by enlarging and smoothing the trace input. It can help detailed artwork that has a limited initial palette. VectorizeThis tests the eligible image with this option on and off during automatic selection and keeps the stronger starting result. It is not offered for highly multicolor input, and it does not change the uploaded file.
Rotate
Choose 0°, 90°, 180°, or 270° to rotate the raster clockwise before tracing. Because rotation happens before vectorization, the generated SVG contains newly traced coordinates rather than a rotation transform. This is useful for correcting orientation while keeping standalone geometry.
Prettify markup
Prettify markup adds line breaks and indentation to copied and downloaded SVG code. It makes manual inspection easier but usually increases file size. It does not alter the rendered artwork.
Multipass optimization
This runs additional SVG optimization passes after tracing. It may reduce output size further, especially when the generated markup contains repeated or combinable structures. Extra passes can take longer, and some files will not shrink.
SVG precision
SVG precision controls the decimal precision retained in optimized path coordinates. The available values are 0 through 3. Higher precision can preserve fine positional detail but usually produces more bytes. Zero is often enough for typical icons and logos; inspect curved or intricate artwork before lowering it.
Result controls and conditional tools
Color swatches
Swatches list the colors found in the finished SVG. Click one to replace that color throughout the output. When there are more than eight colors, the compact stack expands before a picker opens. Custom choices survive a settings rerun when the new SVG still has the same number of colors. For an implicit-black monochrome SVG, no fill attribute is added unless you actually change the swatch.
Preview background
The Background control above a preview cycles through transparent, white, and black. It changes only the preview surface so you can inspect light, dark, and transparent edges. It never changes copied or downloaded SVG markup.
Clean up tiny islands
If an output check finds very small isolated regions, Clean up tiny islands removes regions classified as incidental specks and recalculates the result. Review the preview because tiny intentional marks can resemble noise.
Output details and SSIM diagnostics
The normal output summary shows path count and file size. On desktop, clicking Output details reveals technical diagnostics: SSIM estimates visual similarity, while SSIM regret is the measured difference between the balanced result and the highest-SSIM candidate. Use SSIM Winner applies the most visually similar measured candidate without preferring a smaller SVG. These diagnostics are intended for investigation; a higher score can come with much heavier geometry.
Bulk edit
With more than one result card, Bulk edit collects the unique controls available across the batch. Stage changes, then apply them together. Cards already using the requested value are not recalculated. See how automatic selection works to understand why two images in one batch may start with different settings, or review all use cases to choose the right priority.
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