Image Trace

Convert a flat image into crisp, fully editable vectors with Affinity's Image Trace.

Get Affinity
by canva in white text

How to trace an image in Affinity

Looking for a reliable vector trace tool? Affinity's image to vector conversion gives you clean, editable results. Here's how to use it.

Merged images icon

Select Image Trace

Place a raster image on the canvas, then select Image Trace from the Vector menu. Affinity immediately shows a live preview of the traced result, so you can see exactly what you're getting.

Icon sliders

Adjust the trace settings

Adjust the trace using controls for edge threshold and curve fitting tolerance. Increase or reduce detail, smooth curves, and control how closely the vector follows the original image, with the preview updating in real time as you adjust.

Magic pencil icon

Apply and refine the vector

Apply the trace to convert the image into editable vector paths, then fine-tune the artwork using Affinity's full toolset, including node editing, fills, strokes, layers, and compositing tools.

Don't redraw

From raster to vector, Affinity gives you a fast, reliable way to convert images without starting from scratch, so you can move straight into refining your work. Whether you’re digitizing sketches or recreating existing artwork, it’s a streamlined image to vector workflow designed to save time and keep you moving.

Creative using Affinity Image Trace feature to convert a baseball club logo from raster to vector.

Clean vectors you can actually use

Convert raster images into smooth, scalable vector paths that are ready to work with. Logos, icons, illustrations, and hand-drawn artwork are translated into clean shapes with clear structure, so you spend less time fixing messy results and more time refining your design. It’s image to vector conversion built for real world use, not cleanup.

Creative using Affinity Image Trace feature to convert an illustrated character from raster to vector.

Shape the trace as you go

Image Trace in Affinity gives you control throughout the tracing process, not just after. Adjust edge threshold and curve fitting tolerance with a live preview that updates in real time, so you can fine-tune how closely the vector follows the original image. Once applied, everything remains fully editable, letting you tweak and refine without breaking your flow.

Creative using Affinity Image Trace feature showing vector nodes on a traced cat illustration.

FAQs

  • Image Trace is a vector design feature that converts raster images, like JPGs or PNGs, into editable vector artwork. It’s a fast, reliable way to convert an image to vector, giving you scalable paths that you can refine, edit, and build on inside Affinity.

  • They’re often used interchangeably. Image trace describes the process of converting an image into vectors, while vector trace refers to the resulting vector artwork. In Affinity, Image Trace covers both, giving you control over how images are traced and edited as vectors.

  • Yes. Once you apply Image Trace, the result becomes fully editable vector paths. You can adjust nodes, curves, shapes, fills, and strokes just like any other vector artwork in Affinity.

  • Image Trace works best with logos, icons, illustrations, line art, and hand-drawn sketches. Images with clear shapes and contrast tend to produce the cleanest results, which you can then refine further if needed.

  • Yes. Traced vectors scale cleanly to any size, making them suitable for logos, branding, print, and other professional design work where precision and clarity matter.

  • No. Image Trace is designed to give you a clean, editable foundation without redrawing from scratch. You can refine and improve the traced vectors directly, saving time while keeping full creative control.

  • Yes. Affinity’s Image Trace is built for designers who want clean, editable vectors. You can adjust thresholds, curves, and detail in real time, shaping the result as you go. Once applied, everything stays editable, so you can refine your work without switching tools or breaking your flow.

Start on a cleaner path