Convert PNG to AI, Free
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Conversion runs entirely in your browser. Your file never leaves your device.
How to convert PNG to AI
PNG is a raster format: it stores a fixed grid of pixels, and scaling it up produces blur. Adobe Illustrator's AI format stores vector paths that render sharply at any size. Converting a PNG to AI creates a vector approximation of the raster image, useful when you need to edit logo artwork in Illustrator, scale an image to billboard size, or provide editable vector source files that a client's designer can modify.
This converter traces the PNG's pixel content into vector paths using a browser-based vectorization algorithm running in WebAssembly. The tracing works best on images with distinct color regions and clean edges, such as logos, icons, and illustrations with solid fills. Photographs with continuous tone gradients do not convert well to vector and produce extremely complex, large files.
Upload a suitable PNG
Drop the PNG file onto the converter. Logos, icons, and flat-color illustrations with clear edges produce the best vector results. High-contrast images with fewer colors trace more cleanly.
Adjust tracing settings
Choose color count and smoothing level. Fewer colors produce simpler vector shapes with fewer anchor points. Higher smoothing rounds jagged pixel edges into clean curves.
Convert in browser
The vectorization algorithm identifies color regions in the pixel data and fits Bezier curves to the boundaries between them. This runs locally via WebAssembly; no image is sent to a server.
Download the AI file
Save the .ai file and open it in Illustrator. Expect to spend time cleaning up anchor points and paths, especially for detailed images; auto-tracing is rarely production-ready without manual refinement.
Frequently asked questions
Will the AI file look exactly like the PNG?
Not exactly. Vectorization is an approximation: the algorithm traces the pixel boundaries into curves, but the result depends on the image complexity. Simple logos trace well. Complex photographs or gradients produce rough, unclean paths that require significant manual cleanup in Illustrator.
Is the result editable in Illustrator?
Yes. The AI file contains standard Bezier path objects that you can select, reshape, and recolor in Illustrator. Each color region becomes a separate path or group of paths.
Is my image uploaded to a server?
No. The vectorization and file generation run entirely in your browser using WebAssembly. Your image never leaves your device.
What color resolution should the PNG be for best tracing?
At least 300 to 500 pixels on the shorter side. Very small PNGs (under 100px) do not have enough pixel data for the tracer to distinguish edges cleanly. There is no benefit from images larger than about 1000px; the algorithm does not use the extra resolution.
Can I do this in Illustrator directly without this converter?
Yes. Illustrator has a built-in Image Trace function (Object menu > Image Trace) that performs the same vectorization with more control and preview options. This converter is useful if you do not have Illustrator installed.