Convert A PNG To Vector with Adobe Illustrator

If you have a PNG file and you want to take advantage of the benefits of working with vector graphics - like infinite scaling and editability - then you’ll need a vector file format to work with. Unfortunately, the PNG format is not a vector format. In this tutorial I’ll be demonstrating two different ways in which you can convert a PNG to vector with Adobe Illustrator. The first is by utilizing the Image Trace feature, and the second is by manually tracing your design.
If you want to learn more about logo design, be sure to check out my Logo Design Academy - an interactive 18-part video course where you will learn my entire creative process for coming up with logo ideas and implementing them: logosbynick.com/learn/
Need a logo? Check out my portfolio and hire me at: www.logosbynick.com
Timestamps:
00:00 Intro
00:35 Workflow Setup
00:56 Import Your PNG/Image
01:23 Method 1: Auto Tracing
03:58 Method 2: Manual Tracing
10:24 Conclusion
Intro song: "In Da Mood" by Combustibles, used with written permission

[@julesvanderlust]

Your are one of the best teachers in the Illustration and Design world to me. Thank you for all your great work. I nearly inhale all of your videos, starting out Inkscape and Gimp and now kind of professional as I study graphic design, Adobe lessons of you. Wow. Really. You are great and your explanations are perfect for studying.

[@777ged]

This has taught me more than what my professor in college is teaching me right now, I highly appreciate this!

[@rileylopez7433]

For graphic design - I've learned technical things from school, more creative things from videos, quality from work, and efficiency from myself. A little of everything from everything too. Kinda cool now that you make me think about it.

[@rupali0498]

Correct! In my college they didn't taught me this. Now i required this

[@kwakuduah9087]

word

[@chriscrowe5189]

I’ve struggled to get my head around imaging tracing correctly or how I want it to trace in my head, and within 5mins watching your video I’ve finally cracked it! Thanks for straight forward easily explained video!

[@JoshuaCB1987]

FINALLY, someone demonstrates it quickly and clearly. Thank you!

[@mikedouglas9249]

THANK YOU!!! I have been searching so long and your short and very helpful shows up. Strong work!!!

[@RedRiolu]

Thank you so much this video was SUPER helpful! I had asked a coworker to send a logo for merchandise and they sent a super low resolution jpg. This makes my life 1000 times easier

[@Wyant_Family]

You did an excellent job explaining the difference between these two approaches. Thank you!

[@JonathanOelkers]

Best tutorial I've ever seen. You're actually a teacher.

[@PAULSANTIAGOMUSIC]

Your are one of the best teachers in the Illustration and Design world to me. Excellent thanks!

[@betooooo89]

Thank you for your complete and comprehensive training. Very good!

[@xeniaioa]

Probably one of the most useful videos in my design career. I cannot thank you enough

[@fixins]

I need to do this every 90 days or so and I re-watch this tutorial. At some point it'll sink in but until then, I'll keep watching!

[@aliciakaye4194]

This tutorial was very helpful and easy to understand. Thank you so much!

[@becfletcher.wellbeing]

This video was super helpful for my design work. Really appreciate the clear and no fluf tutorial with multiple options. Thank you.🙂

[@deannawright7591]

You are awesome! I was able to follow along and convert my png to vector. Yours is the best tutorial out there! Thank you!

[@RayCarpio]

Thank you so much for this video! I was able to learn something new within 4 mins of this video! Ive been making "vector" files the wrong way for so long till I landed on this video! Thanks Nick!

[@rafael2nunez]

Love the way you explain everything. Keep up the good work and thank you.

[@diegokato338]

Thank you so much to specify every command you do at the video. Awesome job!

[@shanmthomas]

the only video that was and informative for those that already have the basic knowledge THANK YOU!!

[@AbbyJVR98]

You are wonderful! I've been trying to figure out how to turn a logo I created on Canva into a Vector for months now. Thank you so so much for this video! You absolutely just made my year!

[@isadoragiuntini9031]

Same here! And it's a video from 2020 but it is the most helpful! Thanks a lot ;)

[@renesoma3159]

Some extra tips:
To drag the canvas around, use the *_SCROLL WHEEL BUTTON_*
For Pen, press *_P_*
For Ellipse, press *_L_*
For a quick, manual selection Pathfinder, press *_SHIFT+M_* (you must already have your shapes pre-selected with Shift+click)
For the Curve tool, to manually create curves from straight lines, press *_SHIFT+C_*
To mirror+rotate+changing the center point of shapes, press *_O_*

[@vanshudapure6744]

Can you tell me how to scale

[@CountryHouseIdea]

How to make a selection from a pentools shape?

[@Watchme.naturally]

Thank you so much! This literally helped me so much and is exactly what I’ve been looking for!

[@qualifiedcornstarch6859]

Thank you!! This was my first time cracking open Illustrator since I got my student access to Adobe, and you had exactly the info I needed.

[@ShelleyG]

A great tutorial! Easy and straightforward, thank you so much

[@paupau4020]

If the logo is colourful then we have to restarized

[@PerRigler]

Very calm and easy to understand, easy to digest from a pedagogical aspect.

[@caylenbost4930]

Thank you so much for this! Best video I've seen that truly helped

[@yourunclesam6780]

Wonderful video.Detailed explanations.Thank you very much

[@PaulRobinsonRacing]

Loved how I watched this seeing if can learn anything, this all stuff I already knew. Skills stay with you for life.

[@luisgfonseca9019]

You are a life saver!! Thanks, easy to understand and intelligent.

[@bogas78]

I think this is a the best tutorial that I found for tracing Images and have a basic knowelage, all is explained and that a good strat for some one who tries Illustrator first time

[@_shravanmohite_6066]

Yoo tnx dude, everytNice tutorialng works. I LIKE IT

[@craftingmaniac617]

Thank you for such clear instructions!

[@starfish3704]

Straighten and to the point. Thanks, that helped a lot.

[@wendyhadiyono]

THANK YOU FOR THIS PRICELESS TUTORIAL!

[@Boozario]

This was exactly what I needed, thank you for the detailed explanations!

[@djordjek3916]

This is worth a gold! Thank you very much! Subscribed.

[@adog89]

I never comment on Videos.. But man!!! You are a life savor! Thank you!!

[@glennthisfieldisblank838]

GREAT THUMBNAIL. Just perfectly illustrative, yet clever.

[@TarynCo]

Such great instruction. Thank you!! I really needed something that explained it from the beginning. 😀

[@TOMA21207]

Great stuff, easy to follow. Overall well done tutorial. Thanks.

[@stacybowman5273]

Thank you! Thank you! Thank you! Thank you! Took me a long time to find a tutorial for this.

[@Tatiana-kk4it]

Wow the most informative illustrator video I've ever watched THANK YOU

[@KhalifaIbrahimMfinanga]

You are a best teacher! Keep it on!

[@manuelmacaraeg4335]

THANK YOU! I was struggling and couldnt figure out how to take out the white background for the longest time!

[@Kaltelua]

Thank you so much for this tutorial. It's like the 3rd time that I have to check this and this video has helped me a lot. Thank you!!!

[@bbbojanica]

Thank you, thank you, thank you !!! This is exactly what I needed to convert png to vector.

[@pokene_pokemon]

this was SO FREAKING helpful - thank you so much - as a small business owner, ur a life saver

[@chiptheghost26]

Ahhh you are a lifesaver!! Thank you so much for sharing this!

[@VisualStory-Teller]

Thanks bruva! infinite props for your expertise!

[@kv_8]

This is awesome! Thank you so much, this saved me so much time cos I used to do this manually!

[@sofiahamza3451]

been looking for this video thanx a lot

[@jahangir2330]

Excellent Video, Everything in one.

[@igmillam]

Thanks so much I was looking for a video as well explained as this one

[@thecuteprincess111]

Well done , your tutorial is so great and easy , it helped me a lot , thank you so much!

[@IraBowman_BDM]

Great tutorial! Thanks for sharing your knowledge.

[@dodokader1525]

many thanks for this 🤩

[@zaidikmc]

Brilliant video. Lots of respect!

[@carywalski8179]

Super useful! This worked for me, thank you.

[@josemartinez154]

Blakey Don't stop making soft. I wished I started as early as you. You have a lot of years to learn!

[@suziecole8878]

That was amazing!!! Thank you

[@chanoc455]

Thank you " and like it's said that: you learn a new thing every day". 👍

[@jefffeith4201]

This was excellent! You helped me finish a project for work. Many thanks!

[@ridewithbadjam]

this helps me a lot. thank you!

[@ivayloivanov7534]

Thank you! You helped me a lot, when I needed!

[@mr.drumstick]

thank you, this helped me so much :)

[@oheras1160]

You've saved the day! Thank you!

[@salaheddine1128]

Top as always man 💪💪

[@nadskeez1117]

Thank you so much for the tutorial, this is super duper helpful for beginner

[@mateotellofernandez4522]

great thanks for that! Very clear and articulate!

[@NinoJulia]

Thank u for this tutorial, really helpe me out!

[@chou3677]

An excellent video turned out, everything is well thought out, a very clear instruction turned out)))

[@HowToSandAFloor]

This was absolutely brilliant, but it got to the end and I know nothing about illustrator, so now I need to figure out how to resize the canvas to be the same size as the image was originally, and how to save it and alls sorts 😅

[@mdsahidul7280]

That was very helpful for me. Thank you a lot of.❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️

[@alanjohnson4541]

Fantastic tip. Thank you

[@TesourosdoBrasil]

Thanks!!

[@orjiemmanuel3055]

This tutorial was sweet and so understanding

[@docpixeldesignphotography1740]

This was very, very helpful! Thank you!

[@haxkrose]

Love you dude. Amazing and quick.

[@quynguyen2943]

Hey! Thanks so much for this video!

[@didithbautista5675]

Awesome! Thanks for sharing 💖💖💖

[@wesavagefew4322]

Excellent tutorial. Thank you!!!

[@user-td6zx2il1l]

Great tips!! I'll def check out more of your videos. Just started writing and making soft. I feel soft softs will help get to the next

[@yousefsharm9585]

Thank you for your help, this days it's difficult to come by people like you, i want you to know that my heart will never stop appreciating your generosity..

[@silviaszaboova877]

Thank you for a video!

[@Shariff06]

Thank you very much Nick

[@shanojkeloth6147]

Awesome.... Well explained.. Thank you 😍

[@peterlyonshall]

Thank you! Timely and great tutorial!

[@vbch6004]

Helpful tutorial!

[@qianjinaimi]

Thank you so much! I love you!

[@peace.n.blessings5579]

Thank you for uploading this amazing video, learnt more from your tutvid.

[@lamakrishna3962]

Thank you your video helps me alot.

[@Auros61]

thanks man! amazing tutorial! :)

[@inablink123]

Thank you great tutorial. Very succinct!!!

[@charoenchaiviputtikullawat5273]

LOOOL YESSSSSSSS TNice tutorialS COMNT IS FELTTTTT

[@joefredricks7052]

Excellent Instructional - Many thanks.

[@JayYarbroughMusic]

Thank you. Perfect.

[@ulviyyamovsumzade2721]

Thank you soooo much. Great basic tip!

[@claudiu6536]

I just wanna learn even more now- it looks so cool o.O

[@kansascitybellydance]

Thank you for this video! I was able to convert a low res jpg file to vector logo with your instructions.

[@ericquinn8130]

This was perfect!