An SVG is the starting point for a lot of maker projects: colour 3D printed wall art, laser cut signs, stencils and UV prints. Inkscape is free and can trace a simple image into a clean vector in about five minutes. Here’s how.
The short version
- Pick a simple image with clean, bold lines (cartoon or vector style). Detailed photos trace badly.
- Trace: right-click the image > Trace Bitmap, and adjust the Threshold until unwanted colours drop out but lines stay sharp.
- Hide the original image in Layers and Objects to check the trace.
- Export as Inkscape SVG, then bring it into your CAD software.
Step 1: Choose the right image
Tracing works by following edges, so simple and clean wins. I used a PNG of Pikachu: bold outlines, flat colours. Highly detailed images lose the definition you need for printing or cutting.
Step 2: Trace the bitmap
- Open the image in Inkscape (just click OK on the import dialogue).
- Click the image to select it, right-click and choose Trace Bitmap.
- Watch the preview. If everything crunches to black, lower the Threshold; if lines start to disappear, raise it.
- Aim for the sweet spot where unwanted colours (in my case the red cheeks merging with the outline) separate cleanly but the lines stay intact.
- Click Apply.
Step 3: Check your work
The trace sits on top of the original image, so it looks like nothing happened. Open Layers and Objects (from the Layer menu if the panel isn’t showing) and hide the image. You should see crisp black vector paths.
Step 4: Export the SVG
Open File > Export, choose a folder and name, set the type to Inkscape SVG, and export. Keep the original image too; it’s a handy colour reference later.
What next?
Import the SVG into Fusion 360 (or similar), extrude it and assign colours for multi-colour 3D printed wall art. I show the whole process in my coloured wall art tutorial. The same SVG also works for laser cutting and UV printing.
Got a logo or artwork you want turned into something physical? I UV print and 3D print custom pieces on the Gold Coast, with laser cutting from December 2026.