SVG file : How to get Path markup datas after conv

Question

I'm asking if there would be a tool to convert a PNG file into a SVG file where I could get the Path markup. I have tried with Inkscape but when I edit the SVG file I can't find the path markup, there is only "binary" datas.

SVG file path markup example : https://www.w3.org/TR/SVG/paths.html#PathData

Is anyone have a idea ?

Answer 1

You can't make a raster image into a vector image. Though there are programs like vector magic that try to make it into a vector image looking as close as possible as the raster image by looking at shapes of similar colors.

Answer 2

What do you mean by "convert a PNG file into a SVG file"? It sounds like you might just be putting your PNG into an SVG file. That doesn't automatically turn it into a path. It is just a bitmap embedded in an SVG. It stays a bitmap.

What it sounds like you want, is to convert your bitmap to a vector. That process is commonly called a "bitmap trace". Inkscape has a feature to do that. Select the PNG and do a Path->Trace Bitmap...

How well it works will depend on your image. Logos generally work well. Photos usually don't.

Once you have done the trace, save the SVG file and you will be able to get the path data then.