Paintlustrator guide · Photo tracing

How do I trace a photo on iPad and save it as SVG?

Start a canvas from your photo in Paintlustrator, trace it on a separate drawing layer, then export with Include image layers turned off. Your new drawing becomes an SVG you can save for free.

This is manual tracing: you draw the lines yourself with Apple Pencil or touch. Importing a photo does not automatically turn its pixels into vector paths.

1. Start a canvas from your photo

Open the Paintlustrator menu → New canvas. Tap Choose from Photo Library or Choose from Files and select your image. Use your own photo or an image you have permission to trace.

The new canvas fits the image and includes an empty drawing layer above it. Your previous drawing stays in My projects.

2. Make the reference easy to trace

Open Layers and select the image layer. Lower its opacity until you can comfortably see your drawing above it, then turn on Lock image to keep the reference in place.

3. Trace on the drawing layer

Select the drawing layer above your photo, choose the Pen, and trace the outlines you want to keep. You can also build parts of your drawing with Shapes. Start with a simple silhouette so you can check the full workflow before spending time on detail.

If the pen does not draw, check that you have selected a visible, unlocked drawing layer rather than the photo layer.

4. Check your drawing without the photo

Hide the image layer using its visibility control. Check your new outlines on their own and finish any gaps. Hiding the photo does not delete it from the editable project.

5. Export just your vector drawing

Open Export SVG. Leave Include image layers turned off to omit the reference photo. Leave White background turned off if you want a transparent background. Choose Save to Files, select a folder, and tap Save.

Follow the full SVG export guide for export options and a downloadable sample. Keep your editable Paintlustrator project too; SVG exports cannot currently be imported back into Paintlustrator.

Does this automatically convert a photo into SVG?

No. The vector artwork comes from the lines and shapes you draw. Simply including a photo in an SVG wraps a raster image in an SVG file; it does not make the photo infinitely scalable.

Can I keep the photo in the exported file?

Yes. Make the image layer visible, enable its Include in SVG setting, then turn on Include image layers in Export. The photo is embedded as a raster image, with the layer’s current opacity.

Can I trace a PDF page instead?

Yes. Choose a PDF through Files, select a page and import quality, and draw above the reference. See how to draw over a PDF on iPad. The original PDF objects are not converted into editable vector objects.

Creating SVGs versus editing existing SVG files →