Guide reviewed by SculptOK ·
Why a photo needs a different approach
A photograph contains gradients, shadows and texture. Direct black-and-white tracing turns these into filled regions, so an unchanged photo may produce dense, disconnected shapes. AI preparation redraws the uploaded subject as graphic artwork before tracing it.
Start with a clear subject and enough separation from the background. For portraits, choose a source where the facial features are visible. Review the result against the source: AI transformation can change identity, lettering, fine details or composition and is not an exact vector reconstruction.
Choose a style for the intended graphic
These presets describe how the reference image should be redrawn. They do not set machine power, cutting depth or material. All five feed the same monochrome SVG tracing step.
The eagle thumbnails in the tool are illustrative style previews, rather than guarantees of the output for your upload. Select one style, check the displayed credit cost and generate before judging whether it suits your source.
| Style | Intended graphic | What to inspect |
|---|---|---|
| Flat | Broad black shapes with white cutouts; useful when you want a simplified emblem. | Whether important features remain recognizable after simplification. |
| Outline | Contour artwork with white interiors. | Line separation and thickness. Exported lines are filled contours, not centerline strokes. |
| Silhouette | A recognizable outer shape with a few essential cutouts. | Outer contour and whether small white gaps remain open. |
| Engraving | A restrained ink interpretation with spaced lines and black accents. | Dense regions and whether the intended final size can show the detail. |
| Linocut | Bold black masses separated by carved-looking white channels. | White channels and connections between larger shapes. |
Generate, compare and refine
Upload the original photo in Images to SVG, choose your style, log in if prompted and select Generate. The AI preparation and SVG conversion run as one workflow. Regeneration starts from the uploaded original, rather than repeatedly transforming the previous AI result.
Compare the completed artwork with your source, then use SVG refinement to adjust curve simplification and noise removal. Local refinement of the matching style does not require another AI generation. Download the SVG once its boundaries and gaps suit the intended design.
For an exact brand mark or critical lettering, begin with clean source artwork and Direct trace. For a pet portrait, decorative emblem or artistic photo interpretation, an AI style may be useful, but each generated result still needs review.
Common questions
Can a photograph become a vector SVG?
Yes. SculptOK can directly trace a photograph or prepare it with an AI graphic style before tracing. The output is a monochrome interpretation, rather than a full-color or photorealistic vector copy.
Which preset should I use for a pet portrait?
Outline is a starting point for contour artwork, Engraving for a line-based ink interpretation, and Silhouette when the outer shape is the main feature. Compare facial details and small gaps before choosing a final result.
Does Engraving generate laser settings?
No. Engraving is an artwork style. Power, speed, scale and operation mode are configured separately in your laser software.
Can I generate SVG directly from a text prompt here?
This workspace requires an uploaded image. To start with a text idea, create the source in the separate AI Image Generator and then upload that image to Images to SVG.