ImageTracerJS
ImageTracerJS is a JavaScript tool for turning raster image data into SVG vector output.
What ImageTracerJS is
ImageTracerJS is a JavaScript tool for turning raster image data into SVG vector output. It can run in a browser by loading its JavaScript file, or in Node.js through a command-line interface. Its API returns SVG strings or tracedata for further processing, with asynchronous functions for browsers and synchronous ImageData functions for both browser and Node.js use. Developers can tune tracing through options or choose presets such as posterized, curvy, detailed, grayscale, and artistic styles. Controls cover line and spline thresholds, corners, color sampling, palettes, layers, rendering, and blur preprocessing. The CLI supports nearly all options, with pal and layercontainerid as exceptions. Node.js image loading requires an external library, since Node.js does not include canvas and DOM support. ImageTracer is also available as an Inkscape extension. It is free under the Unlicense, which permits commercial and non-commercial use, modification, and distribution; the software comes without warranty.
Good
- Free under the Unlicense.
- Works in browsers and Node.js.
- Returns SVG strings or tracedata.
- Offers configurable tracing and built-in presets.
- Available as an Inkscape extension.
Watch out
- Node.js image loading needs an external library.
- CLI excludes pal and layercontainerid options.
- Large images or many layers can cause out-of-memory errors.
- Error handling is limited.
Who it suits
It suits JavaScript developers adding raster-to-SVG conversion to browser or Node.js workflows. The Inkscape extension may also suit users who work in that application.
Verdict
ImageTracerJS provides browser and Node.js routes for raster-to-SVG conversion, with a broad set of tracing controls. Account for its Node.js image-loading dependency and memory limitations when planning a workflow.
Plans and prices
From ImageTracerJS's own pricing page, checked 9 Oct 2026.
| Plan | Price | What it gives you |
|---|---|---|
| ImageTracerJS | Free | No paid plans or usage limits stated |
The facts
Each one read from ImageTracerJS's own pages, with the date it was checked.
What it does
- API
- Its API can return SVG strings or tracedata, with browser-only asynchronous functions and synchronous ImageData functions for browsers and Node.js.checked 4 Oct 2026
- CLI limitation
- The command-line interface supports almost all options except pal and layercontainerid.checked 4 Oct 2026
- CLI limits
- The CLI supports almost all options except pal and layercontainerid.checked 9 Oct 2026
- Image loading in Node.js
- Node.js image loading requires an external library because Node.js does not have built-in canvas and DOM support, according to the README.checked 4 Oct 2026
- Integration
- The project is available as an Inkscape extension, with the README linking to its extension page.checked 9 Oct 2026
- Intended users
- The README documents browser and Node.js usage, making the project suitable for JavaScript developers integrating raster-to-vector conversion into web or Node.js workflows.checked 9 Oct 2026
- License
- The project uses The Unlicense and describes the software as public domain, allowing commercial and non-commercial use.checked 9 Oct 2026
- Limitations
- The project notes that out-of-memory errors can occur easily with big images or many layers and that error handling is limited.checked 9 Oct 2026
- Node.js use
- The project includes a Node.js command-line interface and synchronous ImageData tracing functions for Node.js.checked 9 Oct 2026
- Options
- Tracing can be configured with an options object or presets such as posterized, grayscale, detailed, and artistic variants.checked 4 Oct 2026
- Other libraries
- The README demonstrates using pngjs to load a PNG into ImageData and simplify-js to process traced geometry.checked 9 Oct 2026
- Output
- It converts image data into SVG strings and can return tracedata for further processing.checked 9 Oct 2026
- Presets
- Built-in presets include default, posterized, curvy, sharp, detailed, smoothed, grayscale, fixed-palette, random-sampling, and artistic styles.checked 9 Oct 2026
- Purpose
- ImageTracerJS is a raster image tracer and vectorizer written in JavaScript.checked 9 Oct 2026
- Tracing controls
- Options control line and spline error thresholds, path omission, corner enhancement, color sampling, palette size, layering, SVG rendering, and blur preprocessing.checked 9 Oct 2026
- Warranty
- The license states that the software is provided as-is without warranty.checked 4 Oct 2026
Where it runs
- Browser use
- The README shows browser use by including the JavaScript file and calling ImageTracer functions.checked 9 Oct 2026
The company
- Maker profile
- The GitHub profile identifies the account holder as András Jankovics.checked 4 Oct 2026
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