Potrace vs AutoTrace
Potrace and AutoTrace are both free, open-source bitmap tracing tools — but they differ significantly in algorithm, output quality, and feature set.
Algorithm Comparison
Potrace and AutoTrace use different mathematical approaches to vectorization.
| Property | Potrace | AutoTrace |
|---|---|---|
| Algorithm | Cubic bezier fitting | Spline fitting + line segments |
| Output quality | Excellent for B&W | Good, more jagged curves |
| Multi-color | No (B&W only) | Limited color support |
| Maintenance | Active (modern) | Mostly unmaintained |
| Inkscape integration | Yes (default) | Available as plugin |
| Output formats | SVG, EPS, PDF, BMP | SVG, EPS, AI, DXF, many more |
Which to Choose
Potrace wins for most modern vectorization tasks.
- Potrace: better curve quality, cleaner output for logos and line art, actively maintained
- AutoTrace: more output format options, older tool, useful for DXF and AI output specifically
- For web SVG from B&W images: Potrace is the clear choice
- For multi-color images: neither — use imagetosvg.com's VTracer which handles color natively
- Inkscape default: Potrace is Inkscape's built-in tracer for a reason
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Potrace still actively developed?
Yes — Potrace receives updates and is maintained by Peter Selinger. Version 1.16 (2019) is current. It's included in major Linux distributions, macOS via Homebrew, and Windows via binary downloads.
Can AutoTrace handle color images?
AutoTrace has limited multi-color support, but the output quality for color images is poor compared to modern AI-powered vectorizers. Use VTracer or imagetosvg.com for color image vectorization.
How do I install Potrace on Windows?
Download the Windows binary from potrace.sourceforge.net. Extract potrace.exe to a folder in your PATH. Run: potrace input.bmp -s -o output.svg. You'll need to convert PNG to BMP first using ImageMagick or GIMP.
What's VTracer and how does it compare to Potrace?
VTracer is a newer Rust-based vectorizer that natively supports multi-color tracing. imagetosvg.com uses VTracer. For B&W images: Potrace is comparable. For color images: VTracer significantly outperforms Potrace.
Related guides
Ready to Convert Your Image to SVG?
Free online converter — no sign-up, no watermarks, results in under 3 seconds.
Convert Image to SVG — Free