HEIC to SVG Converter
Convert HEIC to SVG in your browser. The HEIC's pixels are traced into vector paths, so the result scales cleanly and can be edited in a vector app. You get an SVG traced into vector paths (or, if you prefer, the pixels embedded in an SVG wrapper). Nothing is uploaded.
- Processed locally
- No upload, no wait
- No sign-up
- No watermark
Drop images here
or choose files · paste with Ctrl/⌘ V
HEIC expected · other image formats also work
How to use HEIC to SVG
- 1
Add your HEIC files: drop them here, choose them, or paste from the clipboard.
- 2
Choose how many colours to trace; fewer colours give simpler paths.
- 3
Click Convert. Each file is decoded and encoded in a background thread on this device.
- 4
Download the .svg files one at a time or together as a ZIP.
Why use Aback Images for heic to svg
Where the SVG goes next
SVG opens in every browser, Illustrator, Inkscape, Figma and most design tools.
SVG next to HEIC
A traced SVG describes every patch of colour as a path: logos and flat art stay compact, while photographs turn into very large markup.
A second lossy pass
HEIC is lossy already, since it stores lossy HEVC (H.265) intra coding, on iPhones as a grid of 512×512 tiles, so keep the quality at or above the default to avoid stacking a new layer of artefacts on the old one.
Processed on your device
Your images are decoded, edited and encoded inside this browser tab by Web Workers. Nothing is uploaded to a server.
HEIC vs SVG
What changes from HEIC to SVG
Encoding: the HEIC uses lossy HEVC (H.265) intra coding, on iPhones as a grid of 512×512 tiles; SVG uses XML text describing paths, shapes and text, sometimes gzipped as .svgz, and the download is an SVG traced into vector paths (or, if you prefer, the pixels embedded in an SVG wrapper).
Bit depth: 8 or 10 bits per channel in the HEIC; SVG allows not fixed: coordinates and colours are continuous values, and the SVG written here has vector paths with flat colours. 10-bit HEIC photos are reduced to 8 bits per channel.
Colour: YCbCr, usually tagged Display P3 on iPhones in the HEIC; SVG supports sRGB by default, other spaces through CSS colour functions, written here as flat colour regions.
Transparency: the HEIC stores it as an auxiliary image item, rarely used by cameras; the SVG keeps it as opacity on any element, with anti-aliased edges.
Other images: the HEIC can hold a thumbnail, depth map, HDR gain map and burst shots as extra items; only the main image is converted.
Metadata: the HEIC can carry EXIF, XMP and an ICC profile, stored as items; SVG can carry title, description and RDF metadata elements, but nothing is copied across.
About HEIC
HEIC is the default photo format on iPhones and many Android phones. It is about half the size of JPEG, but Windows, many websites and older software cannot open it without converting.
A HEIC is a HEIF file (ISO base media boxes with the brand 'heic'). iPhone photos store the picture as a grid of 512×512 HEVC tiles that the decoder stitches together, with the thumbnail, depth map and HDR gain map as further items.
HEIC files usually come from iPhones and iPads since iOS 11, and many recent Android phones.
About SVG
SVG describes shapes, paths and text as XML instead of pixels, so it stays crisp at any size. It is the standard for logos, icons and illustrations on the web.
An SVG is an XML document: a root <svg> element with a viewBox, then paths, shapes, text, gradients and filters. It can also embed raster images and, dangerously, scripts, which is why untrusted SVG is sanitized before rendering here.
When converting HEIC to SVG makes sense
SVG is the better choice for logos, icons and illustrations, while HEIC suits storing photos on Apple devices.
SVG strengths: Infinitely scalable and sharp; Tiny files for logos and icons; Editable as text and styleable with CSS. Drawbacks to weigh: Not suitable for photographs; Can contain scripts, so untrusted SVG must be sanitized; Many apps and social sites will not accept it.
Limitations
- HEIC is already lossy, so a second lossy pass should stay at a high quality setting.
- iPhone photos are usually Display P3; colours are mapped to sRGB, so very saturated reds and greens can look slightly less vivid.
- Tracing approximates the image with flat-colour shapes, so photographs become poster-like art rather than exact copies.
- Logos, icons and line art with clear edges trace best; raise the colour count for more detail.
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Frequently asked questions
Does converting HEIC to SVG lose quality?
SVG is lossy, so detail the eye barely notices is discarded to save space. The HEIC was lossy already, so keep the quality high to avoid stacking artefacts. 10-bit HEIC photos are reduced to 8 bits per channel. Not carried over: any a thumbnail.
Is transparency kept in the SVG?
Yes. HEIC stores it as an auxiliary image item, rarely used by cameras, and the SVG is written with an alpha channel, so transparent areas stay transparent.
Why can't I open HEIC photos on Windows or websites?
HEIC uses the HEVC codec, which is patent-encumbered and not built into most browsers, Windows apps and upload forms. Converting makes the photo open where HEIC does not, and the HEIC is decoded inside your browser to do it.
Is the SVG a real vector or just embedded pixels?
By default the image is traced into true vector paths, so it scales without pixelation and can be edited in Illustrator, Figma or Inkscape. You can switch to embedding the pixels inside an SVG wrapper if you need an exact copy.
Which apps open SVG files?
Every browser, Illustrator, Inkscape, Figma and most design tools.
Are my images uploaded anywhere?
No. Processing happens inside your browser with WebAssembly and Web Workers. The site only downloads the app code and codecs; your files never leave your device. You can confirm this with the live upload counter on the tool, or in your browser's network panel.
Can I process many files at once?
Yes. Drop a whole selection or folder. Files are processed in parallel on several worker threads, each result can be downloaded on its own, and everything can be saved as one ZIP.
Is it free? Is there a file limit or watermark?
It is free with no account, no watermark and no daily limit. The only limit is your device's memory: very large images (over roughly 100 megapixels) may be refused to keep the tab from crashing.