Home/What is an SVG file? A cut-file explanation

What is an SVG file? A cut-file explanation

An SVG stores shapes as coordinates and drawing instructions. It can also contain text, images and effects that are not usable cut outlines.

Vector paths versus pixels

A path describes where a line goes. A PNG or JPG describes coloured pixels. Wrapping a raster image in an SVG does not trace its outline.

The canvas and the artwork

The width and height describe the SVG canvas. The viewBox describes its internal coordinate range. The artwork can occupy only part of that range.

Understand SVG size changes →

Inspect the file you actually have

The extension alone cannot tell you whether a design has editable layers or only an embedded picture.

Check an SVG file →

Trace a PNG or JPG →