Vector Magic is available as a stand-alone desktop application for both Windows PC and Mac. Convert images offline and work seamlessly with major graphics software like Illustrator, Corel DRAW, and others via copy-paste and drag-and-drop functionality.
Windows, v1.15, 10.0 MB
Macintosh, v1.20, 11.8 MB
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The Desktop Edition is free to try - just download and install it. Saving of results is disabled in the trial version, but there is full preview capability. When you buy a license you get a product key that you can use to activate the software and enable saving of the results.
Activation turns the free trial into the full version - no additional downloads necessary.
Your computer has to be connected to the internet during activation.
To upgrade from a previous version, just download the latest version and install it.
Activations are preserved, so if you had already activated the old version, then the new version will be activated as well (there is no need to re-enter your product key).
Exception: with v1.12 for Windows there was a change that requires re-activation (will not count towards total activations on machines with a previous version activated).
The Desktop Edition puts the power of Vector Magic - with all of its benefits - right on your desktop. Vectorize as much as you want, without the need to upload or download any images, and with a host of extra features .
Vector Magic has a convenient drag-and-drop interface that lets you load, convert and save images very quickly. It is demonstrated in the demo video. You can also copy bitmap content to the clipboard and paste it straight into the desktop application. Since most modern software supports both copy-paste and drag-and-drop, this provides seamless integration with most graphics software.
The download comes with several sample images, and the results for all of these are included in the package. Please test the compatibility by opening a sample result with your software.
There's a listing of software packages known to work with Vector Magic's output available on the compatibility page.
Use the site without worry, and evaluate the quality of the results. For a limited time only, the first $50.00 you spend on this site is creditable towards a license for the Desktop Edition. This credit is in USD. The exchange rate to your local currency may change over time, which may impact the credit actually available when you claim it.
Please make sure to read the system requirements and fine print below before you start using the service.
The same license is used for both PC and Mac. Your license allows 1 user to use the program on 2 computers, and you can mix and match the computer types. For example, you could activate the software on 2 PCs, 1 PC and 1 Mac, or 2 Macs, all with the same license.
| Feature | Online | Desktop |
|---|---|---|
| Fully automatic vectorization | Yes | Yes |
| Basic vectorization mode, with easy-to-choose settings | Yes | Yes |
| Advanced vectorization mode, with fine-grained control | Yes | |
| EPS, SVG and PDF vector output | Yes | Yes |
| AI, DXF vector output | PC | |
| AI vector output | Mac | |
| PNG, GIF, BMP bitmap output | Yes | |
| JPG, TIFF bitmap output | PC | |
| Powerful preview to inspect the result in detail | Yes | Yes |
| Segmentation editing capabilities | Yes | Yes |
| Super-convenient copy-paste input | Yes | Yes |
| Super-convenient drag-and-drop input | Yes | Yes |
| Super-convenient drag-and-drop output | Yes | |
| Vectorize very large images | Yes | |
| Group shapes by color | Yes | |
| Transparency support | Yes | |
| Batch processing | Yes |
Windows XP, Windows Vista, Windows 7, 8, and 10 (desktop, not mobile) and Mac OS X 10.7 and higher are the officially supported operating systems.
The program does not work on earlier versions of Windows or OS X. There is no Linux version.
The algorithms employed by Vector Magic use advanced features available only in modern processors and significant amounts of memory (memory consumption depends on the size of your input image with larger images requiring more memory).
This means that you need to have a computer with at least a pentium III class processor and a recommended minimum of 512 megabytes of RAM. For larger (>1,000x1,000 pixels) images we recommend 1 gigabyte of RAM or more.
The maximum size of images that you are able to process with the desktop application depends on the available memory.
Please download and install the trial version to make sure you can process your images before buying a license.
The Desktop Edition for Windows has a hard image size limitation of 20 Megapixels (e.g. 4,000 x 5,000 pixels, though we don't enforce an aspect ratio).
The Desktop Edition for Mac has a hard image size limitation of 5 Megapixels (e.g. 2,000 x 2,500 pixels, though we don't enforce an aspect ratio).
Furthermore, each image megapixel requires 100 megabytes of available RAM (= not used by other programs) or 200 megabytes of physical RAM, whichever is less restrictive.
So in order to process a 20 megapixel image, your machine would need at least 2 gigabytes of available RAM, OR at least 4 gigabytes of physical RAM.
Once issued, copy your product key (select it and press Ctrl-C), then start Vector Magic Desktop Edition. The activation wizard will pop up, auto-detecting the product key on the clipboard. Type in the remaining registration information and click activate. A few moments later your software will be activated for unlimited use.
Be sure to be connected to the internet when activating the software.
If you've bought a license you can always view your product key on your my account page.
The activation system is built to automatically support standard upgrade behaviors, so this will normally just work.
If you run into any problems, just contact us and we will take care of it.
The program comes with built-in help - just press the "help" button in the upper right corner.
For bugs or things not covered by the help file, please use the contact form.
The first $50.00 you spend on this site will be creditable towards the purchase of one copy of the desktop application. This credit is in USD. The exchange rate to your local currency may change over time, which may impact the credit actually available when you claim it. This credit is non-transferrable and hand-tracing payments do not not apply towards this credit.
Vector Magic reserves the right to end this offer at any time, at which point no further expenditures made on this site will count towards the eventual purchase of the desktop application. Expenditures made while the offer was still in effect will still count towards such purchase, for up to three months from the end of the offer.
When you buy a license you are issued a product key that you can use to activate the software.
1 license allows 1 user to use the software on 2 computers.
There is no distinction between the PC and Mac version from a license perspective. You can install on 2 PCs, 1 PC and 1 Mac, or 2 Macs, whichever you prefer.
Any computer you wish to install the software on has to be connected to the internet during the activation process.
Vector Magic licenses are not refundable once activated. Please download and try the software before making a purchase.
Buying a license for version 1.0 entitles you to all minor upgrades (1.1, 1.2, etc) of the software and you will enjoy special upgrade pricing for major upgrades (i.e. 2.0).