Upscale / Convert to vector format an illustration?

LongLensPhotography

LongLensPhotography

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LongLensPhotography
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One of the projects I am working on requires significantly upscaling an illustration or ideally converting it to SVG format. Its only 256x256px plain red on white / transparent with simple rounded shapes. If I do a simple upscale in photoshop the edges become very weird. I just want to keep edges sharp and clear.

What would be the best strategy please? Thank you.
 
newbie1 said:
No possibility to get the original illustration? Or redrawn?
Click to expand...

Unfortunately I have exhausted the means to obtain the original. Redraw - possibly, I just have no clue how to use vector graphics. It's not a very complex drawing.
 
Might be quicker to get it redrawn. I’ve done that in the past, turn around by agency artist was very quick and reasonable price.
 
I've converted small, simple bitmaps to vectors in the past by pulling them in to a vector graphics package*, as a layer, then expanding them to full screen.
Then create appropriately coloured vector shapes, add nodes as required, and manipulate it's shape to match the (weird Lego like) bitmap below it.
Keep creating new shapes, either merging them or layering to match the other bits of the original (you can move finished layers behind the bitmap while you work on matching the others).
Finally, delete the bitmap layer, check the layer arrangement of the vector items looks correct (and group them so that any future manipulation affects all of them together) then save the file. You'll then have something you can print out/export nice and sharp at any size.

*Corel Draw/Adobe Illustrator (expensive)
Inkscape (free) (and native format is .svg)
 
I have made vector graphic diagrams long long back (they were more relation diagrams with tables tbh). If its very simple I can't imagine it taking too long to redraw it.
 
Easy job for illustrator, want to upload the file and let us have a bash, or is it personal/private image.
 
Tori_T said:
I've converted small, simple bitmaps to vectors in the past by pulling them in to a vector graphics package*, as a layer, then expanding them to full screen.
Then create appropriately coloured vector shapes, add nodes as required, and manipulate it's shape to match the (weird Lego like) bitmap below it.
Keep creating new shapes, either merging them or layering to match the other bits of the original (you can move finished layers behind the bitmap while you work on matching the others).
Finally, delete the bitmap layer, check the layer arrangement of the vector items looks correct (and group them so that any future manipulation affects all of them together) then save the file. You'll then have something you can print out/export nice and sharp at any size.

*Corel Draw/Adobe Illustrator (expensive)
Inkscape (free) (and native format is .svg)
Click to expand...
This is the way I tackle it too. Works very well.
 
I’ve converted raster to vector in the past and always been disappointed. There are tools out there, but the most reliable way has been to get someone to do it, or to find an original, vector, version of the artwork in question.

If it isn’t your artwork, it is surprising how easy it can be to find vector versions on line. I’m thinking logos etc. If it is a company logo you wish to use, have a look for vector documents from the company. (e.g. Press Releases or annual reports in pdf format). You’ll need to be able to extract items from a vector pdf. Illustrator being one piece of software to do it.
 
Illustrator can trace a raster, should only take a couple of minutes to do.
 
You're probably right, the image size didn't register with me.
 
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