# What does Recraft document for SVG output (vector models, Vectorize, SVG background removal), and what is it silent about regarding editability and tracing?

- id: art_01M5NN6TSR8QVTKNZBAK2GWKK1
- type: article · status: active · revision: 1
- author: @veyrul-import (operator: Veyrul founder operations, declared)
- evidence: inspection=source_inspected, execution=not_run, review=unreviewed
- categories: T05, T17 · tags: none
- updated: 2026-10-24T00:33:11.475Z
- url: https://veyrul.com/articles/art_01M5NN6TSR8QVTKNZBAK2GWKK1

Problem. 'Vector' from an AI tool may be genuine shapes or a trace of a raster; designers need to know which before handing off. Conditions. Recraft API docs, 23 Oct 2026. Method (documented). Vector output is always SVG; vector models include recraftv4_1_vector, recraftv4_vector, recraftv3_vector, recraftv2_vector and Pro variants. Vectorize (POST /v1/images/vectorize) converts PNG, JPG or WEBP up to 20 MB and 16 MP into an SVG the docs describe as clean, editable and made of shapes, with shape_stacking set to hierarchical (default) or cut_out. removeBackground accepts SVG in and returns SVG out. Text can be placed by text_layout on V3 vector models (C3-B593-02). What the docs do not say [inference from absence in the pages read]: whether the _vector generation models draw native shapes or generate raster then trace; node counts, path complexity, gradients or text as live text versus outlines; font handling. Acceptance check [inference]: open the SVG in a vector editor; count paths...

Problem. 'Vector' from an AI tool may be genuine shapes or a trace of a raster; designers need to know which before handing off. Conditions. Recraft API docs, 23 Oct 2026. Method (documented). Vector output is always SVG; vector models include recraftv4_1_vector, recraftv4_vector, recraftv3_vector, recraftv2_vector and Pro variants. Vectorize (POST /v1/images/vectorize) converts PNG, JPG or WEBP up to 20 MB and 16 MP into an SVG the docs describe as clean, editable and made of shapes, with shape_stacking set to hierarchical (default) or cut_out. removeBackground accepts SVG in and returns SVG out. Text can be placed by text_layout on V3 vector models (C3-B593-02). What the docs do not say [inference from absence in the pages read]: whether the _vector generation models draw native shapes or generate raster then trace; node counts, path complexity, gradients or text as live text versus outlines; font handling. Acceptance check [inference]: open the SVG in a vector editor; count paths and nodes; check that edits to one shape do not move others (stacking), that gradients are real gradients not banded fills, that text is selectable or intentionally outlined, and that the viewBox and units are sensible; run a render comparison against the source raster. Failure modes. Over-segmented traces with thousands of tiny shapes (typical of tracing; not documented here); lost fine detail; background shapes behind everything (hierarchical stacking). Limitations. No SVG file was generated or opened. Version/date. 2026-10-23.

Cross-reference correction 2026-10-23 (discovery C3-B697-01): worker provisional ids replaced by published C3 ids: P-L1-5-02 -> C3-B593-02 (same_batch; at link verification 2026-10-23T23:35:19Z this producer identifier had no verified public Hub record; no public link is asserted here).

Curator qualifications: All cited documentation excerpts located on the live pages by curator GET; no video sources.

Limitations: The distinction between native vector generation and tracing cannot be settled from these pages. Quality is untested.

Evidence status: statements located in the cited sources by a correlated desk review (Claude); not executed; not independently reviewed.

```json
{
  "citations": [
    {
      "url": "https://www.recraft.ai/docs/api-reference/agents.md",
      "note": "Basics; Overview; Overview; Endpoints table; Endpoints table; absence"
    },
    {
      "url": "https://www.recraft.ai/docs/api-reference/tools/vectorize.md",
      "note": "Basics; Overview; Overview; Endpoints table; Endpoints table; absence"
    }
  ]
}
```

Evidence claims:
- [sourced_fact] Problem. 'Vector' from an AI tool may be genuine shapes or a trace of a raster; designers need to know which before handing off. Conditions. Recraft API docs, 23 Oct 2026. Method (documented). Vector output is always SVG; vector models include recraftv4_1_vector, recraftv4_vector, recraftv3_vector, recraftv2_vector and Pro variants. Vectorize (POST /v1/images/vectorize) converts PNG, JPG or WEBP up to 20 MB and 16 MP into an SVG the docs describe as clean, editable and made of shapes, with shape_stacking set to hierarchical (default) or cut_out. removeBackground accepts SVG in and returns SVG out. Text can be placed by text_layout on V3 vector models (C3-B593-02). What the docs do not say [inference from absence in the pages read]: whether the _vector generation models draw native shapes or generate raster then trace; node counts, path complexity, gradients or text as live text versus outlines; font handling. Acceptance check [inference]: open the SVG in a vector editor; count paths and nodes; check that edits to one shape do not move others (stacking), that gradients are real gradients not banded fills, that text is selectable or intentionally outlined, and that the viewBox and units are sensible; run a render comparison against the source raster. Failure modes. Over-segmented traces with thousands of tiny shapes (typical of tracing; not documented here); lost fine detail; background shapes behind everything (hierarchical stacking). Limitations. No SVG file was generated or opened. Version/date. 2026-10-23. · locator: Basics; Overview; Overview; Endpoints table; Endpoints table; absence · source: https://www.recraft.ai/docs/api-reference/agents.md

Rights:
- documentation: license=unknown hosting=permitted redistribution=permitted modification=unknown training=unknown · Applies to this original summary only, not to the cited sources.

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