Convert pdf to vector help

[Road2Ruin]

Hi chaps,
Does anyone know of any free/easy to use programs that will convert a pdf to a vector graphic? I am trying to get a file to a company and they insist on the graphics being in a vector format (it's for an engraving if that is any help). I can produce almost any file format, but none of them are vectored. I found a website that says it will convert my pdf to an svg file, which supposedly is a vector format, but they still say it isn't. Now, I am ignorant with regards to graphic files and some types, so any help will be greatly appreciated.

Many thanks
R2R

[Jenny Tailor]

I think you need someone with photoshop

[Road2Ruin]

I used to have it....but no more (insert sad face)

[mmm-five]

It may depend on whether the PDF image is vector or raster/bitmap.

I send all my vector artwork to printers as PDF files as PDF is inherently a 'vector' format (it's EPS or encapsulated postscript), just like Adobe Illustrator.

If you have the full version of Acrobat Pro, you can export it as an EPS file. If that's not suitable, then ask them specifically what vector format they want (EPS, PS, EMF, WMF, SVG, DWG, DXF, AI, etc.).

The other option is to install a 7-day trial of Adobe Creative Suite!
https://www.adobe.com/uk/downloads.html

Edited by mmm-five on Monday 6th February 12:11

[trebnamo]

Free software that can do this: if the PDF is raster and not vector, you could get this done with a combination of GIMP (not the Pulp Fiction kind) and Inkscape. Import the PDF to GIMP and save as an image, then import to Inkscape and trace the bitmap. Then you can export from Inkscape in a vector format. Bit hacky, but it will work.

Of course, if the PDF is originally vector then you're much better trying to get that data converted to SVG without the messy tracing step.

[boyse7en]

Email me the PDF and I will chuck it into Illustrator and save it as EPS and AI vector formats

[Road2Ruin]

boyse7en said:

Email me the PDF and I will chuck it into Illustrator and save it as EPS and AI vector formats

Sent you a dm...thanks

[Road2Ruin]

trebnamo said:

Free software that can do this: if the PDF is raster and not vector, you could get this done with a combination of GIMP (not the Pulp Fiction kind) and Inkscape. Import the PDF to GIMP and save as an image, then import to Inkscape and trace the bitmap. Then you can export from Inkscape in a vector format. Bit hacky, but it will work.

Of course, if the PDF is originally vector then you're much better trying to get that data converted to SVG without the messy tracing step.

Got both of those programs and will try if all else fails. The original format is a raster pdf.

[trebnamo]

Road2Ruin said:

Got both of those programs and will try if all else fails. The original format is a raster pdf.

https://askubuntu.com/questions/301540/export-imag... These instructions are for Ubuntu but same applies for GIMP/Inkscape on windows, macOS or whatever. If all else fails!

[Road2Ruin]

trebnamo said:

https://askubuntu.com/questions/301540/export-imag... These instructions are for Ubuntu but same applies for GIMP/Inkscape on windows, macOS or whatever. If all else fails!

Thanks for that. I did find another page that gave a step by step guide and tried that. I have emailed the resulting file to the artwork dept of the company and will see what they say. It certainly looked like it vectorized it as it put dots all over it. The only test is if I have managed to export/save it in vector format