Vector Magic

I was presented with a logo which was needed for a print job, but it was of web resolution and so it will not translate well on print. Being a logo makes things worse because it's composed of lines and words that must remain sharp. The logo was needed urgently, however, and so I needed a quick fix.

A resulting quick search on the web revealed Vector Magic, an online service that will create a vector graphic from your photo. It's very easy to use. Simply upload your image, and then Vector Magic will give you visual guide on what you want. It takes a sample area of your image and provide some shots of what it will be doing next so you can compare your image with the samples.

Convert bitmap images like JPEGs, GIFs and PNGs to the crisp, scalable vector art of EPS, SVG, and PDF with the world's best auto-tracing software. [from their website]

You can even have the final image improved further through additional features (sharpness, resolution). And then you can finally save the resulting image.

Note that the system will allow you up to two downloads. After that... I guess there will be a small fee for the succeeding conversions. It works on a SAAS (Software as a Service) model. The service costs $7.95 per month. There is also a desktop edition for a one-time license fee of $295.00.