software recommendation - How to transform a pixel image in vector logo in Inkscape?

I don't know if I'm in the right place, but I would like to know how to transform a pixel image I've made into a vector logo ?

I use this picture for my favicon of my personal web site. And if you have any software recommendations, I work on mac. I prefer use an open source one.

Answer

This powerful vector graphics application is free, cross-platform, and Open Source. It comes with an inbuilt function to trace vector graphics from bitmaps.

These are the steps involved:

1. File - Import...: choose to "embed" the bitmap.


2. Select the embedded bitmap.


3. 
   

   Choose Path -Trace Bitmap.... This will open the following dialog:

   
   

   

   
   


4. 
   

   Make the following settings for preserving the pixelated square box appearance in the Mode, and in the Options tabs:

   
   

   

   
   
   
   
   
   • Tick Colors.
   
   
   • Choose 11 Scans for the 11 colors of your source image.
   
   
   • Tick Stack scans to have one object per color stacked above one another.
   
   
   • Untick Smooth corners and Optimize paths for resulting square boxes.
   
   
   • Click on Update for a preview, OK for tracing the bitmap.
   
   
   • Move the vector graphic next to the bitmap for comparing the result (here the selected vector trace is on the right side):
   
   
   
   

   

   
   
   
   
   • Copy the vector object to a new drawing and save in a file format of your choice.
   
   
   
   
   

Note:

This guide will not lead to the desired result of a pixelated vector graphic when working on a very small icon source. To still get the pixelated effect on tracing we have to first upscale the icon before importing to Inkscape.