Converting a raster image to a vector drawing is rarely a "magic button" operation. High-quality converters utilize a process called conversion, which generally follows these steps:

While not a CAD program, Illustrator has the world's best vector tracing engine: .

But not all converters are created equal. Some produce "fake" DWG files (a JPG stuffed inside a DWG wrapper), while others use AI and vectorization to create true, editable geometry.

A JPG (or JPEG) is a raster image. Think of it as a grid of millions of tiny colored squares called pixels. When you zoom in on a JPG, the computer simply enlarges those squares, resulting in a pixelated, blurry image.

The vector data is written into the .dwg file format. The best converters will also create (e.g., separating text from walls) and assign logical colors.

Using a is not cheating; it is efficiency. However, you must manage your expectations.

These are great for simple logos or line art. Do not use them for complex engineering drawings.

The software identifies connected pixels and converts them into mathematical entities: