How to svg path simplifier: quality settings, tolerance, and troubleshooting
- Step 1Match tolerance to SVG type — Icons (16–64px): tolerance 1.0–2.0. Logos displayed at 100–300px: tolerance 0.5. Full-page illustrations: tolerance 0.3–0.5. Auto-traced bitmap traces: tolerance 1.5–3.0.
- Step 2Look for angular distortion — After simplification, zoom in on smooth curves. If straight-line segments are visible where curves should be, reduce the tolerance by 50% and re-run.
- Step 3Check arc shapes specifically — Circular arcs suffer most from over-simplification — circles can appear as polygons at high tolerance. If your SVG has circles or ellipses drawn as paths, use tolerance ≤ 0.5 for those paths.
Frequently asked questions
What SVG types should NOT be simplified?+
QR codes (every module must be precise), technical diagrams, maps, data visualisations, and SVGs used as embroidery or CNC patterns. These require exact coordinates.
Can I apply different tolerances to different paths within one SVG?+
Not in the UI — the tool applies tolerance globally. For per-path control, use the SVGO convertPathData plugin in code with a custom selector to target specific path elements.
How many nodes should a good icon have?+
A well-optimised 24px icon should have 10–50 nodes total across all paths. Icons with 200+ nodes from auto-tracing benefit substantially from simplification.
What is the maximum file size for path simplification?+
5 MB on Free (limited features), 50 MB on Pro. Processing time scales with total node count, not file size — a 1 MB SVG with 50,000 nodes takes longer than a 5 MB SVG with 500 simple paths.
Privacy first
Every JAD SVG tool runs entirely in your browser using the DOM API and Canvas. Your SVG files never leave your device — verified by zero outbound network requests during processing.