CLI Reference

covecto [COMMAND]

Commands:
  vectorize  Vectorize one or more images to SVG/PDF/EPS
  serve      Start HTTP API server

Options:
  -V, --version  Print version
  -h, --help     Print help

vectorize

covecto vectorize [OPTIONS] <INPUT>

Positional

Arg	Description
<INPUT>	Input file, directory, or glob pattern ("icons/*.png")

Output

Flag	Description	Default
-o, --output <PATH>	Output file (single) or directory (batch)	stdout
--output-dir <DIR>	Output directory (batch alternative)	—
--output-template <TPL>	Filename template: {stem}, {name}, {ext}	{stem}.{ext}
-F, --format <FMT>	svg, pdf, eps	svg

Engine

Flag	Description	Default
-e, --engine <E>	auto, spline, pixel-exact	auto
--preset <P>	Preset (vtracer starting point for Spline parameters): bw, poster, photo	—
--profile <P>	Profile (may also choose the engine): icon, logo, photo, lineart. Flags you type win over it	—

Vectorization Parameters

Flag	Type	Description
--color-precision <N>	1–32	Color quantization precision (higher = more colors)
--filter-speckle <N>	int	Filter speckle noise smaller than N
--corner-threshold <N>	0–180	Corner detection (higher = fewer corners)
--splice-threshold <N>	0–100	Path splice threshold
--color-mode <M>	enum	color or binary
--hierarchical <M>	enum	stacked or cutout
--path-simplify <M>	enum	spline, polygon, or none
--layer-difference <N>	int	Layer difference threshold
--length-threshold <F>	float	Minimum path length
--max-iterations <N>	int	Max color quantization iterations
--path-precision <N>	int	Path coordinate decimal places
--spline-max-mp <MP>	float	Spline: downscale inputs above this many megapixels before tracing (default 2, 0 = full size)

Optimization

Flag	Description	Default
--optimize[=BOOL]	Run SVG optimization (--optimize=false to disable)	true
--no-optimize	Disable SVG optimization	—
--optimize-preset <P>	Optimization level: default, safe, none	default
--multipass	Multiple optimization passes	false
--multipass-iterations <N>	Pass count (1+, capped at 16)	10

The optimizer is skipped for PixelExact output: it is already minimal, so streaming to disk stays fully incremental.

Batch & UX

Flag	Description	Default
-R, --recursive	Recurse into subdirectories	false
--json	JSON results to stdout	false
--json-pretty	Pretty-printed JSON	false
--no-progress	Disable progress bar/spinner	false
--dry-run	Preview without processing	false
--max-dimension <PX>	Refuse images wider or taller than this, checked before decoding (0 = no limit)	8192

serve

covecto serve [OPTIONS]

Flag	Description	Default
-p, --port <PORT>	Listen port	3000

Exit Codes

Code	Meaning
0	Success: every file was converted (with --dry-run: listed; files are only read, and so checked, for the auto engine)
1	Error: invalid input or options, or at least one file in a batch failed (the others are still converted and listed)