Publisher to SVG Converter

Convert PUB to SVG Online

PUB is a Microsoft Publisher desktop-publishing document; SVG is an XML-based scalable vector image. There is no native "Save as SVG" in Publisher, so this converter renders your .pub page to a high-resolution raster image and then runs an automatic raster-to-vector tracer over it. That means the output is a traced approximation of the page — great for simple, high-contrast graphics, but text and fine detail get posterized into solid color shapes rather than staying as editable text. If you need a print-faithful, fully editable copy, convert to PUB to PDF instead.

PUB Format at a Glance

SVG Format at a Glance

How to Convert PUB to SVG

1. Upload Your PUB File: Drag and drop your .pub file or click "+ Add Files" to select it from your computer. You can queue several files to convert with the same setting.
2. Set Number Precision: Open the options and adjust the "Number precision" slider (1–10). Lower values give a smaller file with fewer path points; the on-screen note recommends 4–6 for most pages.
3. Review the Trace Tradeoff: Higher precision keeps more detail but enlarges the file; for flat logos a mid value is plenty. There is no setting that restores editable text — that is a limit of tracing, not of this slider.
4. Convert and Download: Click "Convert" and download your SVG. Files are uploaded over an encrypted connection, processed on our servers, and deleted automatically after a few hours. No sign-up, no watermark.

Why the Output Is Traced, Not Native Vector

Publisher stores a page as live text frames, linked images, and editable shapes, but it exposes no SVG export path. To produce any SVG at all, the page must first be flattened to pixels, and a pixel image has no concept of letters or vector outlines. The tracer then groups adjacent same-color pixels into filled <path> shapes. The result scales without blurring, but body text becomes clusters of glyph-shaped polygons you cannot retype, and soft gradients or photos turn into stepped color bands. For a logo or a bold single-color graphic this is usually fine; for a full newsletter or a flyer with paragraphs, the trace will look rough and the file can balloon with thousands of paths.

A quick rule of thumb: if the page would still read clearly as a two- or three-color stencil — a logo, a badge, a bold headline — it traces well. If it leans on photographs, soft shadows, or paragraphs of body text, a flat raster export such as PNG or JPG will look better and stay smaller than a traced SVG, and PDF is the only target here that keeps the text selectable.

Frequently Asked Questions

Will the text in my Publisher file stay editable in the SVG?

No. The PUB page is rasterized before tracing, so letters are converted into vector shapes that approximate their outlines. You cannot select, retype, or restyle that text. If editable text matters, convert to PDF and then to Word, which Microsoft recommends as the path that keeps text editable.

Should I use PUB to SVG or PUB to PDF?

Use SVG only for simple, high-contrast graphics you plan to scale — a logo or a flat icon-style layout. For anything with paragraphs, photos, or precise print layout, use PUB to PDF: PDF preserves the original fonts, vector text, and page geometry, which is also Microsoft's own recommended export before Publisher support ends.

What does the Number precision slider actually change?

It controls how closely the tracer follows pixel edges, and — because one value feeds two tracer parameters — how finely colours are separated when pixels are clustered into regions. Higher precision adds more path points, keeps more colours apart, and grows the file; lower precision merges colours and simplifies the shapes for a smaller file. The 4–6 range noted on the page is a sensible starting point, and a flat two-colour logo generally traces cleanly at the low end of it while photo-heavy pages look stepped at every setting. Do not go above 8: colour precision is only defined for 1 to 8 significant bits per RGB channel, so positions 9 and 10 abort the run with an out-of-range error and produce no file at all.

Why is Microsoft Publisher being discontinued?

Microsoft has announced that Publisher will no longer be supported after October 1, 2026. After that date, Microsoft 365 subscribers can no longer open or edit .pub files in Publisher, while perpetual and Office LTSC installs keep the app but receive no further support or updates. Microsoft's guidance is to convert existing files to PDF for viewing or Word for editing before then, so exporting your .pub archive now is the safe move.

Can I open an SVG file after converting?

Yes. SVG is a web-native format that renders directly in Chrome, Firefox, Safari, and Edge, and opens in vector editors such as Inkscape and Adobe Illustrator. Because it is XML, you can also inspect or hand-edit the paths in any text editor.

Should I convert PUB to SVG or EPS?

Both are vector targets, so the choice comes down to where the file is going. SVG is web-native — it renders in browsers and is the right pick for logos or flat graphics you'll scale on a webpage. EPS is an older PostScript-based vector format that some print shops and legacy design tools still expect. Either way the Publisher page is traced to vector paths, so neither keeps editable text: choose SVG for web and screen work, or PUB to EPS when a print or design workflow specifically asks for EPS. When you actually need selectable text and an exact print layout, PUB to PDF remains the better route.

Why does my converted SVG have thousands of paths or a large file size?

Tracing turns every distinct color region into its own <path>, so a page with photos, gradients, or dense small text can generate thousands of shapes — occasionally a bigger file than the original raster. Two things help: lower the Number precision slider to simplify the paths and shrink the file, and reserve SVG for flat, high-contrast artwork, which traces far more cleanly. If the page is photo-heavy, a raster export such as PUB to PNG will usually be smaller and look sharper than a traced SVG.

Is converting my Publisher file private?

Yes. Your file is uploaded over an encrypted connection, processed on our servers, and deleted automatically after a few hours. There is no sign-up, no watermark, and your files are never shared or made public.