How to Make and Sell SVG Files on Etsy – With Expert Tips (2024)

Etsy had 96.3 million active buyers in Q2 2023 – undoubtedly one of the most popular online marketplaces. The platform started as a place to sell handcrafted products. Now, you can also sell digital products there.

This article explains how to sell SVG files on Etsy and create a passive income stream. We will discuss the best SVG software options, how to make design files on Illustrator (with our expert tips), how to open a store on Etsy and upload SVGs, and tips on expanding your SVG business.

SVG stands for Scalable Vector Graphics.

Most common file formats, such as JPEG or PNG, store a fixed number of pixels. This pixel density is called the file resolution. If you zoom the file in, after a certain point it becomes blurry or pixelated.

SVG files are different – they are based on mathematical formulas (vectors) so you can zoom and resize them without losing quality.

Tiny SVG files, such as logos, can be significantly enlarged and printed on oversized items like billboards.

• Depending on which software you use, there are few upfront costs to produce.
• Since SVG files can be resized precisely without losing resolution, there are many applications, from a custom script font and artistic illustrations to technical blueprints and guitar plans.
• Affordable SVGs on Etsy appeal to many niches – entrepreneurs looking for designs for their brands, stores and products, DIYs interested in woodworking, or laser engraving plans.
• Selling SVGs can complement your full-time income with passive earnings.

• The Adobe Creative Cloud ($54.99/month, $599.88/year) contains everything designers need to create graphic elements – from thousands of assets to specialized applications like Adobe Illustrator, the solution for creating and editing SVG files.

• Affinity Designer 2 is a direct competitor to not only Adobe Illustrator but also Photoshop.

The product is a complete professional solution for creating SVG files and editing vector and raster files. Its workflow is reasonably intuitive, but given the depth of some resources, there is still a learning curve.

The company replaces subscriptions for a one-time payment of $69.99 (Windows and Mac) or $18.99 (iPad).

The whole suite (Designer 2, Photo 2, and Publisher 2) can be purchased for $164.99.

• CorelDraw – Alludo (former Corel Corporation) offers more than one tool for vector design, with confusing and often changing price tiers, including one-time options and suite subscriptions for businesses.

CorelDraw uses the AI-powered tool Power Trace, which quickly removes the background from raster files and transforms them into vector files.

• Corel Vector ($69.99/year) is a simplified, template-based online tool for hobbyists with unlimited cloud storage, non-destructive editing, vectorizing, effects, text, and typography.
• Corel Draw Standard ($299 one-time purchase) is aimed at hobbyists and home businesses, offering vector illustration tools, layouts for publishing, deep photo editing (with the Corel Photo Paint Standard included), typography, effects, and much more. Available only for Windows.
• CorelDraw Graphics Suite ($549 one-time purchase, $22.42/per month) includes the full power of the CorelDraw family for professional graphic designers. Available for Windows and Mac.

• Canva Pro – Canva is beloved for offering pre-made assets, quickly editable elements, and even some free designs. It is possible to edit vector files with its premium version.

The program is intuitive and easy to use but lacks professional photo editing tools and depends on cloud storage.

Subscription plans start from $12.99 monthly.

• Inkscape is a free, open-source competitor to Adobe Illustrator. It is a high-quality, full-featured, professional-level editor for vector graphics.

As such, it has a steep learning curve, with an interface that some consider cluttered and overwhelming.

The powerful tool has a passionate and active supporting community and is available for Windows, Mac, and Linux. This makes it one of the most compatible and cross-platform options for creating and editing SVGs.

It also imports Illustrator AI and Corel Draw CRD files, and you can convert AutoCAD dxf files to SVG.

• Vecta is an online editor with a dashboard for teams, integration with Slack and Google Drive, and AI-powered features. It is fully expandable through Javascript plug-ins and has an edge in technical designs and productivity with diagrams, measuring, and precision tools.

Vecta imports AutoCAD files (dxf), creates and edits SVGs, and lets you export files in PNG, JPG, SVG, and PDF formats.

This tool is recommended if you want an easy-to-work and affordable solution to sell SVGs for plans or diagrams. More advanced features will require Illustrator, Inkscape, or Affinity.

• LibreOffice Draw is an open-source and free vector editor, part of the LibreOffice suite. It runs on Linux, Windows, or Mac and is supported by an engaged community worldwide.

It imports and edits several formats (including PDF) and exports files as SVG designs.

The editor is straightforward compared to Illustrator but lacks deep graphic editing capabilities.

It can deliver diagrams, flowcharts, photo galleries, and other graphic assets targeting productivity niches with professional quality.

1. Click on New file or select a preset. We are going to stick with the “Common” option.

2. Select the Text tool (1), place the cursor where you want and type (2). Change the font, select the size, or adjust other parameters (3). Use the selection tool to move the design around (4).

3. Outline your text to transform it into a recognizable object with lines and points that other devices (including printing and cutting machines) can read. Select the text with the Selection tool.
   In the right-hand menu, select the tab Properties, then scroll down and hit the Create Outlines button.
   

4. You can insert graphic elements from Adobe libraries or local files.

• For local files, simply drag and drop the asset to your design.

5. Return to your main image (re-insert the edited graphic element if necessary). Use the selection tool to select both the text and the design. Then, in the Properties tab, click on Group to make them into one element and move or resize the whole bunch without misplacing anything.

6. You can ungroup the elements anytime by clicking the same button. This is useful, for instance, if you want to change the colors of letters individually.

7. Once you’re satisfied with the results, save or export your file.

Start your Etsy print on demand business today!

• Go to Etsy.com and Register or Sign in.

• Click the Your account button (upper-right corner), then Sell on Etsy to create a Seller account.

• On the next page, click on Get Started or Open your Etsy shop.

• Fill in language, country, and currency.
• Enter your Etsy shop name. Use generators such as Namelix if needed.
• Create a first Etsy listing.
• Set up payment and billing methods, including a bank account or credit card. The payment verification may take some days.

• Go to the Shop Manager in the upper-right corner.
• Click on Listings on the left-hand menu, then +Add a listing, in the upper-right corner.
• Select Digital files to specify that you’re selling a downloadable.

• Fill in the About section information – add a title, up to ten product photos, and one video.
• Create mockups to use as product photos. Create mockups with daily situations to avoid copycats – for instance, a DIYer looking at the computer with the SVG cut files you’re selling on the screen.
• Drag and drop your .svg files or click on Add file. You can upload up to five files of 20MB each.

The next steps are the same as creating a physical product. Remember to enter in the Description field what the SVG designs’ purposes are and if there are particular steps to print or operate them.

Go to the Settings tab in your listing (or scroll down) and select the automatic renewal option before publishing, or they will appear as Out of Stock after a sale.

Re-check everything, then click on Publish.

Share your listing on your own website, blog post, social networks, or other platforms and make your products known.

Etsy also supports .bmp, .doc, .ePUB, .gif, .iBook, .jpeg, .jpg, .mobi, .mov, .mp3, .mpeg, .pdf, .png, .psp, .rtf, .stl, .txt, and .zip.

Expand your new business by adding more files in different formats, from product designs and woodworking plans to children’s education content.

We have shown how to make SVG files to sell on Etsy, including software options (paid and free), how to create simple designs on Illustrator, and how to open an Etsy shop and upload your files.

You’ve also learned additional ways to expand your SVG business, like adding other file types and POD products.