diff --git a/src/lib/vectorize.ts b/src/lib/vectorize.ts
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..5fce46b
--- /dev/null
+++ b/src/lib/vectorize.ts
@@ -0,0 +1,76 @@
+import "server-only";
+import { trace } from "potrace";
+
+/**
+ * Turn a raster coloring-book PNG (black lines on white) into SVG line art fitted to the lessons'
+ * 0 0 400 300 viewBox. potrace traces the dark pixels into filled paths; we recolor them with our ink
+ * and wrap with a transform so they sit in the standard lesson coordinate space.
+ *
+ * - `pngToTemplateSvg` returns one fitted <path> (holes preserved via fill-rule) — used as the Color
+ *   phase `baseSvg` and the final overlay.
+ * - `svgToRevealSteps` splits that path into chunks for the Trace phase's stroke-by-stroke reveal.
+ */
+
+const STROKE = "#2b2440";
+const VW = 400;
+const VH = 300;
+
+function traceToSvg(png: Buffer): Promise<string> {
+  return new Promise((resolve, reject) => {
+    trace(
+      png,
+      { color: STROKE, background: "transparent", threshold: 170, turdSize: 80, optTolerance: 0.4 },
+      (err: Error | null, svg: string) => (err ? reject(err) : resolve(svg)),
+    );
+  });
+}
+
+function round(n: number): number {
+  return Math.round(n * 100) / 100;
+}
+
+export async function pngToTemplateSvg(png: Buffer): Promise<string> {
+  const svg = await traceToSvg(png);
+
+  // Source dimensions (potrace emits width/height + viewBox on the <svg>).
+  const wM = svg.match(/width="(\d+(?:\.\d+)?)"/);
+  const hM = svg.match(/height="(\d+(?:\.\d+)?)"/);
+  const srcW = wM ? parseFloat(wM[1]) : VW;
+  const srcH = hM ? parseFloat(hM[1]) : VH;
+
+  // All path data, combined into one path (keeps fill-rule holes correct).
+  const ds = [...svg.matchAll(/\bd="([^"]+)"/g)].map((m) => m[1]);
+  if (ds.length === 0) throw new Error("Vectorize produced no paths (image may be blank).");
+  const combined = ds.join(" ");
+
+  // Fit srcW×srcH into 400×300, centered.
+  const s = Math.min(VW / srcW, VH / srcH);
+  const tx = round((VW - srcW * s) / 2);
+  const ty = round((VH - srcH * s) / 2);
+  const transform = `translate(${tx} ${ty}) scale(${round(s)})`;
+
+  return `<path d="${combined}" transform="${transform}" fill="${STROKE}" fill-rule="evenodd"/>`;
+}
+
+/** Split the template path into up to `maxSteps` chunks of subpaths for the trace reveal. */
+export function svgToRevealSteps(templateSvg: string, maxSteps = 6): string[][] {
+  const dM = templateSvg.match(/\bd="([^"]+)"/);
+  const tM = templateSvg.match(/transform="([^"]+)"/);
+  if (!dM) return [[templateSvg]];
+  const transform = tM ? ` transform="${tM[1]}"` : "";
+
+  // Split into subpaths at each move command.
+  const subs = dM[1]
+    .split(/(?=[Mm])/)
+    .map((s) => s.trim())
+    .filter(Boolean);
+  const elements = subs.map((d) => `<path d="${d}"${transform} fill="${STROKE}" fill-rule="evenodd"/>`);
+  if (elements.length === 0) return [[templateSvg]];
+
+  // Chunk into steps so the reveal has a few stages.
+  const steps = Math.min(maxSteps, elements.length);
+  const per = Math.ceil(elements.length / steps);
+  const out: string[][] = [];
+  for (let i = 0; i < elements.length; i += per) out.push(elements.slice(i, i + per));
+  return out;
+}