Methods, systems, and non-transitory computer readable storage media are disclosed for utilizing ray-tracing and mesh generation to illuminate two-dimensional digital vector images. In response to inserting a light source into a two-dimensional digital vector image including one or more vector elements, the disclosed system embeds the vector element(s) into a polygonal mesh generated for a region of the digital vector image. The disclosed system samples a plurality of rays at a plurality of points within the region and detect intersections of the rays with the vector element(s) or a bounding shape surrounding the region. Additionally, the disclosed system determines color values for mesh points in the polygonal mesh based on the intersections of the rays by interpolating color values associated with the intersected points. Furthermore, in some embodiments, the disclosed system subdivides the polygonal mesh according to a priority queue based on error scores associated with the determined color values.