Walnut · Routing
Backlit shop signs
Turn a bold logo into the face of a shop or studio sign. Use the vector outlines to plan cutouts in CAM, then design the backing, mounts, and lighting around them.
IMAGE TO SVG + DXF / FOR CNC
Your image. Your next CNC project.
Turn logos, lettering, and silhouettes into editable SVG or DXF. Preview your vector, then take it into CAM to plan the cut.
or try by clicking an image
Unlimited free vectorizing & protected preview. One credit unlocks a result; re-downloads are free.
Samples demonstrate the editor with existing vector artwork. Upload your image to evaluate a new conversion.
01 / INSPECT THE CONVERSION
Look closer.
Before you cut.
Compare a pixelated PNG preview with the saved PerfectVector SVG. Move across the artwork to compare, then toggle edges and anchors to inspect the vector paths. You can also use the arrow keys on the comparison.
Curves & openings — Paths: 1; Fill colors: 1.
INSIDE THE SVG
See the paths behind the shape.
Curves & openings
- Paths
- 1
- Fill colors
- 1
The colors in this SVG
- #161513
Follow the contours
Look along curves and corners. Does the vector preserve the shape you intended?
Inspect the openings
Check narrow gaps and enclosed spaces. Small details may change during conversion.
Read the lettering
Check every character and its spacing. Letters become vector shapes, not editable text.
02 / WHAT YOU CAN CUT
Different materials.
Your own design.
Give a shop its signature sign, add a personal detail to furniture, or make a template you’ll use again. Here are six ways vector artwork can become part of a CNC project.
Steel · Plasma cutting
Metal wall art
Bring a landscape or silhouette onto a wall. Prepare connected shapes from your artwork, then account for kerf, small details, and mounting points in your plasma workflow.
Brass · Engraving
Engraved nameplates
Give doors, desks, or products a personal mark. Vector lettering and emblems define the design; set engraving depth and tools in CAM.
Plastic sheet · Profile cutting
Reusable stencils
Repeat a motif on crates, signs, or packaging. Check bridges and narrow details, then choose a sheet and cutting process suited to the design.
Walnut + maple · Pocketing
Wood inlays
Add a contrasting motif to a box or furniture panel. Use vector shapes to develop the pocket and insert; fit, offsets, and tool selection still need CAM setup.
Acrylic · Routing
Workshop templates
Turn a simple outline into a reusable layout or routing guide. Define exact dimensions, alignment holes, and tolerances in CAD before machining.
03 / THE HANDOFF
SVG or DXF?
Follow your workflow.
Both begin with the same vector artwork. Choose the format your CAD or CAM application supports, then verify the imported geometry at its final size.
01
.svg
Keep your artwork as editable vector paths. A useful starting point for sign layouts, silhouettes, and graphics in an SVG-compatible workflow.
SVG · Bézier02
.dxf
Export closed R12 outlines for CAD/CAM, with curves stored as arcs and straight segments. Set the artwork width in millimeters (the default) or inches, and the unit is recorded in the file header; source colors become separate layers, ready for you to assign operations.
DXF R12 · mm / inNeither format contains toolpaths or G-code. Color layers do not automatically become cut, pocket, or engrave operations.
Fusion import documentationTHE WORKFLOW
From image to vector. Then into CAM.
- 01
Upload your artwork
Start with a clear logo, silhouette, or lettering image. PNG, JPEG, WebP, and other supported image formats work.
- 02
Inspect the vector
Zoom into the preview. Check lettering, fine details, and overlapping shapes; adjust colors in the editor.
- 03
Export SVG or DXF
Unlock the result when you are happy with it. For DXF, set the artwork width and units before exporting.
- 04
Prepare the cut in CAM
Verify size and profiles, assign operations, and simulate the toolpaths. Your CAM software creates the machine instructions.
BEFORE THE FIRST CUT
A good vector is
the beginning.
Check the profiles
Look for open contours, overlapping outlines, and small islands. Repair the geometry your chosen operation needs.
Set the real dimensions
Confirm units and final size after import. Raster artwork is not a dimensioned engineering drawing.
Match the material and tool
Allow for bit diameter, inside corners, kerf, and fragile details. Add stencil bridges where needed.
Simulate, then test
Choose tools, depths, feeds, and operations in CAM. Preview the toolpaths and test on scrap before production.
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
Questions before you convert?
Can a CNC machine use an SVG or DXF directly?
Usually, the machine runs G-code created by CAM software. SVG and DXF supply the design geometry. Import your vector into CAD/CAM, choose operations and tools, then generate code for your machine.
Should I choose SVG or DXF for CNC?
Use the format supported by your CAD/CAM workflow. PerfectVector exports editable SVG paths and DXF outlines from the same result. Fusion supports inserting both formats into sketches. Verify scale and profiles after importing either format.
Does vectorization guarantee closed, cut-ready profiles?
No. Source noise, fine detail, and overlapping shapes can need cleanup. Inspect the result in the preview, then check and repair contours in your CAD/CAM software before creating toolpaths.
Can I set the DXF size and separate operations by color?
DXF export lets you set the artwork width in millimetres or inches and puts source colors on separate layers. Confirm dimensions after import and assign cut, pocket, or engrave operations yourself. Colors do not define machine operations automatically.
What artwork is a good starting point?
High-contrast logos, lettering, line art, and silhouettes with clear boundaries. Fine texture, blurry lettering, and photographs need closer review or simplification. For stencils, check that enclosed islands have bridges.
Can I make precision parts or a 3D relief?
Vectorized artwork is not a dimensioned CAD drawing or a 3D model. Draw tight-tolerance parts in CAD. A flat SVG or DXF outline does not supply the height information for a 3D relief.
Will my text remain editable as text?
Vectorization turns visible lettering into shapes. It does not recover the original font or live text. Check character shapes and spacing carefully, especially with small or blurry lettering.
Is image-to-vector conversion free?
Vectorizing and preview are always free and unlimited — you only spend a credit when you download a finished file.
EXPLORE MORE
Related tools.
PERFECTVECTOR / CNC
Your next project
starts with an image.
See what your artwork looks like as a vector before you commit to a download.
Vectorize and previewUnlimited free vectorizing & protected preview. One credit unlocks a result; re-downloads are free.