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Image to DXF converter for laser cutting

Upload a JPG, PNG or other image, set the final width in millimeters, and get a DXF with a single cut layer, plus an SVG and a PDF. The preview is free.

Drop your image here
or
JPG, PNG, WEBP, GIF, BMP or HEIC, up to 10 MB

Real examples, made with this converter

Each pair is an actual conversion of a public domain image, with the settings listed under it. You can download the exact files.

Free sample files, not watermarked.

Recommended settings

The laser profile is already selected. These values are a good start for line art and flat graphics.

Profile
Laser / CNC. Outlines only, no fills.
Colors
1 (black and white). Every extra color adds shared edges that get cut twice.
Width
The real width you want on the material, 10 to 1500 mm. The DXF is written in millimeters, so there is nothing to rescale.
Detail
Medium for most work. Use high only if your laser can hold features under 0.5 mm; use low for thick material.

What is inside the DXF

The file is DXF R2010 with units set to millimeters. Each contour is one closed polyline on a single layer called CUT, with the origin at the bottom-left corner of the design and Y pointing up.

Curves are flattened to short straight segments within 0.01 mm. At laser scale you cannot see the difference, but it means a DXF has more points than the SVG of the same design. If your software takes SVG, the SVG keeps real curves.

Which images give the best DXF

The converter traces shapes, so it works best on drawings, engravings, mandalas, silhouettes and logos with clear edges. A photo has no outlines to trace; you will get blobs of tone.

  • Dark lines on a light background are the easiest case.
  • Hairline strokes thinner than your laser kerf will not survive as a cut. Make the image bolder or lower the detail setting.
  • Very dense engravings, with thousands of tiny shapes, make heavy files. Pick a lower detail or a smaller area of the drawing.

Open the DXF in your laser software

LightBurn DXF or SVG

  1. File > Import (Ctrl+I) and choose the DXF.
  2. The cut lines arrive on one layer. Set that layer to Line mode.
  3. Check the size readout: it should match the width you chose.
  4. Turn on cut inner shapes first in the optimization settings so cut-outs drop last.

LaserGRBL SVG

  1. Use the SVG from the same conversion: File > Open File.
  2. Confirm the vector import options, then check the size before you run the job.

Inkscape DXF or SVG

  1. File > Import, pick the file, keep millimeters.
  2. Use it to add tabs, text or an outer border before sending to the laser.

Common mistakes

  • Choosing several colors for a cut-only job. With more than one color, the edge shared by two colors belongs to both, so the laser cuts it twice. Stay at 1 color unless you need separate layers.
  • Uploading a tiny, soft image. A 150 px thumbnail has no information about edges. The AI upscaling helps, but start from the largest version you have.
  • Forgetting kerf. The DXF is the exact outline. The beam removes material on both sides of that line, so a press-fit joint needs an offset in your laser software.
  • Expecting fills or engraving. The laser profile gives outlines. To engrave a filled area, fill the shapes in your laser software.

Questions

Is the DXF in real millimeters?

Yes. You choose the final width, and the DXF header says millimeters, so it opens at that size.

Can I try it before paying?

Yes. The preview is free and watermarked. One credit gives you the SVG, DXF and PDF of that conversion.

Which formats can I upload?

JPG, PNG, WEBP, GIF, BMP and HEIC, up to 10 MB.

Why does my DXF look different from the preview?

The preview shows filled shapes so you can judge the design. The laser files contain only the outlines.

Related guides

See prices: you see a free watermarked preview first, and one credit buys the SVG, DXF and PDF. VectoCut home