# "Import” shapes/text from .svg to avoid tracing

**URL:** <https://discourse.shapr3d.com/t/import-shapes-text-from-svg-to-avoid-tracing/2922>\
**Category:** Share your creations\
**Created:** [September 19, 2018, 7:33pm UTC](https://discourse.shapr3d.com/t/import-shapes-text-from-svg-to-avoid-tracing/2922 "2018-09-19T19:33:38Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 14\
**Page:** 1

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**Author:** ![Jfonseca](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/e68b1a/32.png) [@Jfonseca](https://discourse.shapr3d.com/u/Jfonseca)\
**Post date:** [September 19, 2018, 7:33pm UTC](https://discourse.shapr3d.com/t/import-shapes-text-from-svg-to-avoid-tracing/2922/1 "2018-09-19T19:33:38Z")

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Hello everyone, Im creating a 3d printed letters w/led, I dont really like to trace sketches, so I use the following work-flow to do it.

First, I use InkScape to create a .svg file, write a text (and convert it to path) or import a image (trace bitmap & convert it to path)

![image](https://cdck-file-uploads-us1.s3.dualstack.us-west-2.amazonaws.com/flex002/uploads/shapr3d/original/2X/0/0415e7e345d83a858ebbe03a08d802a9734fa229.png)

once I created a .svg file, the next step is to import it as geometry to create a .iges file using export command on FreeCad

![image](https://cdck-file-uploads-us1.s3.dualstack.us-west-2.amazonaws.com/flex002/uploads/shapr3d/original/2X/4/4b5bc1a19953f5034b684b73b5285ce13c4c7e31.png)

Open the .iges file on Shapr3D, and start working on what you need  
 ![MILO](https://cdck-file-uploads-us1.s3.dualstack.us-west-2.amazonaws.com/flex002/uploads/shapr3d/original/2X/0/052f9b7ff120f6a76a7d8153768d945bf93bc178.jpeg)

![MILO2](https://cdck-file-uploads-us1.s3.dualstack.us-west-2.amazonaws.com/flex002/uploads/shapr3d/original/2X/c/c88d64c38b4ac2b5737f7a9865958f7dacd12b10.jpeg)

![04%20PM](https://cdck-file-uploads-us1.s3.dualstack.us-west-2.amazonaws.com/flex002/uploads/shapr3d/original/2X/d/d1b6329e2b51aa19fd1326de78c50cbac6e02a55.jpeg)

Work still in progress!

[https://inkscape.org/es/](https://inkscape.org/es/)  
[https://freecadweb.org](https://freecadweb.org)

See you guys!

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**Author:** ![Rob](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/838e76/32.png) [@Rob](https://discourse.shapr3d.com/u/Rob)\
**Post date:** [September 20, 2018, 12:22am UTC](https://discourse.shapr3d.com/t/import-shapes-text-from-svg-to-avoid-tracing/2922/2 "2018-09-20T00:22:27Z")

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Excellent work, muy bien 👏🏼👏🏼

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**Author:** ![Hampton\_106](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/53a042/32.png) [@Hampton\_106](https://discourse.shapr3d.com/u/Hampton_106)\
**Post date:** [January 15, 2019, 10:36pm UTC](https://discourse.shapr3d.com/t/import-shapes-text-from-svg-to-avoid-tracing/2922/3 "2019-01-15T22:36:43Z")

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I get all the way to the last step but while importing the progress circle gets to half way and stops. Any suggestions? THANK YOU!

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**Author:** ![Hampton\_106](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/53a042/32.png) [@Hampton\_106](https://discourse.shapr3d.com/u/Hampton_106)\
**Post date:** [January 16, 2019, 3:34pm UTC](https://discourse.shapr3d.com/t/import-shapes-text-from-svg-to-avoid-tracing/2922/4 "2019-01-16T15:34:19Z")

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Got the help I needed from support! Thank you!

Before exporting the iges file from free cad select your objects and extrude them a little bit so they get imported as a 3D model

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**Author:** ![UnluckyKitty](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/u/a88e4f/32.png) [@UnluckyKitty](https://discourse.shapr3d.com/u/UnluckyKitty)\
**Post date:** [February 24, 2019, 12:43pm UTC](https://discourse.shapr3d.com/t/import-shapes-text-from-svg-to-avoid-tracing/2922/5 "2019-02-24T12:43:21Z")

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That’s really cool! Good job!

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**Author:** ![C172pilot](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/74df32/32.png) [@C172pilot](https://discourse.shapr3d.com/u/C172pilot)\
**Post date:** [May 19, 2020, 11:05pm UTC](https://discourse.shapr3d.com/t/import-shapes-text-from-svg-to-avoid-tracing/2922/6 "2020-05-19T23:05:32Z")

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Great! I will try that. With what I’m paying monthly, text should already be an option at this point.

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**Author:** ![jodyscho](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/3ec8ea/32.png) [@jodyscho](https://discourse.shapr3d.com/u/jodyscho)\
**Post date:** [November 15, 2020, 9:14pm UTC](https://discourse.shapr3d.com/t/import-shapes-text-from-svg-to-avoid-tracing/2922/7 "2020-11-15T21:14:40Z")

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This looks amazing. To bad you have to go through extra steps though (svg-\>iges-\>Shapr3D).

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**Author:** ![TheBum](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/eada6e/32.png) [@TheBum](https://discourse.shapr3d.com/u/TheBum)\
**Post date:** [November 16, 2020, 2:56am UTC](https://discourse.shapr3d.com/t/import-shapes-text-from-svg-to-avoid-tracing/2922/8 "2020-11-16T02:56:21Z")

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Inkscape exports DXF now, which eliminates one step.

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**Author:** ![Geoffree3](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/flex002/user_avatar/discourse.shapr3d.com/geoffree3/32/9580_2.png) [@Geoffree3](https://discourse.shapr3d.com/u/Geoffree3)\
**Post date:** [March 11, 2021, 12:54pm UTC](https://discourse.shapr3d.com/t/import-shapes-text-from-svg-to-avoid-tracing/2922/9 "2021-03-11T12:54:42Z")

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As mentioned, Inkscape exports dfx files which can be imported to shapr3D however to get really smooth shapes (import as proper curves) I’ve found you have to do the following:

select text  
Path → Object to Path  
Object → Ungroup (each letter will now have a dotted box around it)  
Save as AutoCAD DXF R14 (not R12!)  
if you get a dialog box with options, deselect ‘use ROBO-Master’ and ‘use LWPOLYLINE’

import to shapr3D …and you get lovely text 🙂

 ![IMG_4032](https://us1.discourse-cdn.com/flex002/uploads/shapr3d/original/2X/a/ab114015b00c465de457385269414851f18fca78.png)

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**Author:** ![adalovebass](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/flex002/user_avatar/discourse.shapr3d.com/adalovebass/32/20564_2.png) [@adalovebass](https://discourse.shapr3d.com/u/adalovebass)\
**Post date:** [July 28, 2023, 8:33pm UTC](https://discourse.shapr3d.com/t/import-shapes-text-from-svg-to-avoid-tracing/2922/10 "2023-07-28T20:33:10Z")

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@Geoffree3 is right, and I appreciate the tips! I may offer this clarification:

uncheck “use ROBO-Master”  
check “use LWPOLYLINE”

![image](https://us1.discourse-cdn.com/flex002/uploads/shapr3d/original/3X/f/6/f6eb263a24fd515666f5159933e8ebf4f89281ce.png)

In this screenshot, the top sketch is with “use LWPOLYLINE” checked, the lower one is with it unchecked. Both have “use ROBO-Master” unchecked.

 ![image](https://us1.discourse-cdn.com/flex002/uploads/shapr3d/original/3X/1/9/19812f03f1c81dd14160e42a1dafdf94eb8ae5ef.png)

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**Author:** ![Yepher](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/flex002/user_avatar/discourse.shapr3d.com/yepher/32/8902_2.png) [@Yepher](https://discourse.shapr3d.com/u/Yepher)\
**Post date:** [July 28, 2023, 9:15pm UTC](https://discourse.shapr3d.com/t/import-shapes-text-from-svg-to-avoid-tracing/2922/11 "2023-07-28T21:15:23Z")

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I would be interested if you attached both files so we can see the internal difference in how they are composed.

Curious also why you don’t just use Shapr3D built-in text feature?

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**Author:** ![dafal](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/ba8739/32.png) [@dafal](https://discourse.shapr3d.com/u/dafal)\
**Post date:** [July 30, 2023, 1:50pm UTC](https://discourse.shapr3d.com/t/import-shapes-text-from-svg-to-avoid-tracing/2922/12 "2023-07-30T13:50:45Z")

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Thank you for this solution, works for me.

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**Author:** ![adalovebass](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/flex002/user_avatar/discourse.shapr3d.com/adalovebass/32/20564_2.png) [@adalovebass](https://discourse.shapr3d.com/u/adalovebass)\
**Post date:** [August 2, 2023, 7:18pm UTC](https://discourse.shapr3d.com/t/import-shapes-text-from-svg-to-avoid-tracing/2922/14 "2023-08-02T19:18:39Z")

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Well, oddly, I went to make a simpler test case with a single letter and I was seeing smooth curves with both export options. I saved over the not-smooth one when I re-exported with the other options, so sadly I don’t have it any more.

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**Author:** ![adalovebass](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/flex002/user_avatar/discourse.shapr3d.com/adalovebass/32/20564_2.png) [@adalovebass](https://discourse.shapr3d.com/u/adalovebass)\
**Post date:** [August 2, 2023, 7:19pm UTC](https://discourse.shapr3d.com/t/import-shapes-text-from-svg-to-avoid-tracing/2922/15 "2023-08-02T19:19:55Z")

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Seconding this, for artistic endeavors, Shapr3D’s sketching is a bit clunky.