# Subtraction boolean failed when cutting text

**URL:** <https://discourse.shapr3d.com/t/subtraction-boolean-failed-when-cutting-text/38485>\
**Category:** Modeling Questions\
**Created:** [June 22, 2025, 1:31pm UTC](https://discourse.shapr3d.com/t/subtraction-boolean-failed-when-cutting-text/38485 "2025-06-22T13:31:13Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 19\
**Page:** 1

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**Author:** ![Sacrifyser](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/bbe5ce/32.png) [@Sacrifyser](https://discourse.shapr3d.com/u/Sacrifyser)\
**Post date:** [June 22, 2025, 1:31pm UTC](https://discourse.shapr3d.com/t/subtraction-boolean-failed-when-cutting-text/38485/1 "2025-06-22T13:31:13Z")

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Hello together,

I’m totally new in Shapr3D so maybe you can help me.

I want to cut out some text out of a body. But while cutting with the subtraction tool, it shows me “Boolean operation failed” for specific characters. The N and E are a problem for example.

Maybe you can help me? I can’t attach my Shapr3D file.

Thank you and have a nice day!

Daniel

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**Author:** ![Xdrakosha](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/flex002/user_avatar/discourse.shapr3d.com/xdrakosha/32/24881_2.png) [@Xdrakosha](https://discourse.shapr3d.com/u/Xdrakosha)\
**Post date:** [June 22, 2025, 1:43pm UTC](https://discourse.shapr3d.com/t/subtraction-boolean-failed-when-cutting-text/38485/2 "2025-06-22T13:43:26Z")

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You could at least attach a screenshot. The information you provided isn’t enough to understand what problem you’re having.

You can also send me your project by email ([shapr3d@tsbl.net](mailto:shapr3d@tsbl.net)), so I can take a closer look and let you know where the issues are.

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**Author:** ![SCALEMODEL](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/77aa72/32.png) [@SCALEMODEL](https://discourse.shapr3d.com/u/SCALEMODEL)\
**Post date:** [June 22, 2025, 2:12pm UTC](https://discourse.shapr3d.com/t/subtraction-boolean-failed-when-cutting-text/38485/3 "2025-06-22T14:12:19Z")

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If I had to guess it would be more of an organic looking font.

If you can provide Font Type and Font Size. Known issue where certain font has overlapping sketch.

> [@Video example - Face or sketch filling can’t be extruded](https://discourse.shapr3d.com/t/video-example-face-or-sketch-filling-can-t-be-extruded/36343):
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> Created a new shaper project Selected text and entered in characters and chose font Selected each placed letter and extruded until one last letter would not extrude Confused as all other letters extrude and the error is contradictory as other letters extruded except the one in the video. Any ideas on how to resolve this? ease provide a detailed description of the issue. Provide as much information as possible, including screenshots and/or screen recordings. For screen recording, we recomm…

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<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![Sacrifyser](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/bbe5ce/32.png) [@Sacrifyser](https://discourse.shapr3d.com/u/Sacrifyser)\
**Post date:** [June 22, 2025, 2:17pm UTC](https://discourse.shapr3d.com/t/subtraction-boolean-failed-when-cutting-text/38485/4 "2025-06-22T14:17:23Z")

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![Bildschirmfoto 2025-06-22 um 15.30.10](https://us1.discourse-cdn.com/flex002/uploads/shapr3d/original/3X/7/b/7bb7ca86059d29869d1de7c005f0d0f91ef95834.jpeg)

Here you can see the body and the font I want to subtract from the body.

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**Author:** ![SCALEMODEL](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/77aa72/32.png) [@SCALEMODEL](https://discourse.shapr3d.com/u/SCALEMODEL)\
**Post date:** [June 22, 2025, 2:20pm UTC](https://discourse.shapr3d.com/t/subtraction-boolean-failed-when-cutting-text/38485/5 "2025-06-22T14:20:02Z")

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I believe your trying to subtract out of a MESH file?

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<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![Sacrifyser](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/bbe5ce/32.png) [@Sacrifyser](https://discourse.shapr3d.com/u/Sacrifyser)\
**Post date:** [June 22, 2025, 2:23pm UTC](https://discourse.shapr3d.com/t/subtraction-boolean-failed-when-cutting-text/38485/6 "2025-06-22T14:23:45Z")

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Can be, the body is a file that I got from a open creative platform. I already printed a version with a different name, there the font worked. But I had to play around with fonts, some of them hasn’t worked.

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**Author:** ![SCALEMODEL](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/77aa72/32.png) [@SCALEMODEL](https://discourse.shapr3d.com/u/SCALEMODEL)\
**Post date:** [June 22, 2025, 2:28pm UTC](https://discourse.shapr3d.com/t/subtraction-boolean-failed-when-cutting-text/38485/7 "2025-06-22T14:28:13Z")

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It’s most likely a mesh file, if you can post the link where you downloaded from or send the file to Alex he can investigate it for you. It’s a long story but Shapr3d has issues with boolean MESH files.

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**Author:** ![Sacrifyser](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/bbe5ce/32.png) [@Sacrifyser](https://discourse.shapr3d.com/u/Sacrifyser)\
**Post date:** [June 22, 2025, 2:37pm UTC](https://discourse.shapr3d.com/t/subtraction-boolean-failed-when-cutting-text/38485/8 "2025-06-22T14:37:43Z")

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Here is the URL: [Dino-Zahnbürstenhalter Oral-B verschiedene Aufsätze Remixt von Oachkatzl MakerWorld: Kostenlose 3D-Modelle herunterladen](https://makerworld.com/de/models/834288-dino-toothbrush-holder-oral-b-different-head?from=search#profileId-779216)

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**Author:** ![SCALEMODEL](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/77aa72/32.png) [@SCALEMODEL](https://discourse.shapr3d.com/u/SCALEMODEL)\
**Post date:** [June 22, 2025, 2:39pm UTC](https://discourse.shapr3d.com/t/subtraction-boolean-failed-when-cutting-text/38485/9 "2025-06-22T14:39:16Z")

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Also the font type and if know the font size.

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<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![Sacrifyser](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/bbe5ce/32.png) [@Sacrifyser](https://discourse.shapr3d.com/u/Sacrifyser)\
**Post date:** [June 22, 2025, 2:47pm UTC](https://discourse.shapr3d.com/t/subtraction-boolean-failed-when-cutting-text/38485/10 "2025-06-22T14:47:48Z")

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The body in the original URL is not like the body I showed to you, I made slight changes to fit another toothbrush as “head” of the dino.

Font size 8mm, font type “Arial Rounded MT Bold”.

Thank you for your help!

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**Author:** ![Xdrakosha](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/flex002/user_avatar/discourse.shapr3d.com/xdrakosha/32/24881_2.png) [@Xdrakosha](https://discourse.shapr3d.com/u/Xdrakosha)\
**Post date:** [June 22, 2025, 2:56pm UTC](https://discourse.shapr3d.com/t/subtraction-boolean-failed-when-cutting-text/38485/11 "2025-06-22T14:56:11Z")

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Subtracted without problem.

 ![image](https://us1.discourse-cdn.com/flex002/uploads/shapr3d/original/3X/7/5/75d57765276c79cb19a507e90992ca08037db57d.jpeg)

Union also ok

 ![image](https://us1.discourse-cdn.com/flex002/uploads/shapr3d/original/3X/3/3/33462b4386b4eb61f6f94da3f7c1b2900e0ddd86.jpeg)

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<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![Sacrifyser](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/bbe5ce/32.png) [@Sacrifyser](https://discourse.shapr3d.com/u/Sacrifyser)\
**Post date:** [June 22, 2025, 3:15pm UTC](https://discourse.shapr3d.com/t/subtraction-boolean-failed-when-cutting-text/38485/12 "2025-06-22T15:15:51Z")

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Is this maybe a problem with my Shapr3D file? I changed something in the main body…

Here is a link with my Shapr3D file: [Unique Download Link | WeTransfer](https://we.tl/t-NqKJbeizl7)

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<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![SCALEMODEL](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/77aa72/32.png) [@SCALEMODEL](https://discourse.shapr3d.com/u/SCALEMODEL)\
**Post date:** [June 22, 2025, 3:32pm UTC](https://discourse.shapr3d.com/t/subtraction-boolean-failed-when-cutting-text/38485/13 "2025-06-22T15:32:50Z")

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Hmm interesting, this might be iPad font bug? Like you said n and e can’t not subtract. I replaced it with exactly the same font on the Mac and it boolean correctly.

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<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![Xdrakosha](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/flex002/user_avatar/discourse.shapr3d.com/xdrakosha/32/24881_2.png) [@Xdrakosha](https://discourse.shapr3d.com/u/Xdrakosha)\
**Post date:** [June 22, 2025, 3:38pm UTC](https://discourse.shapr3d.com/t/subtraction-boolean-failed-when-cutting-text/38485/14 "2025-06-22T15:38:48Z")

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I see the problem on a Mac also with downloaded project.

What I’ve done: make extrusion deeper -10 mm instead of -7 mm. But moved sketch itself 3mm away. And everything worked ok

 ![image](https://us1.discourse-cdn.com/flex002/uploads/shapr3d/original/3X/c/3/c3cbf1d2050a6c2dca6bb1a088c0c345ec3fd5b0.jpeg)

 ![image](https://us1.discourse-cdn.com/flex002/uploads/shapr3d/original/3X/6/5/656af95cd01d2f13bbc0c6ed3af6d002ad848fd1.jpeg)

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**Author:** ![Oregonerd](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/flex002/user_avatar/discourse.shapr3d.com/oregonerd/32/8012_2.png) [@Oregonerd](https://discourse.shapr3d.com/u/Oregonerd)\
**Post date:** [June 22, 2025, 11:32pm UTC](https://discourse.shapr3d.com/t/subtraction-boolean-failed-when-cutting-text/38485/15 "2025-06-22T23:32:52Z")

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If you are printing this. Most slicers and emboss text directly in the slicer program.

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<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![Sacrifyser](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/bbe5ce/32.png) [@Sacrifyser](https://discourse.shapr3d.com/u/Sacrifyser)\
**Post date:** [June 23, 2025, 9:54am UTC](https://discourse.shapr3d.com/t/subtraction-boolean-failed-when-cutting-text/38485/16 "2025-06-23T09:54:51Z")

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I tried with your settings but could not get the result working…can you maybe share the Shapr3D file please? It would help me a lot!

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<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![Xdrakosha](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/flex002/user_avatar/discourse.shapr3d.com/xdrakosha/32/24881_2.png) [@Xdrakosha](https://discourse.shapr3d.com/u/Xdrakosha)\
**Post date:** [June 23, 2025, 9:56am UTC](https://discourse.shapr3d.com/t/subtraction-boolean-failed-when-cutting-text/38485/17 "2025-06-23T09:56:42Z")

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> [@Sacrifyser](#):
>
> can you maybe share the Shapr3D file please?

I can, but you wont be able to open it

[Zahnputz Dino Daniel.shapr](https://discourse.shapr3d.com/uploads/short-url/RgFfE1RRNzPmIWGT0mJO5y05MS.shapr) (22.4 MB)

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<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![Xdrakosha](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/flex002/user_avatar/discourse.shapr3d.com/xdrakosha/32/24881_2.png) [@Xdrakosha](https://discourse.shapr3d.com/u/Xdrakosha)\
**Post date:** [June 23, 2025, 10:08am UTC](https://discourse.shapr3d.com/t/subtraction-boolean-failed-when-cutting-text/38485/18 "2025-06-23T10:08:47Z")

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> [@Sacrifyser](#):
>
> I tried with your settings but could not get the result working

Here is the video from iPad. It’s working the same on a Mac. (I’ve used the file in its initial state after download from your link)

[![](https://us1.discourse-cdn.com/flex002/uploads/shapr3d/original/3X/1/4/143bd4d4d9a00360f5aaf463f1a0f4a79dcd71aa.jpeg "Dino") ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sIqBvjDbc1c)

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<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![Sacrifyser](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/bbe5ce/32.png) [@Sacrifyser](https://discourse.shapr3d.com/u/Sacrifyser)\
**Post date:** [June 23, 2025, 9:14pm UTC](https://discourse.shapr3d.com/t/subtraction-boolean-failed-when-cutting-text/38485/19 "2025-06-23T21:14:02Z")

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Oh crazy! Never saw these settings, thank you so much! I could replicate it and printed it today, looks great! 😊