# SVG Export results in a bunch of straight lines

**URL:** <https://discourse.shapr3d.com/t/svg-export-results-in-a-bunch-of-straight-lines/38431>\
**Category:** Modeling Questions\
**Created:** [June 18, 2025, 11:08am UTC](https://discourse.shapr3d.com/t/svg-export-results-in-a-bunch-of-straight-lines/38431 "2025-06-18T11:08:43Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 15\
**Page:** 1

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**Author:** ![Flatman](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/b3f665/32.png) [@Flatman](https://discourse.shapr3d.com/u/Flatman)\
**Post date:** [June 18, 2025, 11:08am UTC](https://discourse.shapr3d.com/t/svg-export-results-in-a-bunch-of-straight-lines/38431/1 "2025-06-18T11:08:43Z")

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I exported a sketch created in Shapr3D to SVG, but it was output as a bunch of straight lines instead of Bézier curves.  
How can I export it as it was drawn in the sketch?

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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 18, 2025, 1:49pm UTC](https://discourse.shapr3d.com/t/svg-export-results-in-a-bunch-of-straight-lines/38431/2 "2025-06-18T13:49:52Z")

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Try DXF instead of SVG.

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<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![Flatman](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/b3f665/32.png) [@Flatman](https://discourse.shapr3d.com/u/Flatman)\
**Post date:** [June 18, 2025, 2:00pm UTC](https://discourse.shapr3d.com/t/svg-export-results-in-a-bunch-of-straight-lines/38431/3 "2025-06-18T14:00:56Z")

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I’ve already tried with DXF, however…

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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 18, 2025, 2:10pm UTC](https://discourse.shapr3d.com/t/svg-export-results-in-a-bunch-of-straight-lines/38431/4 "2025-06-18T14:10:55Z")

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SVG exports is resolution dependent which is why you get bunch of lines. Increase or descrese the value below you get more or less lines

 ![image](https://us1.discourse-cdn.com/flex002/uploads/shapr3d/original/3X/4/9/49499e87e56813a05b5cc3f264975e64c7c2f977.png)

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<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![Flatman](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/b3f665/32.png) [@Flatman](https://discourse.shapr3d.com/u/Flatman)\
**Post date:** [June 18, 2025, 2:29pm UTC](https://discourse.shapr3d.com/t/svg-export-results-in-a-bunch-of-straight-lines/38431/5 "2025-06-18T14:29:17Z")

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The problem is not that there are many straight lines, but that all curves are replaced with straight lines.  
I want to export the drawing without losing any curves.

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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 18, 2025, 5:00pm UTC](https://discourse.shapr3d.com/t/svg-export-results-in-a-bunch-of-straight-lines/38431/6 "2025-06-18T17:00:15Z")

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Yes the curves are converted to lines, for example if I create a circle and exported as SVG they become a polygon when I import it in another graphic program not perfect mathematical circle. I believe thats what you are encountering.

So curves saved as SVG looses the Bezier Handles, my initial suggestion was DXF because exports keeps Bezier Handles, but not SVG.

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<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![Flatman](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/b3f665/32.png) [@Flatman](https://discourse.shapr3d.com/u/Flatman)\
**Post date:** [June 19, 2025, 12:27am UTC](https://discourse.shapr3d.com/t/svg-export-results-in-a-bunch-of-straight-lines/38431/7 "2025-06-19T00:27:12Z")

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I understood your earlier suggestion, but the result was same as SVG even I exported to DXF.  
Now, I’ve found it’s the problem of Affinity Designer 2, the vector drawing tool I am using.  
When I re-import the exported DXF file using only Shapr3D, it keeps the curves.  
But they are lost when I open with Affinity Designer 2.  
I will try to find some applicable bridge converter for this situation.  
Thanks anyway!

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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 19, 2025, 5:44am UTC](https://discourse.shapr3d.com/t/svg-export-results-in-a-bunch-of-straight-lines/38431/8 "2025-06-19T05:44:53Z")

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I do lot of Affinity Designer to Shapr3d.

I have not encountered the issue you have with DXF. DXF usually gives me bezier so that is my go to file format when I need it in Affinity Designer.

I can recommend QCAD as a converting software, it has 10min time trial.

I attached test files from Shapr to DXF to AD, it shows what I see.

[spline export.zip](https://discourse.shapr3d.com/uploads/short-url/yWX3Ji1sgLMESvmzT5LGFI3wnuK.zip) (50.8 KB)

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<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![jean-philippe2](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/flex002/user_avatar/discourse.shapr3d.com/jean-philippe2/32/27353_2.png) [@jean-philippe2](https://discourse.shapr3d.com/u/jean-philippe2)\
**Post date:** [June 19, 2025, 5:49am UTC](https://discourse.shapr3d.com/t/svg-export-results-in-a-bunch-of-straight-lines/38431/9 "2025-06-19T05:49:03Z")

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Hi,  
I did a test with Adobe Illustrator.  
In AI, draw a circle and export it in **.dwg**  
In S3D, import it. The circle keep Bezier Handles.  
In Ai, open the .dwg file and all is OK.

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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 19, 2025, 5:55am UTC](https://discourse.shapr3d.com/t/svg-export-results-in-a-bunch-of-straight-lines/38431/10 "2025-06-19T05:55:10Z")

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Try this, Jean (I don’t have AI).

1. Make a circle in Shapr3d and export it as SVG.
2. Make a circle in Shapr3d and export it as DXF.

Import it in Adobe Illustrator if you get segmented circle or pure curved circle.

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<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![jean-philippe2](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/flex002/user_avatar/discourse.shapr3d.com/jean-philippe2/32/27353_2.png) [@jean-philippe2](https://discourse.shapr3d.com/u/jean-philippe2)\
**Post date:** [June 19, 2025, 8:04am UTC](https://discourse.shapr3d.com/t/svg-export-results-in-a-bunch-of-straight-lines/38431/11 "2025-06-19T08:04:15Z")

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Hi,

1. Not good \> segmented circle with a lot of points
2. Not good \> just an horizontal line

BUT  
If i export with DXF from Drawing, it’s OK. A pure curved circle.

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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 19, 2025, 12:46pm UTC](https://discourse.shapr3d.com/t/svg-export-results-in-a-bunch-of-straight-lines/38431/12 "2025-06-19T12:46:03Z")

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> [@jean-philippe2](#):
>
> 1. Not good \> just an horizontal line

What orientation is the sketch in? Is the sketch Facing the Front?

If sketch is facing some other direction try to make it face the Top down.

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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 19, 2025, 12:49pm UTC](https://discourse.shapr3d.com/t/svg-export-results-in-a-bunch-of-straight-lines/38431/13 "2025-06-19T12:49:42Z")

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This should be the result you get going from DXF to Affinity Designer (AI).

 ![image](https://us1.discourse-cdn.com/flex002/uploads/shapr3d/original/3X/6/a/6adbc046c9abf6a8fb6bbdb6cace781bb5c65c28.jpeg)  
 ![image](https://us1.discourse-cdn.com/flex002/uploads/shapr3d/original/3X/6/1/6157dd8e2184e194ce2f26ff6bcb6fa54a5628ba.jpeg)

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<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![jean-philippe2](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/flex002/user_avatar/discourse.shapr3d.com/jean-philippe2/32/27353_2.png) [@jean-philippe2](https://discourse.shapr3d.com/u/jean-philippe2)\
**Post date:** [June 19, 2025, 3:09pm UTC](https://discourse.shapr3d.com/t/svg-export-results-in-a-bunch-of-straight-lines/38431/14 "2025-06-19T15:09:59Z")

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Yes, perfect !  
On the other hand, you must use the Spline Fit and not Spline Control tool

 ![Capture d’écran 2025-06-19 à 17.06.57](https://us1.discourse-cdn.com/flex002/uploads/shapr3d/original/3X/0/2/02cb5842e95914f029c76aee4dfb1e1ea1e429a4.png)

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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 19, 2025, 7:43pm UTC](https://discourse.shapr3d.com/t/svg-export-results-in-a-bunch-of-straight-lines/38431/15 "2025-06-19T19:43:29Z")

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That Control Spline issue looks like what the Original Poster was encountering.

I kinda know why, Control Splines are NURBS Curve. Fit Spline is more like Bezier Curve.

AI and Affinity Designer don’t have built in NURBS Curve so it looks like it’s converting it to segmented curves with high resolution.

So as far as I know only software that can convert Control Spline Correctly is RHINO to PDF. If others have better conversion method, please post.