Image to DXF converter for laser and CNC
Turn an image into one clean outline in real units for LightBurn, xTool Creative Space, Inkscape or CAM, in your browser with nothing uploaded. The preview and SVG are free; DXF is part of Pro (see the pricing page). Set the width in millimetres, check the preview, then export.
Updated : A one-colour or fully transparent picture now gets a note above the preview saying why nothing was traced and what to try. What's new
Stays on this computer · no signup · no watermark
Faster with the free Chrome extension: right-click any picture on a website and send it straight to the converter. Add to Chrome · what it does
Extension installed. Right-click any picture on a website and choose Makerfern → Open this picture in… to bring it here.
What this preset does
These are the starting values when you open this page. They are Makerfern's defaults, chosen to be sensible for the job, not a manufacturer specification. Every one is adjustable in the settings panel.
| Setting | Starts at | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Mode | Single outline | All colors are merged into one shape, which is what a single cut or engrave pass needs. |
| Width | 100 mm | Set your part size first. DXF coordinates are written in real units, not pixels. |
| Smallest piece | 0.8 mm | Laser kerf and router bits both remove material; tinier islands tend to burn away or break off. |
| Thin warning | 0.5 mm | Flags webs that are likely to warp or char. Raise it for wood, lower it for acrylic. |
| Smoothness | 0.35 | Crisper than the vinyl presets, so machined corners stay sharp. |
Loading the DXF
- Set width and units, then download DXF (Pro). The free SVG export works too in software that reads SVG.
- LightBurn, xTool Creative Space and Inkscape open DXF files. In Layers mode, Makerfern writes each color to its own named DXF layer.
- Confirm the imported size matches. If your software asks for units, pick the ones you exported in.
What's in the DXF
Arranging several parts on one sheet? The xTool Studio 1.9 nesting mode guide explains Standard, Compact and Matrix layouts, with checks for grouping, orientation and usable boundaries. If the machine stopped connecting after firmware changed, use the xTool firmware compatibility guide before changing artwork.
The file uses the R12 flavour of DXF, the oldest and most widely read version. Every outline is a closed POLYLINE, with curves flattened into short straight segments fine enough that you won't see facets at the stated size. The Y axis is flipped the way CAD expects, so the design isn't upside down.
Kerf and small features
A laser beam or router bit has width. Makerfern doesn't offset the path for kerf; your machine software does that better, because it knows the material and the lens or bit. What Makerfern does is keep features that are narrower than your thin-warning limit from reaching the machine unnoticed. Check the red outlines on the preview before you commit a sheet of walnut.
Using the current xTool editor? The xTool Studio 1.9 SVG import guide explains the new same-style auto-merge, when to disable it, and which layers to verify before processing.
SVG to Glowforge: the Glowforge app accepts SVG. Filled shapes arrive as engrave steps by default; change the step to Cut to cut around the outline.
Questions
Why is DXF a Pro feature when SVG is free?
Keeping SVG free keeps the core tool useful to everyone. DXF, EPS, per-layer files and batch are what shops and laser users need daily, and they pay for the tool's development.
Does it export G-code?
No. G-code depends on your machine, bit, feed rate and material, and your CAM or laser software generates it far more safely from the DXF.
Can I get separate outlines per color?
Switch Mode to Layers in the settings. Each color becomes its own DXF layer, useful for different power settings per color.
Can I sell what I make with it?
Yes. Everything Makerfern makes is yours to use and sell, free or Pro, as long as you have the right to use what you start from: your own photos and drawings, or pictures whose license allows it; somebody else's art or characters only with their permission. Makerfern adds no watermark and takes no rights in your file. One Pro covers every tool: there is no per-tool plan.