DXF / DWG
A flat drawing at full size in millimetres. Include only the lines to cut; remove dimensions and drawing borders.
Starting with a hand sketch or part photo? See our sketch & photo tips.
01 / MORE WAYS TO START
Artwork or a problem file?
Get your drawing ready.
Use Drawing Workshop to turn suitable artwork into a cutting drawing or check problems in a DXF. Compare the result with your design, check the size and continue to your quote.
01 / YOUR JPG OR PNG
Your artwork.
A solid black shape on white.
White holes are cut out.
02 / DRAWING WORKSHOP
Clear cutting paths.
Check the outside edge, all three holes
and the slot. Confirm the real size.
03 / WHAT THE SHAPE MAKES
The part you intended.
The same shape, shown in metal.
Illustration of the finished part.
Drawing Workshop prepares the lines to cut.
It cannot recover exact dimensions from a photo or invent missing detail.
- 01
Choose your file
Upload artwork or a drawing. Select the part you want to prepare if there are several.
- 02
Check the shape and holes
Compare the preview with your original design. Read any warnings and check repairs before accepting them.
- 03
Set the real size
Check the width, height and a hole size in millimetres. Keep proportions locked so the shape does not stretch.
- 04
Continue to quote
Choose Save and continue to quote. Review material, thickness and the quote checks.
Which file have you got?
Ready DXF, STEP and STP files can go straight to quoting. Use Drawing Workshop for other formats or to review drawing repairs.
SVG / PDF
Use vector outlines: shapes made from lines and curves, rather than pixels. Convert lettering to outlines. For direct conversion, use one PDF page containing only vector outlines. Scans and dimensioned drawings use the sketch & photo route.
JPG / PNG
A sharp, solid black shape on white. Check the traced detail and set the finished size yourself.
See good and bad examples ↓STEP / STP
A model of one sheet-metal part with a consistent thickness. Suitable models are unfolded into a flat drawing before editing. We supply the part flat, without bending. Metal parts include deburring; acrylic does not need it.
See the sheet-metal example ↓DWG needs the conversion service to be available. Files ending in .AI, .BMP, .TIFF or .STL are not accepted by Drawing Workshop. Export suitable DXF or SVG paths from your original software instead.
HELP WITH A SPECIFIC PROBLEM
What’s wrong with your file?
Find the help you need.
Choose the guide that matches your drawing warning or the problem you see.
Open contours
Fix a gap in your DXF outline
Find out what an open contour means, locate the gap and check the repair.
Read the guide ↗Duplicate linesFind and remove duplicate DXF lines
Spot extra copies of the same line without removing edges your part needs.
Read the guide ↗Wrong sizeWhy is my DXF the wrong size?
Check the size shown after uploading and calculate the scale change.
Read the guide ↗File choiceDXF or STEP: which file should I upload?
Compare a flat 2D drawing with a 3D sheet-metal model and choose the right file.
Read the guide ↗02 / TRACING ARTWORK
Artwork?
Use a clear silhouette.
Export flat, front-on artwork from your software.
No shading, shadows or perspective.
Black stays.
White is cut away.
Drawing Workshop traces the boundaries between black and white. Every unwanted mark can become another outline.
Black = material to keepWhite inside = holes & cutouts
Show the whole part with a little white space around it. Make small holes and gaps clear enough to see.
For JPG and PNG artwork, use a filled silhouette. A thin line drawing can trace both sides of each line. Export vector paths as DXF or SVG when you have them.
Photos & perspective
For a part photo, use a square-on view and real measurements. See our sketch & photo tips.
Greys & gradients
Faded areas can disappear or change shape when traced. Use solid black.
Blur & lost detail
If a hole or edge is unclear, Drawing Workshop cannot reliably reconstruct it.
Borders & dimensions
Labels, page frames and stray marks can become unwanted cutting paths.
BEFORE EXPORTING FROM YOUR SOFTWARE
Export the part.
Leave out notes and borders.
- Export just the part. Remove backgrounds, borders, dimensions, logos and notes you do not want cut.
- For images: black on white. Use a filled, front-on shape with crisp edges. Check that every hole remains visible.
- For vector files: use lines and curves. Close outlines, remove duplicates, and convert text intended for cutting to curves or outlines.
- Check scale after export. Use 1:1 in millimetres for CAD. Images need a real finished dimension set in Drawing Workshop.
PDF: WHAT’S INSIDE MATTERS
PDF file?
Check what’s inside.
Vector outlines can be converted directly. A scan, photo or dimensioned drawing needs interpretation and real measurements.
PDF
PDF
For a scanned or multi-page PDF, choose one clear part view and check the interpreted shape and measurements. See the sketch & photo tips.
SAME IMAGE. DIFFERENT FINISHED SIZE.
Set the size you want made.
Enter a known width or height. Keep proportions locked so circles stay round. Unlocking proportions stretches the part and changes its features.
Illustration only. This slider does not edit your file.
03 / ALREADY HAVE A DXF?
Check the problem.
Compare before and after.
Drawing Workshop can help with gaps, duplicate lines and other drawing problems. Check each proposed repair against your original design.
Close a small gap.
The editor can join some small gaps between line ends. Check that the new line keeps the correct shape. For a large gap or missing edge, fix the original drawing. Leave any intentional slit open.
Cut each edge once.
Extra copies of the same line can be removed while keeping one copy of the edge. Check the result before accepting it. If separate parts overlap, correct their positions in your original drawing.
Replay shows the same outside edge twice on the left and once on the right.
Remove unwanted lines.
Remove dimensions, borders, construction lines and unwanted marks. If there are several parts or views, select the part you want cut. Keep all its holes and slots.
Check circles made of short lines.
Some circles and curves are exported as lots of short straight lines. Drawing Workshop may suggest replacing them with a circle or smooth curve. Compare Original and Prepared before accepting it, and keep any straight sections that belong in the design.
Keep letter centres attached.
Why bridges matter ↗
Bridges are strips of material left uncut to hold a centre in place, such as the middle of an ‘O’. Check their width and position before accepting them. Leave holes open where you want the middle to fall out. Blue shows material left uncut; the sizes shown are examples.
SOME ISSUES NEED YOUR DECISION
Check that the repair keeps your design.
- Missing lines or unclear artwork: fix the original design or use a clearer image.
- Holes, slots and part size: check the cutting limits for your material and thickness.
- A STEP model that will not unfold: correct the model in your design software. Drawing Workshop edits its flat drawing.
04 / BACK TO YOUR QUOTE
Your final drawing check.
Check these details before continuing to your quote.
Check the design & cutting rules ↗Use this list as a reminder. Your drawing will still go through the quote checks.
READY TO GET A PRICE?
Drawing ready?
Continue to your quote.
From a quote warning, choose “Fix in file editor” when offered.
In Drawing Workshop, choose “Save and continue to quote”.
After saving, check the quote preview, read any new warnings and confirm your material and thickness.