Topic

2D Design

Quick tips and guides from the Kinetic Carving knowledge base, most read first.

63 guides

2D Design
How do I use drawing tools in VCarve Pro & Aspire to create 2D artwork from a 3D model for CNC cutting?
The 2D drawing tools are used alongside a 3D model to create the cut vectors needed for CNC machining. When building parametric or modular art, the 3D model...
4 min readWatch
2D Design
How do the Interactive Vector Trim and Trim Objects tools work in VCarve Pro & Aspire for cleaning up vector designs?
The software has two different trim tools that are often confused: Interactive Vector Trim (click to remove individual vector segments) and Trim Objects (trim...
5 min read
2D Design
How do I create and work with text in VCarve Pro & Aspire: Create Text, Text on a Curve, Convert to Curves, and V-carve prep?
The software has a full suite of text tools. Create Text makes editable text from any installed font, Text on a Curve wraps a line of text along a vector path...
7 min read
2D Design
How do I import DXF, SVG, EPS, and AI files into VCarve Pro & Aspire correctly, and how do I fix common import problems?
The software imports vectors from DXF, DWG, EPS, AI, PDF, SVG and SKP (SketchUp) files. Each format has different strengths, limitations and failure modes...
7 min read
2D Design
After nesting, how do I know which part is which? Labeling and identifying nested parts
The Nest Parts tool itself has no label printer and no part-numbering command. If you import cabinet cut lists with the Advanced Machining Module (a paid...
3 min read
2D Design
Can I carve a design I made in Canva, Procreate or a phone drawing app?
The official user guide draws the line clearly. Bitmaps are grids of pixels and are not directly useful for most toolpaths. Vectors are lines and curves, and...
2 min read
2D Design
Does the order I select vectors in matter? (Alignment, trimming, and welding surprises)
Several tools in the software treat your selection as ordered: the FIRST or LAST thing you clicked plays a special role. When a tool "does the wrong thing,"...
2 min read
2D Design
Dog-bone or T-bone fillets: which should I use on my joints, and where do I put them?
A round bit cannot cut a square inside corner. It leaves a radius equal to the bit radius, and a square-cornered mating part rides up on it. A relief fillet...
3 min read
2D Design
How big should the letters on my sign be, and how much empty space should I leave around them?
Sign makers publish a simple rule: 1 inch of letter height gives about 10 feet of best-impact reading distance. Letters stay readable much farther than that...
3 min read
2D Design
How do I add a fillet with an exact radius in the 3D view, and why did removing a fillet change my shape?
The Create Fillets tool now works in the 3D view. There it shows a live preview of the fillet before you click, and lets you type the radius at the cursor. In...
3 min read
2D Design
How do I add a new font, preview my fonts, or figure out which font I used on an old project?
The software does not have its own font library to import into. The font list in the text tool shows the fonts installed in Windows, plus a set of single line...
2 min read
2D Design
How do I adjust, fade, and crop an imported photo inside the software? (Edit Picture + Crop Bitmap)
You rarely need an outside photo editor. Two built-in tools handle most prep: Edit Picture for tonal adjustments and borders, and Crop Bitmap for trimming an...
2 min read
2D Design
How do I bring a 2D drawing from Fusion (or another CAD program) into the software as a DXF?
Autodesk lists three DXF routes and they are not equal. 1. Make a new sketch on the flat face of the part and use Project (P)
3 min read
2D Design
How do I build a border or frame for a sign: double lines, scooped corners and custom corner shapes?
A border is built, not drawn freehand. Start with the outline of the sign, offset it to get parallel lines, shape the corners with the rectangle corner options...
2 min read
2D Design
How do I draw a line to an exact length, angle or coordinate with the Draw Line (polyline) tool?
The Draw Line tool accepts exact values from the keyboard while you draw, from the form, or (in 12.5) from on-screen entry modes in the 3D view. With a line in...
3 min read
2D Design
How do I draw an arched-top sign blank or an oval plaque to an exact size?
There is no single arch tool. You build the outline from simple shapes with typed sizes, then combine them. Two methods cover almost every blank: weld a circle...
2 min read
2D Design
How do I draw finger (box) joints by hand without the gadget, and how do I tune the fit?
A finger joint is a row of equal rectangles notched out of the end of a board. Both mating boards can come from the same layout, shifted by one finger. Fit is...
2 min read
2D Design
How do I edit a dimension after I place it, and will it update when I resize the part? (12.5 editable dimensions)
Dimensions used to be close to static annotations. In 12.5 they became editable objects: you can drag their handles, and the measured value follows the...
3 min read
2D Design
How do I export from CorelDRAW or Affinity Designer for a clean import?
Neither program's native file opens directly. CorelDRAW files (CDR) must be exported, and the official FAQ gives EPS as the route. Affinity Designer exports...
2 min read
2D Design
How do I export my vectors for a laser program, a vinyl cutter or a customer proof, and what gets left behind?
File Export writes vectors only, in one of five formats: EPS, DXF, AI, SVG or PDF. It exports the selected vectors, or all visible vectors if nothing is...
3 min read
2D Design
How do I give a cutting board or sign blank matching curved (arched) edges on every side?
Dragging each side into a curve by eye never gives four matching edges. The reliable method uses an offset copy of the rectangle as a guide, then turns each...
2 min read
2D Design
How do I import SketchUp SKP files into VCarve Pro & Aspire and set them up for CNC machining?
SketchUp.SKP files can be imported as 2D data suitable for machining with File Import Vectors... (or the import vectors icon on the Drawing tab). You must...
6 min read
2D Design
How do I join, close, and weld vectors in VCarve Pro & Aspire, and what do I do when vectors won't join?
Joining, closing and welding vectors are among the most frequently needed operations, especially after importing artwork from DXF, AI or SVG files. Open...
6 min read
2D Design
How do I make a pattern meet up cleanly at the seam of a rotary job?
The flat 2D view is the cylinder surface unrolled. One side of the job is the length of the blank. The other side (the wrapped axis) is the circumference...
2 min read
2D Design
How do I make every corner at least as big as my bit's radius in one go? (The offset out, in, out trick, and when you don't need it)
Forum veterans point out that a flat end mill already leaves inside corners at its own radius. A 1/4 inch bit gives 1/8 inch inside corners whether the drawing...
2 min read
2D Design
How do I node edit in the 3D view and type exact move distances, line lengths and arc radii? (12.5)
Version 12 brought the drawing tools into the 3D view. Version 12.5 added the full node editing toolset there too, along with fillet, trim and extend. The 3D...
3 min read
2D Design
How do I pick a font that will carve well?
The machine does not render pixels. It drives a physical wedge or cylinder through fibers, so fonts fail physically:
2 min read
2D Design
How do I save from Inkscape so my design imports at the right size with nothing missing?
An SVG stores its real size in the root width and height (for example in inches or millimeters) together with a viewBox. Everything inside the file is in...
3 min read
2D Design
How do I type an exact size while I drag out a rectangle, circle, ellipse, polygon or star?
Every shape tool can be sized from the keyboard while you draw. Click and drag the shape in the 2D View, keep the left mouse button held down, type the value...
2 min read
2D Design
How do I use Array Copy, Circular Copy, and Copy Along Vector in VCarve Pro & Aspire to duplicate objects in patterns?
The software has three distinct copy-and-repeat tools for laying out patterns, grids and repeated elements: Array Copy, Circular Copy and Copy Along Vectors...
7 min read
2D Design
How do I use the Align and Distribute tools in VCarve Pro & Aspire to precisely position and space objects?
The Alignment Tools form gives you precise control over positioning: aligning to the material, aligning items to one another, evenly spacing, and spacing...
5 min read
2D Design
How do I use the text tools in VCarve Pro & Aspire, including Text in a Box, single-line engraving fonts, and fitting text to a size?
The Create Text form has two modes: the standard Text tool (free-placed text) and Text in a Box (text scaled to fit a box you size). Text on a Curve and...
5 min read
2D Design
How do interactive text kerning, line spacing, and arching work in VCarve Pro & Aspire?
The Text Selection tool goes well beyond basic font placement. It adjusts kerning (letter spacing), line spacing and arching directly on the text in the 2D...
3 min read
2D Design
How do the Create Vectors drawing tools work in VCarve Pro & Aspire: circles, rectangles, polygons, stars, lines, arcs, curves, and the Fillet tool?
The drawing tools on the Drawing tab create 2D vectors from scratch. They are the building blocks for every sign design, toolpath boundary and 3D model input...
7 min read
2D Design
How do Weld, Subtract, and Overlap Vectors work in VCarve Pro & Aspire for editing overlapping vectors, and when do I use Interactive Trim instead?
When vectors overlap, the software gives you several tools to resolve the overlap, each with a different outcome: Weld Vectors, Subtract Vectors, Overlap...
5 min read
2D Design
How does Bitmap Tracing work in VCarve Pro & Aspire for converting images into carvable vectors?
Trace Bitmap automatically fits vector boundaries to an imported raster image, around colored or black and white regions, so the result can be used for...
6 min read
2D Design
How does Node Editing work in VCarve Pro & Aspire: moving nodes, changing span types, and all keyboard shortcuts?
Node Editing lets you manipulate the points (nodes) and curve handles that define every vector shape. Mastering it is essential for cleaning up traced bitmaps...
9 min read
2D Design
How does the Fit Curves to Vectors tool work in VCarve Pro & Aspire for cleaning up imported artwork?
Location: Edit Curve Fit Vectors, or the Fit Curves to Vectors icon in the Edit Vectors section of the Drawing tab. It has no keyboard shortcut of its own...
3 min read
2D Design
How does the Nest Parts tool work in VCarve Pro & Aspire and what are the key settings?
The Nest Parts tool automatically arranges vector shapes within your material area to minimize waste and increase toolpath efficiency. By default the area it...
6 min read
2D Design
How does the Offset Vectors tool work in VCarve Pro & Aspire: inward and outward offsets, sharp corners, and the top 5 expert tips?
Offset Vectors creates new vector shapes that are parallel copies of the selected vectors, shifted by a distance you enter. It is one of the most-used tools in...
5 min read
2D Design
How does the Plate Production tool work in VCarve Pro & Aspire for batch engraving badges, nameplates, and industrial plates?
Plate Production automates the creation of batches of engraved badges, nameplates, ID plates and similar items where the design template is fixed but variable...
6 min read
2D Design
How does the Vector Unwrapper tool turn a cross-section into a flat vector for rotary modeling?
The Vector Unwrapper takes a 2D contour, the silhouette or cross-section of the round part you want, and converts it into an unwrapped vector laid out flat...
2 min read
2D Design
How does the Vector Validator work in VCarve Pro & Aspire: finding and fixing overlapping vectors, intersections, and zero-length spans?
The Vector Validator is one of the most important troubleshooting tools. It finds vector problems after file imports that silently stop toolpaths from...
3 min read
2D Design
How should I set up layers in my CAD or drawing program so the file arrives ready to toolpath?
The official FAQ says layers are optional, then gives the reason to use them: organize layers by the toolpath that will cut them (drilling, pocket, V-carve...
2 min read
2D Design
I need 30 signs that are identical except for the name. Which method should I use, and what can each one not do?
1. Plate Production (merge from a list). Built for exactly this job. You draw one master plate, type text variables wrapped in double exclamation marks (for...
3 min read
2D Design
My bitmap trace came out jagged with thousands of nodes: how do I get clean vectors from an image?
Tracing converts pixel edges to vectors, so the result can only be as good as the pixels. Low-resolution sources, JPEG compression artifacts and anti-aliased...
2 min read
2D Design
My imported drawing is the wrong size. How do I scale it to match a real measurement?
Imported vectors are read in at the size and scale they had in the original program. If that program worked in different units, or the artwork was a trace of a...
2 min read
2D Design
My slot-together parts fit one sheet of plywood but not the next. How do I handle thickness variation?
Fit is one subtraction: finished slot width minus finished tab thickness. A positive result slides, near zero is snug, and negative is a press fit that needs...
2 min read
2D Design
My text on a curve is backwards or upside down: how do I flip it?
Text on a Curve follows the direction of the curve, starting from its start node. A curve drawn right-to-left, or one whose start node is on the "wrong" end...
2 min read
2D Design
Text tricks: why do some fonts start with @, how do I make vertical text, and how do I fit text to an exact area?
Fonts whose name starts with @ are drawn vertically downward and are always left justified. They are the vertical-layout variants of a font that Windows...
3 min read
2D Design
What are the small 2D editing tools: Extend Vectors, Set Size, Freehand Draw, grouping, Undo/Redo, and typing math into number fields?
Numerical edit boxes generally accept live math: +, -,, / and fractions. Type the expression and press = to evaluate it in place. Special characters (not...
3 min read
2D Design
What format and settings should I use to export from Adobe Illustrator so my design imports cleanly?
The software reads path geometry, not artwork styling. The official FAQ advice for Illustrator and similar programs is to convert vector geometry and text to...
3 min read
2D Design
What is the thinnest line or smallest detail (including text) that will survive in a V inlay?
In a V inlay, line width and depth are tied together by the bit angle. A stroke narrower than the bit needs to open for full depth is carved shallow in the...
2 min read
2D Design
What should I enter for Clearance and Border Gap when nesting plywood, and how do I keep the grain running the same way on every part?
In Nest Parts the minimum gap between two parts is Tool Dia. (D) plus Clearance (C). The official example: a 0.25 inch tool with 0.05 inch clearance gives 0.3...
3 min read
2D Design
Where do I get good artwork (vectors and 3D models) and how do I prep AI-generated images for carving?
2 min read
2D Design
Why did it carve everything except a couple of letters?
When specific letters are skipped while the rest carves fine, those glyphs have bad outlines: 1. Open or self-intersecting character outlines. Some fonts...
2 min read
2D Design
Why did my arc or curve change shape after I trimmed or cut it? (Trimming converts arcs to Beziers)
Experienced users on the software maker's forum report that when a true arc is trimmed with the Interactive Vector Trim (scissors) tool, the remaining piece is...
2 min read
2D Design
Why did my text change font (or turn into Arial) when I opened the file on another computer?
The software does not carry fonts inside the job file. The font list in the text tools is built from two places: the single-line engraving fonts that install...
2 min read
2D Design
Why did my thick lines import as thin single lines, and how do I make the line width carve?
In a drawing program a line is a path with a stroke width painted on top. The software imports the path and ignores the paint. That is why the official FAQ...
2 min read
2D Design
Why do fine details disappear or come out wrong? Minimum detail size vs bit geometry
1. A round tool can't enter a gap smaller than itself. Every feature narrower than the end mill simply does not happen (skipped silently or flagged; see the...
2 min read
2D Design
Why does my PDF, EPS or AI import fail with "This file probably contains only bitmap data"?
PDF, EPS and AI are container formats. One file can hold vectors (real lines and curves), a picture made of pixels, or a mix of both. The importer pulls out...
3 min read
2D Design
Why does my script font carve wrong where the letters overlap?
Live, un-converted text is handled as text, and in most cases it can be V-carved, engraved, pocketed or profiled without converting it to curves. The problem...
2 min read
2D Design
Why is it cutting every line twice? (Finding duplicate and stacked vectors)
1. Exact-duplicate vectors stacked invisibly on top of each other. This is extremely common in imported DXF/SVG files and after copy-paste accidents. The...
2 min read

2D Design

How do I use drawing tools in VCarve Pro & Aspire to create 2D artwork from a 3D model for CNC cutting?

How do the Interactive Vector Trim and Trim Objects tools work in VCarve Pro & Aspire for cleaning up vector designs?

How do I create and work with text in VCarve Pro & Aspire: Create Text, Text on a Curve, Convert to Curves, and V-carve prep?

How do I import DXF, SVG, EPS, and AI files into VCarve Pro & Aspire correctly, and how do I fix common import problems?

After nesting, how do I know which part is which? Labeling and identifying nested parts

Can I carve a design I made in Canva, Procreate or a phone drawing app?

Does the order I select vectors in matter? (Alignment, trimming, and welding surprises)

Dog-bone or T-bone fillets: which should I use on my joints, and where do I put them?

How big should the letters on my sign be, and how much empty space should I leave around them?

How do I add a fillet with an exact radius in the 3D view, and why did removing a fillet change my shape?

How do I add a new font, preview my fonts, or figure out which font I used on an old project?

How do I adjust, fade, and crop an imported photo inside the software? (Edit Picture + Crop Bitmap)

How do I bring a 2D drawing from Fusion (or another CAD program) into the software as a DXF?

How do I build a border or frame for a sign: double lines, scooped corners and custom corner shapes?

How do I draw a line to an exact length, angle or coordinate with the Draw Line (polyline) tool?

How do I draw an arched-top sign blank or an oval plaque to an exact size?

How do I draw finger (box) joints by hand without the gadget, and how do I tune the fit?

How do I edit a dimension after I place it, and will it update when I resize the part? (12.5 editable dimensions)

How do I export from CorelDRAW or Affinity Designer for a clean import?

How do I export my vectors for a laser program, a vinyl cutter or a customer proof, and what gets left behind?

How do I give a cutting board or sign blank matching curved (arched) edges on every side?

How do I import SketchUp SKP files into VCarve Pro & Aspire and set them up for CNC machining?

How do I join, close, and weld vectors in VCarve Pro & Aspire, and what do I do when vectors won't join?

How do I make a pattern meet up cleanly at the seam of a rotary job?

How do I make every corner at least as big as my bit's radius in one go? (The offset out, in, out trick, and when you don't need it)

How do I node edit in the 3D view and type exact move distances, line lengths and arc radii? (12.5)

How do I pick a font that will carve well?

How do I save from Inkscape so my design imports at the right size with nothing missing?

How do I type an exact size while I drag out a rectangle, circle, ellipse, polygon or star?

How do I use Array Copy, Circular Copy, and Copy Along Vector in VCarve Pro & Aspire to duplicate objects in patterns?

How do I use the Align and Distribute tools in VCarve Pro & Aspire to precisely position and space objects?

How do I use the text tools in VCarve Pro & Aspire, including Text in a Box, single-line engraving fonts, and fitting text to a size?

How do interactive text kerning, line spacing, and arching work in VCarve Pro & Aspire?

How do the Create Vectors drawing tools work in VCarve Pro & Aspire: circles, rectangles, polygons, stars, lines, arcs, curves, and the Fillet tool?

How do Weld, Subtract, and Overlap Vectors work in VCarve Pro & Aspire for editing overlapping vectors, and when do I use Interactive Trim instead?

How does Bitmap Tracing work in VCarve Pro & Aspire for converting images into carvable vectors?

How does Node Editing work in VCarve Pro & Aspire: moving nodes, changing span types, and all keyboard shortcuts?

How does the Fit Curves to Vectors tool work in VCarve Pro & Aspire for cleaning up imported artwork?

How does the Nest Parts tool work in VCarve Pro & Aspire and what are the key settings?

How does the Offset Vectors tool work in VCarve Pro & Aspire: inward and outward offsets, sharp corners, and the top 5 expert tips?

How does the Plate Production tool work in VCarve Pro & Aspire for batch engraving badges, nameplates, and industrial plates?

How does the Vector Unwrapper tool turn a cross-section into a flat vector for rotary modeling?

How does the Vector Validator work in VCarve Pro & Aspire: finding and fixing overlapping vectors, intersections, and zero-length spans?

How should I set up layers in my CAD or drawing program so the file arrives ready to toolpath?

I need 30 signs that are identical except for the name. Which method should I use, and what can each one not do?

My bitmap trace came out jagged with thousands of nodes: how do I get clean vectors from an image?

My imported drawing is the wrong size. How do I scale it to match a real measurement?

My slot-together parts fit one sheet of plywood but not the next. How do I handle thickness variation?

My text on a curve is backwards or upside down: how do I flip it?

Text tricks: why do some fonts start with @, how do I make vertical text, and how do I fit text to an exact area?

What are the small 2D editing tools: Extend Vectors, Set Size, Freehand Draw, grouping, Undo/Redo, and typing math into number fields?

What format and settings should I use to export from Adobe Illustrator so my design imports cleanly?

What is the thinnest line or smallest detail (including text) that will survive in a V inlay?

What should I enter for Clearance and Border Gap when nesting plywood, and how do I keep the grain running the same way on every part?

Where do I get good artwork (vectors and 3D models) and how do I prep AI-generated images for carving?

Why did it carve everything except a couple of letters?

Why did my arc or curve change shape after I trimmed or cut it? (Trimming converts arcs to Beziers)

Why did my text change font (or turn into Arial) when I opened the file on another computer?

Why did my thick lines import as thin single lines, and how do I make the line width carve?

Why do fine details disappear or come out wrong? Minimum detail size vs bit geometry

Why does my PDF, EPS or AI import fail with "This file probably contains only bitmap data"?

Why does my script font carve wrong where the letters overlap?

Why is it cutting every line twice? (Finding duplicate and stacked vectors)