TexHouse Plain comparisons of 3D printing and maker tools

How to convert handwriting into cuttable outlines for rubber stamp makers

A tool-neutral guide for rubber stamp makers on turning handwriting into clean outlines a cutter can follow, with notes on one tracing tool.

By TexHouse ยท

TexHouse is published by the makers of LunarWerx 3D Print, Vector3D and MeshyDL, which are compared here alongside other tools.

Scan the handwriting in even light, trace it into vector shapes, clean up the outline, and export a file that your cutting software reads. VectorMagik can handle the tracing step and saves DXF among other formats. [1] [1]

OptionWhat it doesFee
VectorMagikTraces a picture into vector shapes using its own engine [1]Free for everyone; business use needs a licence (PolyForm Noncommercial 1.0.0) [1]
Other tracing toolsNot described on this page; check each tool's own pageNot published

What you need before you start

Before you convert handwriting into a cuttable outline, gather the pieces that decide how clean the result will be. Write the words with a dark, fine-tipped pen on plain white paper, because faint pencil and grey ink can drop out once scanned. Have a scanner or a phone camera that can take a sharp, evenly lit photo, and keep the paper flat with no shadows across it.

You will also need your tracing tool, the file type your cutter accepts, and a scrap of the material you plan to cut, so you can test before using the real stock. Keep the original handwriting saved so you can return to it if a trace goes wrong. Finally, decide the final size of the stamp first. Trace the outline at that size rather than resizing it later, because resizing can blur small letters.

Step by step

  1. Write or draw the design on plain paper with a dark pen, leaving enough space between lines that the letters do not touch.
  2. Scan or photograph the design in even light, then crop tightly and straighten it.
  3. Adjust the contrast so the ink is solid black and the paper is clean white. Remove any stray marks or smudges.
  4. Trace the image into vector shapes with a tracing tool. Start with few colours, because a single-ink stamp needs only one shape colour.
  5. Check the traced shapes against the original at full size. Look for letters that have filled in, broken strokes or wobbly curves.
  6. Simplify the curves until the outline is smooth, but stop before the corners of letters start to round off.
  7. Remove any background shape so only the lettering remains.
  8. Set the final size, and mirror the design if the stamp will print backwards.
  9. Export the outline in a format your cutter or cutting software reads, then test cut on scrap material and adjust the outline if needed.

Tools that can do it

This page has approved details for one tool, so that is the one described here. VectorMagik is made by the team that publishes this site, TexHouse. It traces a picture into vector shapes using its own engine. [1] You can limit the result to between 1 and 64 colours. [1] A tolerance slider merges neighbouring curve pieces, and Auto picks the largest tolerance that keeps the picture. [1] You can move or delete curve nodes and round individual corners after converting. [1] You can click shapes to delete them, such as a background, or merge two shades into one. [1] You can compare the vector with the bitmap side by side, or flip between them with B and V keys. [1] The result can be saved as SVG, PDF, EPS, AI, DXF, EMF or PNG. [1] A browser version runs the same engine in the web browser. [1] Downloads exist for Windows x64, macOS (Apple Silicon and Intel) and Linux x64. [1] It installs with a Windows installer, a portable zip, a macOS zip, a Debian/Ubuntu .deb or a Linux tar.gz, all from GitHub releases. [1] VectorMagik is free for everyone, and business use needs a licence (PolyForm Noncommercial 1.0.0). [1]

Other tracing tools exist. Their own pages give their file formats, fees and licence terms, which are worth checking before you choose.

Common mistakes to avoid

Scanning pencil or grey ink is a common mistake, because light strokes can drop out during tracing. Uneven lighting creates shadows that the tracer may read as shapes, so shoot in even light and crop out the edges of the paper.

Over-simplifying the curves rounds off the corners of letters such as E or S, so keep the simplification modest and check the result at full size. Forgetting to mirror the design gives a backwards stamp. Skipping the test cut on scrap material wastes stock that is harder to replace than paper. Keeping extra colour shades adds shapes that the cutter will also cut, so merge or remove them before you export.

Frequently asked questions

How do you turn handwriting into a cuttable outline?

Start with clear, dark handwriting on plain paper and capture it in sharp, even light. Trace the scan into vector shapes, which means each letter becomes a set of smooth lines instead of pixels. Clean up the shapes so the strokes are solid and the background is gone. Set the final size, mirror the design for a stamp, and export a file that your cutting software reads. Test the outline on scrap material before cutting the real stock.

Can VectorMagik export a traced handwriting outline as DXF?

VectorMagik traces a picture into vector shapes using its own engine. [1] You can save the result as SVG, PDF, EPS, AI, DXF, EMF or PNG, so DXF is one of the choices. [1] Check that your cutting software accepts DXF before you export, and test the file on scrap material. Whether a particular cutter reads the file correctly is something to confirm with its own documentation.

Is VectorMagik free for stamp makers?

VectorMagik is free for everyone, and business use needs a licence. [1] The licence it uses is PolyForm Noncommercial 1.0.0. [1] Whether a particular use counts as business use is worth checking against the licence text itself. Read the full terms before selling stamps made with the tool, because the answer depends on how you sell.

Which systems can run VectorMagik?

Downloads exist for Windows x64, macOS (Apple Silicon and Intel) and Linux x64. [1] A browser version runs the same engine in the web browser. [1] Installation options are a Windows installer, a portable zip, a macOS zip, a Debian/Ubuntu .deb or a Linux tar.gz, all from GitHub releases. [1] Pick the one that matches your computer.

Can VectorMagik remove a background from a scanned handwriting image?

You can click shapes to delete them, such as a background. [1] You can also compare the vector with the bitmap side by side, or flip between them with B and V keys. [1] Keep the original scan saved in case a deletion removes too much, so you can trace it again.

Free for everyone; business use needs a licence (PolyForm Noncommercial 1.0.0). [1]

Try VectorMagik

Sources

  1. VectorMagik's own description of itself (the product of this site's publisher)

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