TexHouse Plain comparisons of 3D printing and maker tools

How to prepare files for fabrication for jewelry designers

A practical guide for jewelry designers to prepare design files for fabrication, covering what to gather, the steps to follow, and tools that can help.

By TexHouse ยท

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

Preparing a jewelry design for fabrication means starting from a clean source, confirming the file format and size your maker needs, turning the design into clean outlines, and checking the result against the original before you export it.

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 vector toolsNot described in this page's sources; check each tool's own pageNot published

What you need before you start

Before you prepare a design for fabrication, have a clear source for it. That is usually a sketch on paper, a drawing on a tablet, or a clear photo of a finished design. Keep the original file, because you may need to go back to it if a trace goes wrong.

Know the size the piece must be. Write the real dimensions down, including the thickness of any metal or stone setting the design has to sit around. Measure with a ruler or calipers rather than guessing from the screen.

Ask your maker, before you start, which file format they accept and what units they work in. Some makers want a vector outline, others want a solid model, and some want both. Their answer decides the export step at the end, so it is better to know it at the start.

Have a drawing or vector program you already know, or a tracing tool, and a computer with enough room to save several versions. Keep a copy of each version, so you can compare the result with the original if something changes.

Step by step

  1. Pick the design and save a clean copy of its source. Keep the original untouched.
  1. Confirm with your maker the file format, the units and the finished size they need.
  1. Set the size of the design to the real dimensions you measured, before any other edit.
  1. Remove the background and any stray marks, so only the design remains.
  1. Turn the design into outlines using a drawing program or a tracing tool. Keep lines closed wherever the design is closed.
  1. Simplify the curves so the file has no more points than the design needs. Extra points add to the file without adding detail.
  1. Check corners and joins. Round any corner that a tool could catch on, and make sure no outline has a gap.
  1. If the design uses colours, reduce them to the number your maker needs. Each colour may be read as a separate cut or engraving pass.
  1. Compare the final outlines with the original at full size, and fix any shape that has moved or grown.
  1. Export in the format your maker asked for, then send a small test file before you send the full design.

Tools that can do it

VectorMagik is made by the team that publishes this site. It traces a picture into vector shapes using its own engine. [1] Once the trace is made, 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 limit the result to between 1 and 64 colours. [1] A setting merges neighbouring curve pieces, and an automatic choice picks the largest amount that keeps the picture. [1]

When you are ready to send the design on, you can save the result as SVG, PDF, EPS, AI, DXF, EMF or PNG. [1] You can compare the vector with the bitmap side by side. [1] A version also runs in the web browser using the same engine. [1]

VectorMagik is free for everyone, and business use needs a licence. [1] It is licensed under PolyForm Noncommercial 1.0.0, so read that licence before you use it for paid jewelry work. [1] Downloads exist for Windows x64, macOS (Apple Silicon and Intel), Linux x64, plus a browser version. [1]

Other vector drawing and tracing tools exist. The sources for this page do not describe them, so check each tool's own page for the formats it saves, what it costs and whether business use is allowed before you choose.

Common mistakes to avoid

Skipping the question of file format is a mistake. A design saved in the wrong format can be rejected or misread, so confirm the format before you trace.

Tracing a blurry or shadowed photo and hoping later edits will fix it is another mistake. Photograph the sketch flat and evenly lit, then trace it.

Deleting the original is a common error. If a trace goes wrong, you need the source to start again.

Using the same settings for every piece is a mistake too. Simple outlines and detailed textures often need different amounts of simplifying and different numbers of colours.

Sending a full order without a test file is risky. Send a small test first and ask the maker to confirm it.

Assuming a free label covers paid work is also a mistake. Read the licence terms before a commercial order depends on the file.

Frequently asked questions

Which file format should a jewelry design be saved as for fabrication?

The right format depends on what your fabricator accepts, so ask them first rather than guessing. VectorMagik can save the result as SVG, PDF, EPS, AI, DXF, EMF or PNG. [1] Confirm the exact format and units with your maker before you export the final version, and send a small test file if you are unsure.

Can VectorMagik trace a photo of a jewelry sketch into vector shapes?

VectorMagik traces a picture into vector shapes using its own engine. [1] You can compare the vector with the bitmap side by side, which helps you check the trace against the original sketch. [1] The trace is one step in a longer process, so review it carefully before you export it for fabrication.

Is VectorMagik free for a jewelry business?

VectorMagik is free for everyone, and business use needs a licence. [1] It is licensed under PolyForm Noncommercial 1.0.0, so read that licence text before you use the tool for paid jewelry work. [1] This page does not give legal advice, so check with a professional if you are unsure how the licence applies to your business.

Can VectorMagik remove a background from a traced design?

You can click shapes to delete them, such as a background, or merge two shades into one. [1] This helps clear shapes you do not want before you export the design. Review the remaining outlines against the original at full size, because removing the wrong shape is easy to miss on a small screen.

Can VectorMagik simplify the curves in a traced design?

A setting merges neighbouring curve pieces, and an automatic choice picks the largest amount that keeps the picture. [1] You can also move or delete curve nodes and round individual corners after converting. [1] Review the traced curves against the original before you export, and adjust any shape that has lost detail you need.

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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