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spiritlevel
Known Participant
October 9, 2023
Question

Exporting as a DXF creates jagged lines

  • October 9, 2023
  • 1 reply
  • 1961 views

Hi, I have been creating paths in Photoshop, I then export paths to Illustrator, open in illustrator and export as a dxf for laser cutting.  I have done this FOREVER and no problems.  In the past month, when I deliver my dxf files to my laser cutter who opens them in CAD, they are coming out jagged.  The laser cutter has not changed or upgraded his version of CAD.  The lines look beautiful on illustrator at all magnifications.  I saw a post similar to this 3 years ago but no solution was posted.

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1 reply

Anshul_Saini
Community Manager
Anshul_SainiCommunity Manager
Community Manager
October 20, 2023

Hi @spiritlevel,

 

I understand the frustration you're facing with the jagged lines issue when exporting your DXF files for laser cutting. It's concerning when a process that has worked well for a long time suddenly encounters problems. Here are some steps to help you troubleshoot and potentially resolve this issue:

  • Review Export Settings: Double-check your export settings in Illustrator. Ensure that you are using the appropriate export settings for DXF files.

  • Scaling Issues: Check if there are any scaling issues when exporting from Illustrator to DXF. Sometimes, discrepancies in scale can lead to jagged lines in the output.

  • Illustrator Updates: Ensure you are using the latest version of Adobe Illustrator (v28.0).

  • File Compatibility: Check with your laser cutter to ensure that the CAD software they are using is compatible with the DXF files generated from your Illustrator version. Occasionally, CAD software updates can affect compatibility.

  • Vector Paths: Confirm that your paths remain vector & not rasterized, moving from Photoshop to Illustrator. Rasterized paths could cause issues during export.

  • Test in a Different CAD Software: If possible, test your DXF files in a different CAD software to see if the issue persists. This can help determine if the problem is specific to your Illustrator output or the CAD software being used by your laser cutter.

  • Collaborate with Laser Cutter: Open a line of communication with your laser cutter. They might have encountered similar issues with other clients and could provide insights into how they prefer the DXF files to be prepared.

  • Third-Party Plugins: If you are using any third-party plugins or scripts in Illustrator, temporarily disable them and see if the issue persists. Sometimes, conflicts can arise with certain extensions.

 

I hope these steps help you pinpoint and resolve the problem. It's essential to identify whether the issue lies in the Illustrator export process, the CAD software being used by your laser cutter or some other factor. If the problem continues, please share some sample files & screen recording demonstrating the export settings & issues/ output in the CAD app you are using for more insights.

 

Best,

Anshul Saini

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