Is Inkscape really free for laser cutting?

Yes. Inkscape is free and open source and may be used for personal and commercial work. It designs the file; you still need laser software to run the machine.

Can Inkscape export DXF?

Yes, it has DXF export options (such as R12 and R14). Curves may be exported as many short line segments, so check the file in your laser software.

Should I save as Plain SVG or Inkscape SVG?

Use Plain SVG when sending a file to laser software, because it strips editor-specific data. Keep an Inkscape SVG copy for editing.

How do I make a hairline stroke in Inkscape?

Select the path, open Fill and Stroke, remove the fill, and set the stroke width to a very small value such as 0.01 to 0.1 mm.

Why is my Inkscape file the wrong size in other software?

Different programs interpret SVG resolution differently. Set the document to millimeters at scale 1 and test with a 100 mm square.

Inkscape for Laser Cutting: A Free Design Workflow

You do not need a monthly subscription to design for a laser. There is a free program that people have used to draw everything from wedding cake toppers to full cabinet kits, and it is called Inkscape. The first hour can feel like walking into a cluttered workshop, but a handful of habits will make it feel like your own bench.

Inkscape is free and open source for Windows, macOS and Linux. It works with vectors (lines and curves), which is what a laser follows. It cannot control your laser, so you pair it with software that does, such as LightBurn, LaserGRBL, or xTool's and Glowforge's own apps. For the wider picture, see free laser software.

Step 1: Set up a laser-friendly document

Open File > Document Properties. Set the display units and the page size to millimeters, and set the scale to 1 (one user unit equals one millimeter, or the equivalent for your version). Make the page the size of your bed or your material sheet, for example 300 × 400 mm.

This tiny setup step removes most of the "my file is the wrong size" trouble later; see scale laser files correctly.

Setting	Recommended	Why
Display units	mm	Matches how you measure material
Page size	Your sheet, e.g. 300 × 400 mm	Easy to see what fits
Scale	1 user unit = 1 mm	Keeps exported sizes honest
Stroke units	mm	Predictable line widths

Pro tip: Make your very first object a 100 mm square and export it. Open it in your laser software. If it says 100 mm, your workflow is good. If it does not, fix it now, not after cutting a sheet.

Step 2: Draw shapes that a laser can follow

A laser follows paths. Learn four tools and you can make most things:

Rectangle and ellipse tools for basic shapes.
Node tool (N) for editing curves and closing open paths.
Path > Union, Difference and Intersection to combine shapes into one outline. Use Difference to punch a 4 mm hanging hole.
Path > Combine to turn separate pieces into one object.

Use real numbers. Type widths and heights in the toolbar instead of dragging. For an ornament, 3 mm plywood, a hole of 4 mm and a rim of at least 3 mm around it will usually hold up, as our hanging hole guide explains.

Step 3: Separate cut lines and engraving

Laser software tells jobs apart by color, layer, or both. Pick two or three colors and stick to them:

Job	Inkscape appearance	Typical laser setting
Cut	Stroke red, very thin (about 0.01–0.1 mm), no fill	Line
Engrave	Fill black, no stroke	Fill / scan
Score	Stroke blue, thin, no fill	Line, low power

A "hairline" is a stroke so thin the laser software treats it as a single line; see what a hairline stroke is. It also helps to use Inkscape's layers (Layer > Layers and Objects) and name them CUT and ENGRAVE. Many laser programs read colors, and some read layer names, so doing both is the safest approach. The long version is in cut, engrave and score layers.

Common mistake: leaving a thick stroke on a cut path. Some software cuts the center line, some reads the stroke as an area, and some engraves it. Make the stroke thin and consistent so every program gets the same message.

Step 4: Convert text to paths

Select your text and choose Path > Object to Path (Shift+Ctrl+C). The letters become shapes. If you want an outline of the letters rather than the filled shape, do Path > Stroke to Path after setting a stroke. Do this before exporting. Otherwise, the machine's computer may not have your font, and the result looks nothing like what you designed.

Step 5: Turn a picture into a vector

If you have a logo or sketch, try Path > Trace Bitmap (Shift+Alt+B). Start with Brightness cutoff for black-and-white drawings and adjust the threshold until the shapes look right. Clean up stray specks with the Node tool. The more the original image is high-contrast and large, the better the result. Our guide to turning an image into a laser cut file goes through the quirks.

Step 6: Save or export

You have two common routes, and each one has its place.

Export	When to use	How
Plain SVG	Most laser software, Glowforge, xTool	File > Save As > Plain SVG
Inkscape SVG	Keep editing with all Inkscape data	Default Save
DXF	CAD, some CO2 controllers, shops that ask for it	Save a Copy as DXF (R12 or R14 options)

Plain SVG strips Inkscape's private data, which makes it more predictable in other programs. For DXF, Inkscape's export options come in versions such as R12 and R14; some are lines only, and curves may be converted into many short straight segments. After exporting a DXF, always re-open it in your laser software and check the size, the number of objects and the curves. See SVG vs DXF to choose.

Step 7: Check before you cut

Before the real material, run this checklist:

Check	How
Size correct	Read the width and height in the laser software
Paths closed	No gaps; see fix open contours
No doubles	Select all and look for duplicate overlapping lines
Text outlined	Letters are shapes, not live text
Hanging hole present	4 mm hole, at least 3 mm from the edge

A small project to practice

Draw a 90 × 124 mm ornament outline using the ellipse and rectangle tools, add a 4 mm circle for the hole, and subtract it with Path > Difference. Set the stroke to a thin red line. Add a snowflake as a black fill. Export Plain SVG. Compare it with our six-pointed snow star to see how a finished file is laid out.

Next step

Make that 100 mm test square today and send it to your laser software. When the number matches, you have a free, dependable design workflow and a strong reason to go on and draw your own ornaments.