Which format to choose
Laser programs don't read .studio3, but almost all of them read SVG, and many also read DXF.
- LightBurn imports SVG and DXF. SVG keeps exact curves; DXF is handy when you already work with CAD files.
- xTool Creative Space imports SVG and DXF.
- Glowforge works from SVG and PDF in its own app, so use SVG.
If your software isn't listed, check which vector formats its import menu offers. SVG is the most common.
Step by step
- Open the .studio3 file at the top of this page and check every part you want is on the mat.
- Untick any layer you don't want, such as a weeding box or a print-only guide.
- Choose Just the design so the file isn't padded out to the size of a Silhouette page.
- Download an SVG (free) or a DXF (with the unlock) and import it into your laser software.
- Measure one shape, assign settings to each colour, and run a test on scrap first.
Colours become operations
Laser software usually assigns a cut, score or engrave setting to each colour. Choose Colours as saved, and give each kind of line its own colour in Silhouette Studio before converting: one colour for cut-through, another for scoring, a third for engraving. In LightBurn each colour lands on its own layer, ready for its own power and speed.
Size
Cutpeek writes SVG in millimetres with explicit units, and DXF in millimetres or inches with the unit recorded. Measure a known shape after importing. If it is wrong, the program has assumed a different unit or DPI: set it in the import options and import again.
Kerf and closed shapes
A laser beam removes a sliver of material, so pieces come out slightly smaller than drawn. Silhouette designs for vinyl are drawn without allowing for this. For pieces that must fit together, adjust for kerf in your laser software. Check that cut-out shapes are closed outlines: Cutpeek keeps each outline closed or open exactly as Silhouette stored it.
What doesn't transfer
Silhouette's blade settings mean nothing to a laser, and effects like emboss or puncher aren't stored in the file. Pictures placed for print and cut are left out; import them separately if you want to engrave them.