Laser Cutting File Formats Explained: SVG, DXF, AI, PDF — What You Actually Need

SVG is an open, web-standard vector format that works in virtually everything. It stores paths, shapes, text, and even color information in a human-readable XML structure. It's the format I always include first.

• Works in: Glowforge, Lightburn, xTool Creative Space, Inkscape, Illustrator, Affinity Designer
• Editable in any vector editor, including free ones like Inkscape
• Retains color/stroke information that Glowforge and Lightburn use to differentiate cut vs. engrave vs. score operations
• The safest choice if you're not sure what your machine wants

DXF is a CAD format originally from AutoCAD. It stores geometry — lines, arcs, curves — but not color or fill information. Lightburn reads DXF natively and well. CNC routers and plasma cutters tend to prefer it.

• Works in: Lightburn, LaserWeb, most CNC software, AutoCAD, Fusion 360
• No color info — you'll need to assign operations manually in your cutting software
• Good if you're modifying files in CAD software before cutting
• Not directly supported by Glowforge's web interface

AI is Adobe Illustrator's native file format. It preserves all Illustrator-specific features — layers, artboards, live effects. It's the best format for editing in Illustrator, and Inkscape can open AI files in most cases.

• Works in: Adobe Illustrator (full support), Inkscape (partial)
• Best if you're doing significant edits before cutting
• Not directly supported by Glowforge or Lightburn without conversion
• When in doubt, export to SVG from Illustrator before sending to your laser

PDF can embed vector paths, which makes it potentially useful for laser cutting. Glowforge accepts PDF files. The issue is that PDF is a broad format — not every PDF has clean, laser-ready vector paths. Some PDFs are essentially flattened images.

• Works in: Glowforge (with vector paths), Lightburn (imports vector content)
• Quality depends entirely on how the PDF was created
• If a PDF was exported from a vector program, it's usually fine
• If it was "printed to PDF" from another format, results vary

Raster image formats are for engraving, not cutting. If you want to burn a photograph, a detailed illustration, or a logo into wood or acrylic, you use a PNG or JPG. You cannot use them to define a cut path.

• Works in: Glowforge, Lightburn, most laser software — for engrave operations only
• Higher resolution = better engraved detail (300 DPI minimum, 600+ preferred)
• Cannot replace a vector cut file
• Often included alongside vector files for engraved elements in a design

DWG is AutoCAD's native binary format — the proprietary sibling of DXF. Adobe Illustrator can export DWG, and you'll encounter it if you're working with architectural drawings, engineering files, or anything that came out of AutoCAD or Fusion 360. For laser cutting, DWG is a dead end: Lightburn doesn't import it directly, and neither does Glowforge. The fix is a one-step conversion to DXF in Inkscape, Illustrator, or any CAD tool — then treat it as a normal DXF from there.

• Works in: AutoCAD, Fusion 360, Adobe Illustrator (open/export)
• Not supported by Lightburn, Glowforge, or xTool Space directly
• Convert to DXF before bringing into laser software
• Common source format when clients or collaborators send CAD files

EPS is a vector format that's been around since the 1980s — it comes up most often when you're downloading files from stock art sites or working with output from CorelDRAW. Lightburn imports it cleanly. Glowforge doesn't accept it directly, so you'll need to convert to SVG first (Inkscape handles this in one step).

• Works in: Lightburn, Inkscape, Illustrator, CorelDRAW
• Not supported by Glowforge — convert to SVG before uploading
• Older format but still common in stock art and design asset libraries
• Convert using Inkscape: File → Save As → Plain SVG

BMP is an uncompressed raster format. Some older diode laser software (K40 Whisperer, LaserDRW, older versions of LaserGRBL) specifically requests BMP files for engraving rather than PNG or JPG. If you're running a K40 or an entry-level Chinese diode machine on older software, you may need to convert your image to BMP before it'll import. For modern software like Lightburn, PNG is fine and BMP offers no advantage.

• Works in: K40 Whisperer, LaserDRW, LaserGRBL, Lightburn — engrave only
• Large file sizes compared to PNG (no compression)
• Use PNG instead unless your software specifically requires BMP
• Convert easily: open in Paint, save as BMP

G-Code is not a design format — it's the finished machine instruction file that your laser controller actually runs. Lightburn generates G-Code when you hit "Send" on a diode machine using a Grbl or Ruida controller. You don't download G-Code files; your cutting software creates them from your SVG or other vector file. That said, if someone sends you a .gc or .gcode file, Lightburn can open and run it directly. Glowforge uses its own cloud-based system and does not use G-Code at all.

• Used by: Grbl-based diode lasers (xTool, Sculpfun, Atomstack), Ruida CO2 controllers
• Generated by: Lightburn, LaserGRBL, Candle, UGS
• Not used by Glowforge (cloud-based, proprietary pipeline)
• Not a format you design in — it's the output after all settings are applied