Supported File Formats
This page provides detailed information about all file formats supported by Rayforge, including capabilities, limitations, and recommendations.
Format Overview
Quick Reference
| Format | Type | Import | Export | Recommended Use |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| SVG | Vector | ✓ Direct / Trace | ✓ Object export | Primary design format |
| DXF | Vector | ✓ Direct | ✓ Object export | CAD interchange |
| Mixed | ✓ Direct / Trace | – | Documents with vector content | |
| PNG | Raster | ✓ Trace | – | Photos, images |
| JPEG | Raster | ✓ Trace | – | Photos |
| BMP | Raster | ✓ Trace | – | Simple graphics |
| RFS | Sketch | ✓ Direct | ✓ Object export | Parametric sketches |
| G-code | Control | – | ✓ Primary | Machine output |
| Rayforge Project | Project | ✓ | ✓ | Save/load projects |
Vector Formats
SVG (Scalable Vector Graphics)
Extension: .svg
MIME Type: image/svg+xml
Import: Direct vector parsing or bitmap trace
Export: Object export (geometry only)
What is SVG?
SVG is an XML-based vector image format. It's the preferred format for importing designs into Rayforge.
Supported Features:
- ✓ Paths (lines, curves, arcs)
- ✓ Basic shapes (rectangles, circles, ellipses, polygons)
- ✓ Groups and transformations
- ✓ Stroke and fill colors
- ✓ Multiple layers
- ✓ Coordinate transformations (translate, rotate, scale)
Unsupported/Limited Features:
- ✗ Text (must be converted to paths first)
- ✗ Gradients (simplified or ignored)
- ✗ Filters and effects (ignored)
- ✗ Masks and clipping paths (may not work correctly)
- ✗ Embedded raster images (imported separately if possible)
- ✗ Complex stroke styles (dashes may be simplified)
- ✗ Symbols and use elements (instances may not update)
Export Notes:
When exporting a workpiece to SVG, Rayforge exports the geometry as vector paths with:
- Stroke-only rendering (no fill)
- Millimeter units
- Black stroke color
Best Practices:
- Use Plain SVG format (not Inkscape SVG or other tool-specific variants)
- Convert text to paths before exporting
- Simplify complex paths to reduce node count
- Flatten groups when possible
- Remove unused elements (guides, grids, hidden layers)
- Set document units to mm (Rayforge's native unit)
Software Recommendations:
- Inkscape (free) - Excellent SVG support, native format
DXF (Drawing Exchange Format)
Extension: .dxf
MIME Type: application/dxf, image/vnd.dxf
Import: Direct vector parsing
Export: Object export (geometry only)
What is DXF?
DXF is an AutoCAD drawing format, widely used for CAD interchange.
Supported Versions:
- ✓ R12/LT2 (recommended - best compatibility)
- ✓ R13, R14
- ✓ R2000 and later (usually works, but R12 is safer)
Supported Entities:
- ✓ Lines (LINE)
- ✓ Polylines (LWPOLYLINE, POLYLINE)
- ✓ Arcs (ARC)
- ✓ Circles (CIRCLE)
- ✓ Splines (SPLINE) - converted to polylines
- ✓ Ellipses (ELLIPSE)
- ✓ Layers
Unsupported/Limited Features:
- ✗ 3D entities (use 2D projection)
- ✗ Dimensions and annotations (ignored)
- ✗ Blocks/inserts (may not instance correctly)
- ✗ Complex line types (simplified to solid)
- ✗ Text (ignored, convert to outlines first)
- ✗ Hatches (may be simplified or ignored)
Export Notes:
When exporting a workpiece to DXF, Rayforge exports:
- Lines as LWPOLYLINE entities
- Arcs as ARC entities
- Bezier curves as SPLINE entities
- Millimeter units (INSUNITS = 4)
RFS (Rayforge Sketch)
Extension: .rfs
MIME Type: application/x-rayforge-sketch
Import: Direct (sketch-based workpieces)
Export: Object export (sketch-based workpieces)
What is RFS?
RFS is Rayforge's native parametric sketch format. It preserves all geometric elements and parametric constraints, allowing you to save and share fully editable sketches.
Features:
- ✓ All geometric elements (lines, arcs, circles, rectangles, etc.)
- ✓ All parametric constraints
- ✓ Dimensional values and expressions
- ✓ Fill areas
When to Use:
- Save reusable parametric designs
- Share editable sketches with other Rayforge users
- Archive work in progress
PDF (Portable Document Format)
Extension: .pdf
MIME Type: application/pdf
Import: Direct vectors (with layer support) or render-and-trace
Export: Not supported
What is PDF Import?
PDF files can contain actual vector paths, and Rayforge imports them directly when available — giving you the same clean geometry you would get from an SVG. If the PDF has layers, each layer can be imported as a separate workpiece.
For PDFs without usable vector content (scanned documents, photos), Rayforge falls back to rendering and tracing.
Capabilities:
- ✓ Direct vector import for vector-based PDFs
- ✓ Layer detection and selection — pick which layers to import
- ✓ Fallback render-and-trace for raster content
Limitations:
- First page only — multi-page PDFs import page 1
- Text may need to be converted to outlines in the source application
When to Use:
- PDFs received from designers that contain vector artwork
- Any PDF with well-organized layers
- When SVG or DXF is not available from the source
Raster Formats
All raster formats are imported by tracing - converted to vector paths automatically.
PNG (Portable Network Graphics)
Extension: .png
MIME Type: image/png
Import: Trace to vectors
Export: Not supported
Characteristics:
- Lossless compression - No quality loss
- Transparency support - Alpha channel preserved
- Good for: Logos, line art, screenshots, anything needing transparency
Tracing Quality: (Excellent for high-contrast images)
Best Practices:
- Use PNG for logos and graphics with sharp edges
- Ensure high contrast between foreground and background
- Transparent background works better than white
JPEG (Joint Photographic Experts Group)
Extension: .jpg, .jpeg
MIME Type: image/jpeg
Import: Trace to vectors
Export: Not supported
Characteristics:
- Lossy compression - Some quality loss
- No transparency - Always has background
- Good for: Photos, continuous-tone images
Tracing Quality: (Good for photos, but complex)
Best Practices:
- Use high-quality JPEG (low compression)
- Increase contrast before importing
- Consider pre-processing in image editor
- Better to convert to PNG first if possible
BMP (Bitmap)
Extension: .bmp
MIME Type: image/bmp
Import: Trace to vectors
Export: Not supported
Characteristics:
- Uncompressed - Large file sizes
- Simple format - Widely compatible
- Good for: Simple graphics, old software output
Tracing Quality: (Good, but no better than PNG)
Best Practices:
- Convert to PNG for smaller file size (no quality difference)
- Only use if source software can't export PNG/SVG
Related Pages
- Importing Files - How to import each format
- Exporting - G-code export options