Is DXF or SVG better for laser cutting?

Both work. DXF is the standard in CAD and CNC software and is the safest for a machine shop, while SVG comes from graphic design tools and suits logos and artwork. If your cutter accepts both, use DXF for parts and SVG for graphics.

Can a laser cutter read a PDF?

Some can, if the PDF holds real vector paths rather than a scanned image. A PDF exported from CAD or a vector editor can carry cut lines, but a PDF that is just a photo of a part has nothing to cut. DXF is more reliable, so convert to DXF if you are unsure.

Can I laser cut a JPG or PNG directly?

No. A JPG or PNG is pixels, and a laser follows vector paths. You first trace the image into vectors and export a DXF or SVG, then cut from that.

What file format does a laser cutter use?

DXF is the standard

For 2D profile cutting, DXFis what most laser, plasma and waterjet machines expect. It was built as an exchange format, so it opens in nearly every machine controller and CAD tool, and it stores the cut path as plain lines, arcs and polylines the beam can follow directly. When a shop asks for “the cut file,” they almost always mean a DXF.

A laser cuts vectors, not pixels

The key thing to understand is that a laser follows vector paths. A photo or screenshot, a JPG or PNG, is a grid of pixels with no paths to follow, so it cannot be cut as is. It first has to be traced into vector outlines and saved as DXF or SVG.

DXF, SVG and the rest

Format	Comes from	Best for
`DXF`	CAD and CNC	Parts and the safe default for any shop
`SVG`	Graphic design	Logos, artwork and craft cutting
`AI / EPS`	Adobe Illustrator	Designers already working in Illustrator
`PDF`	Many tools	Only if it holds real vectors, not a scan

Starting from an image

If all you have is a logo or a picture, trace it into vectors and export a DXF first. Our free image to DXF converter does that in your browser. Then make the file laser-ready, with closed paths and the right units, as in how to prepare a DXF for laser cutting.