Cut File ValidatorFREE
Drop an SVG to check it for open paths, non-outlined text, tiny features, and layer issues before you waste material. Runs 100% in your browser. Nothing uploaded.
Frequently asked questions
What does the validator check for?
Seven common problems that cause wasted material or failed cuts: open paths that should be closed, non-outlined text (which disappears when imported into laser software without the font installed), features smaller than your laser's kerf, missing or stacked duplicate paths, stroke widths that are too thick to cut as lines, and groups with mixed colors on what should be a single layer. It also gives a layer-by-layer color summary so you can see what your laser software will see.
Why do open paths matter in a laser file?
A laser reads closed paths as shapes it can cut out and fill (engrave) predictably. Open paths get interpreted as score lines instead, which means your ring, frame, or silhouette ends up partially cut and partially missing. If you intended a score line, that's fine. But if you intended a cut-out shape, the laser will just trace the outline and leave the middle attached.
Why does text need to be outlined?
SVG text elements reference a font by name. If the laser software doesn't have that exact font installed, the text either falls back to a default font (wrong letter shapes, wrong spacing) or disappears entirely. Outlined text is just vector paths, so it renders identically everywhere. In Inkscape: select all text, Path → Object to Path. In Illustrator: Type → Create Outlines.
How is the 'tiny features' threshold decided?
The validator flags any feature narrower than your laser's kerf. A diode laser with a fine lens has around 0.15mm kerf; CO2 typically 0.10–0.25mm; larger-spot diodes can be 0.3mm+. If a feature is thinner than the kerf, the laser will burn it away entirely. You can set the threshold yourself in the settings panel. If you don't know your kerf, run our kerf calibration tool first.
Is my file uploaded anywhere?
No. Everything runs in your browser. The file is read with the FileReader API and parsed locally. Nothing is sent to any server, we don't log file contents, and we don't have access to your designs. You can verify this by opening DevTools → Network and watching that no requests fire when you drop a file.
Does the validator work with DXF files?
Not yet. This version handles SVG only. DXF support is on the roadmap. If you have a DXF, convert it to SVG first (LibreCAD, Inkscape, or many free online tools), run the validator, then cut from whichever format your laser software prefers.
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