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Use our free and fast online tool to convert your SVG Vector image or logo into a 3D STL model file suitable for printing with a 3D printer or for loading into your favorite 3D editing package. To convert your image, simply click the Upload a file... button and select your image. Once selected, you will be able to set various options to control the size of the generated 3D model and other options.
Here are three simple steps to create an STL file from a SVG file.
This setting allows you to specify how your SVG vector file is converted to an STL model. The Extrude options will extrude your vector file into 3D space, while the Standard options will apply a heightmap process to your SVG file.
For more information about the differences between the Extrude and Heightmap modes and to see some examples, please see our How it Works section below.
The setting can be used to alter the detail of the final STL model that is created. The default setting of Medium works well for most Extrude and Heightmap conversions, with the High setting recommended for highly detailed SVG vector files.
This setting, when given a height of more than zero, will instruct the tool to add a solid 3D base to the final STL model. The selected unit of measurement specifies the height of the base.
When this option is enabled, the tool will automatically attempt to make the background of your image transparent.
Manually specify your image background color rather than our tool trying to automatically work it out.
If the tool is unable to identify the background and you know the background color, you can specify it here.
This value can be adjusted to control the background removal tolerance. The higher the value, the more background is removed.
A higher value is useful for creating smoother results if your image is anti-aliased.
When the Invert Output option is checked, the pixel brightness is reversed, i.e., black becomes white and white becomes black, resulting in a 3D model that is reversed.
This setting tells the tool how to size the final 3D model when using the settings below for Width, Height, and Depth settings.
When using either the Color Extrude or Heightmap options within the Tool menu, you can optionally upload a separate image that can be used to colorize your 3D model.
This setting instructs the tool on how to interpret the color information of the elements in your SVG vector file, thereby influencing the creation of the 3D STL model. The grayscale option is most commonly used when working with heightmaps, unless you are dealing with specific requirements that necessitate the use of color.
Use this value to merge similar colors; this is useful if your vector file is of low quality. A higher number can help reduce the effects of anti-aliasing in the SVG file.
With this setting, it is possible to reduce the inclusion of small holes within the 3D model caused by small, darker areas of the source SVG file, which can be useful in situations where the source image has not been optimized for use with the tool.
When your SVG file has a transparent background, this option can instruct the tool on how to treat the transparency, with the transparency converted to either black or white.
When this setting is enabled, the conversion tool will attempt to smooth out any "spikes" within the 3D model that are caused by contrasting pixels in the vector file being in close proximity to one another.
With this option enabled, the tool will mirror the 3D geometry of the generated STL model along the Z-axis.
If you would like the tool to create a 3D preview of your model, then please select this option. It is on by default.
You can use this option to fine-tune the STL format the tool uses. Binary is the default option, as this is the most common format of STL file, with the other two formats supporting color, which is only useful if your 3D editing application supports color STL model files.
Use this option to generate Face or Vertex (Smooth) normals in the final 3D model. Vertex normals give the mesh a smooth appearance. You can choose to not create Normals using the None option to reduce the file size.
Extension | SVG |
Full Name | Scalable Vector Graphics |
Type | Vector |
Mime Type | image/svg+xml |
Format | Text |
Tools | SVG Converters, SVG Viewer |
Open With | Inkscape |
Introduced by the W3C organization in 2001, the SVG file format grew to become the standard web file format for vector-based 2D images and is supported by the majority of modern web browsers. SVG files are XML-based text files containing 2D vector elements such as paths, simple shapes, colors, and more.
The SVG format itself, while primarily a vector format, can include raster images as well as text. Due to their vector-based format, SVG files lend themselves very well to website company logos and icons. A compressed format of SVG also exists, which uses the extension SVGZ and employs the GZIP compression algorithm.
Extension | STL |
Full Name | Standard Triangle Language |
Type | 3D Model |
Mime Type | application/vnd.ms-pki.stl |
Format | Text & Binary |
Tools | STL Converters, 3D Model Voxelizer, Create STL Animation, Compress STL, Text to STL, STL Viewer |
Open With | Blender, Daz Studio, MeshLab, CAD Assistant |
The STL file format has its roots in the 1980's and is the native file format for 3D Systems stereolithography CAD software. The format defines a triangulated mesh with vertices and faces and is a popular format for sharing 3D printable model files.
There were several formats that attempted to extend the STL format, namely SolidView and VisCAM, whose formats included limited 15-bit color information for each mesh face, which is often ignored by most modern 3D software. The STL format can be either text or binary; our tools will support both formats.
The standard STL file format does not support colored faces, vertices, or texture information. The STL file generated by the tool will contain only raw mesh/triangle data by default, which is perfect for 3D printing.
The tool also has the option to save the file to one of the non-standard formats that support colored faces, such as VisCAM and SolidView which is perfect if you want to further process the STL in software that supports these formats.
In Standard mode, our tool examines your 2D SVG vector file and, based on the luminosity of each pixel, creates a corresponding "3D" pixel, where the height of the pixel is determined by the pixel luminosity. A black pixel in your SVG will have a height of 0mm and not be included in the final 3D-generated model; however, a white pixel will have a height that you specify once your image is uploaded. The tool has an Invert Output option if you wish to reverse the model height calculations. When this option is selected, a white pixel will have a height of 0 mm, and a black pixel will have the height you have specified. This mode is ideal for the conversion of detailed heightmap images into 3D STL models.
In Extrude mode, our SVG tool behaves in a similar way to Standard mode, except the tool attempts to find simple shapes in your image and performs an Extrude operation on any shape found. The height of the extruded shape in the final STL file is again based on the pixel luminosity. This mode is ideal for simple images such as logos and other simple shapes such as coins (see our Pokécoin example in the library tab). We also have another version of this tool aimed at extruding images into color 3D models is only available in 3D file formats that support color, such as 3MF.
Software used to prepare a 3D model file for printing, which is also known as 3D slicer software, cannot directly 3D print vector graphics files such as SVG. This is due to the fact that slicing software is designed for use with 3D models rather than flat 2D vector files.
A Pokémon coin image in grayscale
The Pokémon coin extruded to a 3D STL model
The 3D printed Pokémon coin
Slicer software can, however, handle industry-standard STL files. This is because the STL format was specifically designed as a medium of storage and exchange for 3D printable models. Our SVG to STL conversion tool will first create either a heightmap or an extruded 3D model from your SVG vector graphics file. This 3D model can then be loaded into your slicer software and sent to your 3D printer for printing.
The STL file format describes an unstructured triangulated surface of the triangles using a 3D Cartesian coordinate system. STL files do not contain any scale information, and the units are arbitrary. We have a more detailed description of an STL file here.
We aim to process all SVG to STL conversions as quickly as possible, this usually takes around 5 seconds but can be more for larger more complex files so please be patient.
Our tool will save all STL files in binary format. Optionally, our tool will allow you to save to the non-standard color STL format.
Yes, of course! We do not store the SVG file you submit to us. The resulting STL file, once created is deleted 15 minutes after upload and the download link will expire after this time.
No. All our conversion tools process your SVG file on our powerful conversion servers, meaning you can use our tools on low-spec computers, laptops, tablets, and mobile devices and receive your converted STL file quickly.
Yes! Our SVG to STL tool will run on any system with a modern web browser. No specialist software is needed to run any of our conversion tools.
Yes. Although you can use an Ad Blocker, if you like our SVG conversion tool please consider white-listing our site. When an Ad Blocker is enabled there are some conversion limits on some of our tools and processing/conversion times will be longer.
Yes. When you have converted your SVG to STL, there is a "Feedback" option that you can use to let us know of any issues you encountered when converting your file.
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