A new open source tool simplifies the implementation of color 3D prints from vector graphics in SVG format. Under the name “svg2solid”, the browser-based tool offers the option of splitting two-dimensional SVG files into separate STL files – sorted by color areas. These can then be imported as multi-part objects in common slicers and printed together.
Compared to direct SVG import in Cura, PrusaSlicer and other applications, svg2solid provides more control over the resulting 3D models. Although many slicers now support SVG files, they lack the Z-axis information by default. All elements are assigned a fixed height, which the user must adjust manually. This can lead to errors or additional work for multi-colored prints.
This is exactly where svg2solid comes in. The tool analyses the color information within the SVG and converts each color layer into a separate STL model. These can then be loaded into the slicer as a combined object. Users can individually define how high the respective elements should be extruded. For applications such as signs or logos, a low height of two to three layers is often sufficient for the colored details, while the background can be thicker. This means that the change of material can be reduced to the bare minimum without changing the visual result.
The tool is freely available and can be used directly via a web interface or downloaded via GitHub.
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