Nesting sign letters from Inkscape

Inkscape is a free design program many small shops and makers use for lettering and logos. NestSigns takes the SVG you save from Inkscape and packs the letters onto your sheets by their real outlines, ready for your router or laser software.

From Inkscape to NestSigns

1. Turn text into paths (Path → Object to Path) so every letter is a shape and does not depend on the font.
2. Check that every letter outline is closed. The file check in NestSigns also lists open shapes, duplicates and stray bits it finds.
3. Save as SVG. Plain SVG works well.
4. Open the SVG in NestSigns. The file check shows the part count and the size of the biggest letter, so you can confirm the size is right before nesting.
5. Pick the sheet, set the spacing, run, and download the layout.

Check the size first

An SVG carries its own document units, and a wrong page or scale setting is the most common reason letters come in too big or too small. Look at the artwork size in the file check; if it is off, fix the document size or scale in Inkscape and save again.

Spacing set from your bit

Type the gap you want, or type the router bit diameter and the spacing is set to the bit plus a small clearance. Every layout is checked, and the smallest gap actually measured is shown with the result. For a laser, leave the bit at 0 and type a small gap yourself.

Where the layout goes next

Download DXF for router CAM software, SVG to open the nested sheets back in Inkscape, LightBurn files for a laser, or PDF and AI. Every part is numbered, and the layout summary PDF shows the same numbers on your original artwork.

What else it does for letter jobs

• True-shape nesting by the real letter outlines: any angle, 0/180° only, or no rotation.
• Exact spacing. Type the gap or your bit diameter; every layout is checked and shows the smallest gap measured.
• Parts inside letter holes. Small pieces go inside O, A, B and D, and holes stay with their letter.
• Leftovers first. Full sheets and leftover pieces per material, smallest leftovers used first, stock updated when the job is done.
• Oversize letters left out, divided, or divided with a 1 in joining strip, pieces labeled A1, A2…
• Every part numbered on the sheets and on the original artwork in the layout summary PDF.

See also SVG nesting online, nesting letters for LightBurn and router bit size and part spacing.

Questions

Can NestSigns open Inkscape SVG files?

Yes. Save the letters as SVG with text turned into paths and open the file in NestSigns.

Can I open the nested sheets back in Inkscape?

Yes. Download the layout as SVG and open it in Inkscape, or download DXF, PDF or AI for other programs.

Is NestSigns related to Inkscape?

No. NestSigns is separate software and is not affiliated with the Inkscape project.

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