LayerSVG
Runs in your browser. Images are never uploaded.

Turn handwriting into an SVG

A note, a signature or a family recipe card becomes a clean cut file for vinyl, iron-on or laser engraving. A phone photo is enough.

PNG, JPG or WebP. Drop it here or paste it. Showing: sample image

Mat

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Layers

One layer per vinyl color. Bottom layer first.
What are you making?
Colors
Auto

Auto finds the main colors and ignores blurry edges.

Layer style

Stacked: the bottom layer runs under the others, so small gaps don't show.

Background

For photos with a busy background. You tap what to keep.

40
Clean-up
4

Higher means less weeding, but small details may go.

5
Detail
Output

The width of the design itself. Empty space around it is trimmed.

Lines

Outlines only is for laser cutting. Cricut and other vinyl cutters cut along the edges either way.

How to turn handwriting into an SVG

  1. Photograph or scan the writing

    Use daylight or a scanner, with the phone held straight above the paper. Then crop the photo close to the writing.

  2. Upload and check the preview

    Uneven lighting is already on, so shadows across the paper don’t matter. Lower Remove tiny pieces if dots on i’s or full stops are missing.

  3. Set the size and download

    Type the width the writing should have. The empty paper around it is trimmed, so that width is the writing itself.

Getting a clean result

  • Crop close. The less empty paper and table in the photo, the more detail the writing gets.
  • Dark pen works best. For pencil or faded ink, turn off Uneven lighting and raise Darkness cut-off.
  • Thin strokes? Switch Detail to High. For vinyl, writing at least 4 inches (10 cm) wide is easier to weed.
  • Lined or squared paper: turn off Uneven lighting. The printed lines are lighter than the ink, so they drop out. If a few remain, lower Darkness cut-off a little.

Cutting it with a Cricut

  1. In Design Space, click Upload, then Upload Image, choose the SVG and click Add to Canvas.
  2. Select all of the writing and click Attach, so it cuts exactly as written.
  3. For iron-on vinyl, turn on Mirror before cutting.

Engraving it with a laser

  1. Keep Filled shapes and set the width in millimetres.
  2. Import the SVG into LightBurn, xTool Creative Space or your laser’s app.
  3. Set the layer to Fill to engrave the writing, for example on a cutting board or a wooden box.

Questions

Can I use a photo of an old recipe card or letter?

Yes. Uneven lighting copes with yellowed paper and shadows. Crop the photo to the part you want before you upload it.

How do I make a signature SVG?

Sign on plain white paper with a dark pen, take a photo straight from above, crop it close and upload it. Most signatures come out as one or a few clean shapes.

Why do the letters move around in Design Space?

Design Space may lay separate pieces out on the mat to save material. Select all the writing and click Attach so it cuts exactly as written.

Are my images uploaded anywhere?

No. The conversion runs on your own device inside this page, so your picture never leaves your browser.

Is it free?

Yes. No sign-up and no watermark.