Export Persona Slices without resolution

[mhyga]

Hi there,

I have a problem with the Export Persona part of Affinity Designer.

My working document is in millimeter format, and contains several shapes that I need to export one by one to then laser-cut.
The problem is that Export Persona doesn't allow me to keep the unit only, everything is converted into pixels taking into account the resolution.

So I end up with oversized shapes that I have to resize in Lightburn.
Knowing that I can have between 60 and 200 pieces, I'd like to avoid having to resize them one by one in Lightburn.

Is it possible to keep the unit of measurement without taking the resolution into account when switching from Designer to Export mode?

thank you
Regards

[Hangman]

Hi @mhyga and welcome to the forums,

Are you exporting your files as SVGs?

[mhyga]

Hi Hangman,

exactly, in SVG.
I've also tried DXF, but when I import the file into Lightburn, it adds a layer, but it's empty. Whereas I have no problem with DXF from other sources.

For example :
Rectangular form: 59.5mm x 78.3mm in Designer, 704 x 926 pixels in Export Persona, then 186 mm x 244.78mm when I import the SVG into Lightburn.

[Hangman]

Hi @mhyga,

Affinity apps use 72 dpi and LightBurn uses 96 dpi... I believe there is an option in the LightBurn Settings/Preferences to choose the import DPI which if changed to 72 dpi should import your SVG at the correct size...

Failing that, try setting your Affinity Document to 96 dpi, making sure your graphic is correctly sized, and then exporting it with Set View Box unchecked in the SVG export settings and importing it into Lightburn at the default 96 dpi.

Let us know if either option works for you...

[mhyga]

yes, lightburn lets you set to 96dpi (called Inkscape Preset) and 72dpi (Called Illustrator Preset), but the change doesn't solve the problem.
The same shape becomes even larger than before: 248 mm x 326.3

If I change my resolution in Affinity to 72dpi, my size in pixels when exported is indeed reduced, but the import into Lightburn still doesn't give the original size in mm.

I've found an intermediate solution: rather than exporting the shapes one by one in SVG, I export them as a single SVG file containing all shapes.
I import this file into Lightburn and change the dimensions of the total layer to match the mm dimensions of my original document in Affinity. I then have all the shapes resized to the right sizes in a single operation, and all I have to do is dissociate each vectorized shape in Lightburn to obtain the individual shapes. Lightburn allows you to unlink each shape on a layer with a single click.

Thanks for your help Hangman.

[Hangman]

10 minutes ago, mhyga said:

The same shape becomes even larger than before: 248 mm x 326.3

That suggests the export is at 300 dpi - ((300 - 72) / 72) x 100 = 316.67% | 59.5 mm + 316.67% = 248 mm

12 minutes ago, mhyga said:

If I change my resolution in Affinity to 72dpi, my size in pixels when exported is indeed reduced, but the import into Lightburn still doesn't give the original size in mm

Did you uncheck Set View Box when exporting the file?

I don't have LightBurn installed on this Mac to test but from vague recollection, I seem to remember there is or was a bug with the Use Document Resolution option in the export settings window, I think, but can't remember, you have to select Use DPI and set the DPI value manually...

Try the following and see which if any brings the correct sized shape into Lightburn.

Test 1

1. Affinity Designer Document - 96 dpi
2. Create a 100 mm x 100 mm Rectangle
3. Create a Slice from the Rectangle
4. Set View Box - Off
5. Set Use DPI - Manually enter 96 dpi

Test 2

1. Document dpi - 96 dpi
2. Create a 100 mm x 100 mm Rectangle
3. Create a Slice from the Rectangle
4. Set View Box - On
5. Set Use DPI - Manually enter 96 dpi

Test 3

1. Affinity Designer Document - 96 dpi
2. Create a 100 mm x 100 mm Rectangle
3. Create a Slice from the Rectangle
4. Set View Box - Off
5. Use Document Resolution

Test 4

1. Document dpi - 96 dpi
2. Create a 100 mm x 100 mm Rectangle
3. Create a Slice from the Rectangle
4. Set View Box - On
5. Use Document Resolution

If none of those do, repeat using a 72 dpi Affinity Designer document, replacing 96 dpi for 72 dpi when setting Use DPI and import into LightBurn using the Inkscpae Preset...

I know this is possible because I got it working when I was running LightBurn I just wish I had it now to run the above tests...

Let us know the outcome if you have a change to test...

[Gripsholm Lion]

3 hours ago, Hangman said:

…there is or was a bug with the Use Document Resolution option in the export settings window, I think, but can't remember, you have to select Use DPI and set the DPI value manually...

Just to confirm that this makes sense, as Cricut software seems to have exactly the same requirement.

[Hangman]

19 minutes ago, Gripsholm Lion said:

Just to confirm that this makes sense, as Cricut software seems to have exactly the same requirement.

Thanks for confirming...

[mhyga]

What to you mean by "Set View Box" ? My software is in French, and I don't see anything that would translate in this way.
Is "Set View Box" in the Slice menu?

 

Edited November 9, 2024 by mhyga

[Hangman]

5 minutes ago, mhyga said:

What to you mean by "Set View Box" ? My software is in French, and I don't see anything that would translate in this way.
Is "Set View Box" in the Slice menu?

It's in the SVG Settings Options section...

[mhyga]

The selection menu wasn't fully unrolled, I thought, “There are only a few options! 
The 4 tests produce a 100x100mm rectangle once imported into Lightburn, all is correct.

A big thanks Hangman 

[Hangman]

Hi @mhyga,

Yey, that's really great to hear, I'm so glad this is now working for you correctly and you can continue with your work in LightBurn...