Export as DXF and/or DWG

[Mayan]

Hello.

Do you plan to add DXF and/or DWG export option? I need it for exporting logos to AutoCAD drawings as curves. Older AutoCADs (and probably some other CAD software) cannot import SVG, PDF etc. I exported as DXF from Corel years and years ago :).

Thank you.

[Lee D]

Hi Mayan,

 

Welcome to the forums.

 

DXF/DWG export is something that has been requested previously. Our developers would like to add more export formats in the future and they have talked about DXF & DWG possibly being added.

[Ian R]

and import options would be good too... I frequently work with converting dwg files to eps or another 2D vector fomat, then it can go into into sketchup (and vice versa) then into Photo for post render stage.

[ReinhardK]

cool, hopefully we get this soon - would need that a lot for some upcoming projects, now have to use inkscape as "bridge" and loose layers with that workflow...
 

[siltec]

I am still using DrawPlus as I can import and export dxf files as well as export svg files. Without the dxf facility Affinity to me is useless. So I have signed up on this forum to add my bit pushing for dxf capability, then I might buy it.

[twostring]

Any news with the DXF export feature, I would like to use Affinity to produce files for a laser cutter I have at school, I am still using Serif Draw as this has that feature. Also is there any possibility of multipage documents as in Serif Draw?

 

Thanks

[querious]

Me too for DXF import/export!!!!!!

Please!

[R C-R]

5 hours ago, querious said:

Me too for DXF import/export!!!!!!

Please!

From the Wikipedia article for AutoCAD DXF:

Quote

 

As AutoCAD has become more powerful, supporting more complex object types, DXF has become less useful. Certain object types, including ACIS solids and regions, are not documented. Other object types, including AutoCAD 2006's dynamic blocks, and all of the objects specific to the vertical market versions of AutoCAD, are partially documented, but not well enough to allow other developers to support them. For these reasons many CAD applications use the DWG format which can be licensed from Autodesk or non-natively from the Open Design Alliance.

DXF coordinates are always without dimensions so that the reader or user needs to know the drawing unit or has to extract it from the textual comments in the sheets.

 

 

So basically, it is the same old story: the documentation is incomplete, there are various incompatible licensing issues that have to be sorted out, & even if these issues could somehow be resolved to the satisfaction of all involved there is still no guarantee the import or export process would work as seamlessly as users would expect.

[MikeW]

Nah. DXF is useful and documented. It's the other parts mentioned that are not.

 

In other software I export to DXF for use in CNC, water jet and other cutting systems. Never had a complaint yet.

[R C-R]

50 minutes ago, MikeW said:

Nah. DXF is useful and documented.

So you are saying the Wikipedia article is wrong, that for example ACIS solids and regions are documented?

[MikeW]

2 hours ago, R C-R said:

So you are saying the Wikipedia article is wrong, that for example ACIS solids and regions are documented?

 

No. That's not what I am saying. DXF, plain ol' DXF required for cutting, CNC, etc, is relatively simple. Or "dumb," if you prefer. It isn't solid modeling.

 

Most of the threads here (maybe all of them for what I have gathered) concerning DXF are mostly about just getting the data in an exchange format for either some sort of cutting system or to further take those into something for 3D modeling/rendering (like using lathe operations, etc.) as the basis for modeling using the primitives. Not as a true 3D export source for an exchange with a modeler and be all ready to go to rendering.

[Fixx]

I would prefer DWG.

[R C-R]

4 hours ago, MikeW said:

DXF, plain ol' DXF required for cutting, CNC, etc, is relatively simple. Or "dumb," if you prefer.

Even for "dumb" DXF, perhaps it is not really all that simple, at least regarding importing? From AutoCAD DXF File Format Summary, there is this:

Quote

 

DXF also allows a perplexing number of ways of doing nearly the same thing, such as describing objects as separate editable groups. One program might place the objects on different layers of the drawing, while another might use different pen colors, while a third might use named "blocks" to group the data.

 

Although DXF is widely used for the exchange of simple line data, an application designer wishing to support DXF must consider that AutoCAD can store these many types of data in different ways.

 

Sometimes the correct interpretation of a DXF file can be very difficult. The intended appearance of lines and regions can be dependent on many seemingly obscure settings in the header of the DXF file. Because DXF files are so difficult to faithfully interpret, many application designers decide to only export DXF.

 

Even among programs that claim to import DXF, you may find they only support a subset of everything that is possible in DXF. If you hope to create your own DXF files in order to transfer data into a program that claims to import DXF, be sure you know which representations it understands.

 

 

[MikeW]

R C-R, no worries over looking for sources that appear to you that support your stance. A little over a year ago (in this thread) Serif mentions they are at least looking at supporting both DXF & DWG. They're smart people. They'll handle it.

[R C-R]

11 minutes ago, MikeW said:

R C-R, no worries over looking for sources that appear to you that support your stance. A little over a year ago (in this thread) Serif mentions they are at least looking at supporting both DXF & DWG. They're smart people. They'll handle it.

They mentioned they are interested in supporting exporting to DXF & DWG but not when or to what extent.

 

As for sources, it is very hard to find any authoritative ones that dispute that getting DXF import or export right is a difficult, time consuming task.

[querious]

On 2/2/2018 at 2:30 PM, R C-R said:

They mentioned they are interested in supporting exporting to DXF & DWG but not when or to what extent.

As for sources, it is very hard to find any authoritative ones that dispute that getting DXF import or export right is a difficult, time consuming task.

DXF certainly works well and is the definitive standard used by millions of vinyl cutters, lasers and CNCs daily - ask them! ...and it works for me too. All we now need is to get DXF support in Affinity Designer to make it even greater!

[Piper]

Add me to the list of people asking for DWG/DXF support!

[Indigo]

Also DXF import & export for me :-)

[Cliff Baldwin]

DXF export is a must.

[photogeek]

I too would like to be able to export to these type files, but in the meantime, is there an alternative program that can convert files that Designer can export to into these file types?

 

[Traveler]

I'd also love to be able to export for CNC machines. This file converter may be a decent workaround while the developers get this implemented: 

https://cloudconvert.com/svg-to-dxf

[Sad affinity User]

I'm loving Affinity and purchased all four apps, but really, 4 years later and loving Affinity, but still no DXF export?

[TEEWORKS]

YES PLEASE!!! I still have to keep a crappy old Illustrator version that doesnt support my 4k display and all just to export stuff for vectors in CAD! PLEASE PEOPLE, add DXF/DWG - highly appreciated!

 

Best

Flo

[Graham P]

Yes I would really like a DXF export feature too as a lot of my work is done for export for a cutting machine.

[3DJ]

I was surprised to find out this does not exist. I thought it was possible until I went to export. Guess I have to move the project into illustrator.