How do I get a single-line (centreline) file for embroidery or a pen plotter?

Updated on 6 October 2026

Drop the drawing into the Homotope workshop and pick the Single stroke preset: each line becomes a single centreline path, followed once, to download as an SVG or DXF production export for a pen plotter, laser engraving or running-stitch embroidery.

Felt-pen lamp sketch scanned as a JPEG: wobbly lines on grainy grey paper. — 700 × 700 px JPEG scan and the engine SVG, “Single stroke” preset, “Corner angle” set to 80°, untouched: the paper is gone and each line becomes a single pass at the measured width. Downloading a single-stroke trace counts as a production export.

The same sketch as a centreline trace: a single stroke per pass. — 700 × 700 px JPEG scan and the engine SVG, “Single stroke” preset, “Corner angle” set to 80°, untouched: the paper is gone and each line becomes a single pass at the measured width. Downloading a single-stroke trace counts as a production export.

×6 detail: the lamp joint: paper grain and wobbly line, then a single stroke. Drag the slider to compare; hover over the image or hold your finger on it to move the magnifier.

Try it with your image Open this example in the workshop

What Single stroke produces

A centreline trace: the axis of each ink line instead of its two edges. A plotter does not draw the same line twice.
In the SVG, one stroke path per line, at the measured width; in the DXF, one open polyline per pass (closed for a loop), with no width.
A single ink is traced: the fixed palette is not available.

Production exports (DXF, EPS, PDF, separations): 2 free per month with an account, unlimited with Pro; without Pro, 1 credit each beyond those 2. The details: how much vectorizing costs.

Steps and settings

Drop a drawing with clean lines on a light background into the workshop (for a photo, see a pencil sketch to SVG).
Pick Single stroke.
In “Advanced”: “Minimum width” (no line thinner, your pen diameter), “Spurs” (removes small branches and isolated specks), “Smoothing tolerance” (allowed gap between the measured axis and the curve).
Download the SVG or DXF. “Copy SVG” is disabled with Single stroke: every download counts.

Nothing leaves your computer: see vectorize without uploading.

Embroidery: what Homotope does not do

Homotope does not produce stitch files (DST, PES…). Import the SVG or DXF into your digitizing software, if it reads those formats (check its documentation), and choose the stitch, length and order there. Satin or fill stitches need filled shapes: use Logo or Line art, as in the embroidery guide. Very thick lines give wobbly axes; the workshop then suggests “Line art”.

Frequently asked questions

How is it different from Line art?

Line art follows both edges of each line (a filled shape); Single stroke follows its axis, in one pass.

Is the single stroke free?

The preview is; every download is a production export: 2 free per month with an account, then 1 credit each, unlimited with Pro.

Can I get a PES or DST file?

Not from Homotope: stitch digitizing happens in embroidery software, from the SVG or DXF.

Guides and conversions

Try it with your image