Homotope FR

Sticker cut contour: the outline around a decal

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To get the cut contour of a sticker, trace the drawing in the Homotope workshop, open “Cut contour (stickers)” in the Export panel, set the margin and the gap bridging, then download the SVG, PDF or DXF with the CutContour layer: a single line follows the outer silhouette, without cutting every hole of the drawing.

Pine tree drawing for a sticker, as a JPEG: saw-tooth branches, white baubles in the foliage, a detached gold star on top, the word FORET under the trunk. JPG · 800 × 1000 px
The same pine tree traced, surrounded by a magenta cut line that follows the outer silhouette, steps over the gaps between branches and joins the star and the word. Engine SVG
800 × 1,000 px JPEG and the engine SVG, Logo preset, “Number of colours” set to 4, cut contour in “one sticker” mode, 2 mm margin and 3 mm gap bridging for a 200 mm drawing, untouched: the hollow baubles are ignored, the gap between two branches is stepped over.
×6 detail: the gap between two branches: the cut line steps over it, the hollow bauble is ignored. 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

Steps in the workshop

  1. Drop the PNG or JPG into the workshop (or the “Sticker” example) and keep the Logo preset.
  2. In Export, open “Cut contour (stickers)”: the line appears on the preview, computed in your browser.
  3. Pick a preset (thin, standard, wide) or set the margin (0.5 to 10 mm) and the gap bridging (0 to 20 mm).
  4. Enter the real width of the drawing: millimetres are measured at that scale.
  5. Choose one sticker or separate stickers, then download the SVG, PDF or DXF with contour.

Homotope traces in your browser: the engine runs on your own machine, in a Web Worker, and your image is sent nowhere unless you save it to your account or ask for a server processing. The workshop opens without an account and without a usage limit: tracing, preview, SVG and PNG exports are free, except transparent background and recolouring, which are Pro. Production exports (DXF, EPS, PDF, separations): 2 free per month with an account, unlimited with Pro; the conversion stays in your browser. With an account, Homotope only emails you about the service (welcome, gifted Pro, team invitation), through Resend, never for marketing.

Why the ordinary DXF is not enough

The DXF of a drawing traces the outline of every shape, holes included: every little white of a logo, every bauble of a pine tree would become a cut, impossible by hand and useless for a decal. The cut contour keeps only the outer envelope: inner holes are filled, narrow gaps (between two branches, two letters) are bridged, and an even margin leaves a border around the drawing.

The file you get

Production exports (DXF, EPS, PDF, separations): 2 free per month with an account, unlimited with Pro; without Pro, 1 credit each beyond those 2. Each file with a contour counts as one export; the contour preview is free. The workshop result, the gallery and the PNG never carry the contour. To cut without a contour, see image to DXF and the Cricut guide; to compare tools, the Cricut and Silhouette comparison.

Frequently asked questions

Does the contour cut the holes in the drawing?

No: inner holes are filled and only the outer silhouette, margin included, is traced. Narrow gaps are stepped over according to the bridging you choose.

My drawing has several pieces: one sticker or several?

Both: the workshop counts the pieces and offers “one sticker” (bridging raised up to 30 mm to join them) or separate stickers, one contour each.

Is the contour free?

The preview is free. Downloading a file with a contour is a production export: 2 free per month with an account, then 1 credit each, unlimited with Pro.

My printer asks for a CutContour layer: is this it?

Yes: the PDF carries the line in a spot colour named CutContour, in a layer of the same name, and the DXF has a CutContour layer.

More guides

Try it with your image