Importing files

Zenom imports finished artwork from other programs: vector outlines (SVG, DXF, AI), 3D models for relief engraving (STL), and raster images. Imported content becomes regular document objects — you can edit, hatch, and mark them.

Vector import — File → Import…

One dialog for all vector formats: DXF, AI, SVG, STL. Common behavior:

  • Imported objects get the document’s active pen.
  • Multiple objects are automatically wrapped in a group named after the file.
  • The view fits to the imported artwork; the status line shows how many objects were imported and how many were skipped.
  • Parser warnings (unsupported elements) are collected and shown as one message — you can see exactly what did not import.
  • The whole import is a single undo step.

Format specifics:

  • SVG — a dedicated parser: viewBox, defs/use, nested groups with accumulated transforms; a broken or empty file produces a warning, not a crash.
  • DXF — entity-by-entity conversion; unsupported entity types are counted and listed in the warning by type name.
  • AI — modern PDF-based .ai, SVG-based .ai, and legacy PostScript files are supported; units are converted from points to millimeters.
  • STL — imported as a 3D object for relief engraving: the model is fitted to roughly 50 mm on its longer side, and the settings panel opens right away (orientation, depth, depth-map baking). There is also a dedicated STL button on the side panel.

Raster import — File → Import Image…

Six formats: JPEG, PNG, BMP, GIF, WebP, TIFF. The image becomes a bitmap object (stored losslessly inside), placed at the center of the workspace; the status shows the name and the size in pixels and millimeters.

Drag-and-drop onto the canvas

Files can simply be dropped onto the canvas — SVG/DXF/AI and all raster formats (STL does not import via drag-and-drop). Multiple files at once: everything imported is centered at the drop point, selected, and added as one undo step. One file failing does not stop the rest.

Image tracing

A raster image is turned into vector paths with the Trace Image tool: threshold or adaptive binarization, a noise filter, smoothing, area selection. The result is regular paths, ready for hatching.

Importing EzCad settings

EzCad lens correction files (.cor) and the markcfg7 configuration import into the hardware settings — in one step, from the Hardware Settings (F3) dialog.

Limitations

  • PDF is not imported as a standalone format — the PDF parser only works inside .ai files. Workaround: save to SVG or AI from your PDF editor.
  • PLT/HPGL is not imported — convert to DXF/SVG with an external tool.
  • G-code is neither imported nor exported — Zenom drives the JCZ galvo controller directly.