Can I turn any image into a clay cutter?

Any image with a clear single outline works. Busy photos need to be simplified or traced first, because a cutter can only reproduce the silhouette.

Can I use an SVG to make a clay cutter?

Yes. A single closed vector path is the cleanest source because the outline does not need to be traced.

What size should the image be?

Resolution matters less than contrast and a clean edge. Set the real finished size in millimeters in the cutter settings.

Can I make a cutter from my own logo?

Yes, if you own or have rights to the logo. Simplify small text and thin strokes, or move them into a stamp.

How do I add detail inside the shape?

Use a stamp or imprint for inside detail. The cutter handles the outline and the stamp presses the surface pattern.

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How to Turn a Design into a Clay Cutter

How to prepare a drawing, image, logo, or SVG so it becomes a clean polymer clay cutter, what to simplify at jewelry scale, and how to check it before you print.

Published Mar 24, 2026 Updated Oct 9, 2026

By The BakePress Team

Which artwork works best

Source artwork compared for clay cutters
Source	How well it works	Preparation
SVG or vector outline	Best	Use a single closed path
Black shape on white	Very good	Crop tightly, keep high contrast
Line drawing or sketch	Good	Use dark lines on plain paper, photograph it flat
Logo	Good once simplified	Drop tiny text and thin strokes
Photo	Hardest	Pick a subject with one clear silhouette or trace it first
Written idea	Good for simple shapes	Describe one shape, not a scene

The workflow

Upload the artwork, or describe the shape if you do not have artwork yet.
Review the traced outline. It should be one continuous closed shape.
Set the finished size in millimeters before judging detail. A shape that looks fine at 60 mm can lose its points at 20 mm.
Simplify thin points, narrow necks, and tight interior corners.
Decide what belongs in the outline and what belongs on the surface. Inside detail can become a stamp or an imprint.
Check the 3D preview from above and from the side, then export the STL.
Print one test and cut real clay before making matching sizes.

What to simplify at jewelry scale

Points sharper than the printed wall can form: round them slightly
Gaps between two parts of the shape that are narrower than the wall: widen or close them
Tight interior corners that trap clay: open them into a curve
Separate floating pieces: join them to the main shape or make them a second cutter
Text inside the shape: move it to a stamp or imprint

Cutter, stamp, or imprint

A cutter gives you the outline. A stamp or imprint adds the surface detail the outline cannot carry, such as veins on a leaf or a face on an animal. If the design depends on inside detail, plan both from the start so they line up. See polymer clay cutter settings for clean cuts and release for the geometry side.

Turn artwork into a clay cutter

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I turn any image into a clay cutter?: Any image with a clear single outline works. Busy photos need to be simplified or traced first, because a cutter can only reproduce the silhouette.
Can I use an SVG to make a clay cutter?: Yes. A single closed vector path is the cleanest source because the outline does not need to be traced.
What size should the image be?: Resolution matters less than contrast and a clean edge. Set the real finished size in millimeters in the cutter settings.
Can I make a cutter from my own logo?: Yes, if you own or have rights to the logo. Simplify small text and thin strokes, or move them into a stamp.
How do I add detail inside the shape?: Use a stamp or imprint for inside detail. The cutter handles the outline and the stamp presses the surface pattern.