Tutorial

How to Convert an Image to DXF for Fusion 360

·4 min read

Fusion 360 can display images as canvases, but you can't extrude a JPEG. To get editable sketch geometry from a photo or drawing, you need a DXF file. Here's how.

Two Modes

AI redraw

Generates a clean line drawing from your photo using GPT vision. Captures internal features — holes, slots, lattice patterns. Use this when you need more than just the outline.

Outline only

Removes the background and traces the exact outer contour with OpenCV. No AI interpretation. Use this when you need the exact silhouette — e.g. for enclosure design.

Steps

1

Upload your image

Go to bevell.app/image-to-dxf and drop your file. PNG, JPG, or WebP. Top-down photos with good contrast work best.

2

Pick AI redraw or Outline only

Toggle at the top of the converter. AI redraw takes ~15 seconds, Outline only takes ~5 seconds.

3

Set the scale

Enter one real-world dimension (e.g. “height is 85mm”). The tool scales the entire drawing proportionally. Skip this and it defaults to ~20cm.

4

Download and import

Download the DXF, then in Fusion 360:

Insert → Insert DXF → select file → choose plane → OK

Every line and curve becomes a real sketch entity. Constrain, dimension, extrude.

Tips

Contrast matters

White object on dark surface (or vice versa) gives the cleanest extraction in precise outline mode.

Shoot top-down

Perspective distortion affects accuracy. If you can't avoid angle, AI mode handles it better than precise outline.

One measurement is enough

Aspect ratio is preserved. One known edge scales everything. Use calipers on the most critical dimension.

Clean up in Fusion, not before

Don't pre-process your image. The pipeline handles background removal and noise. Use Fusion's sketch tools (trim, extend) for final cleanup.

Under the Hood

AI redraw: photo → GPT-image-1 generates line drawing → OpenCV traces all contours (internal + external) → DXF polylines.

Outline only: photo → rembg (U2-Net) removes background → morphological close fills gaps → largest contour extracted → Gaussian smoothing → DXF polyline.

Try it now

Unlimited free previews, no account required.

Convert an Image to DXF