SVG vs EPS vs PDF vs DXF: Which Vector Format Should You Use?
All four are vector formats, but they were made for different jobs. Sending the right one avoids "the file does not open" emails and wrong sizes on the cutting machine.
SVG: the modern, universal choice
SVG (Scalable Vector Graphics) is an open web standard. Browsers display it directly, and it is the default format for Cricut Design Space, Silhouette Studio (Designer Edition), Inkscape, Figma, Canva uploads and many embroidery and sign programs. An SVG is a text file, so it is light and can be edited by code.
Use SVG for: websites and apps, cutting machines, sharing logos with designers, anything modern. Watch out for: very old print software that does not import SVG.
PDF: the safe file for printers
PDF can hold vector shapes, text and images in one page with exact dimensions. Every computer can open it, and every print shop accepts it. A vector PDF keeps curves sharp at any zoom, just like an SVG.
Use PDF for: sending artwork to a printer, proofs for a client, archiving. Watch out for: a PDF can also contain only a pixel image; one made by a vectorizer contains real paths.
EPS: the classic print format
EPS (Encapsulated PostScript) was the standard exchange format for print and sign making for decades. It is still requested by some printers, promotional product suppliers, embroidery digitisers and older versions of CorelDRAW and Illustrator.
Use EPS when: a supplier explicitly asks for it. Watch out for: EPS is not supported by browsers, and newer software sometimes imports it with limitations. When in doubt, send PDF and SVG too.
DXF: the language of CAD and CNC
DXF (Drawing Exchange Format) was created by Autodesk for AutoCAD and is read by almost every CAD and CAM program. Laser cutters, plasma tables, CNC routers, waterjets and vinyl plotters in industrial shops usually expect DXF. The units matter: a DXF exported at a set width in millimetres arrives at the correct physical size.
Use DXF for: laser cutting, engraving, CNC, metal signs, architectural and furniture drawings. Watch out for: DXF stores outlines, not fills or gradients, so colours matter less than clean, closed paths. Our DXF guide explains how to prepare a file.
Transparency, colour and fonts in each format
Transparency: SVG and PDF handle transparency well. EPS has limited support, so effects such as soft shadows may be flattened. DXF has no concept of transparency at all.
Colour: SVG is mostly RGB, which is perfect for screens. PDF and EPS can carry CMYK and spot colours for professional print. DXF uses simple colour indexes, mostly to separate layers or machine operations rather than to describe appearance.
Fonts: PDF can embed fonts. In SVG and EPS, text may depend on installed fonts, so convert text to outlines before sending. DXF text support varies between programs, so outlines are again the safe choice.
Which programs open what
- Inkscape (free): opens SVG, PDF, EPS and DXF; saves all four.
- Adobe Illustrator: opens SVG, PDF, EPS and DXF.
- CorelDRAW and Affinity Designer: open SVG, PDF and EPS; DXF support depends on the version.
- Cricut Design Space: SVG and DXF.
- LightBurn: SVG, DXF, PDF and AI.
- AutoCAD and most CAD programs: DXF.
A common scenario
You order a vehicle wrap, business cards and a laser-engraved door sign for the same business. Send the wrap company a PDF, the card printer a PDF with bleed, and the engraver a DXF at the exact size. All three can come from the same vectorized logo, exported three times. One clean master avoids three slightly different versions of your brand.
Summary table
- Web, apps, Cricut, Silhouette, Figma: SVG.
- Printer, print proofs, sharing with anyone: PDF.
- Supplier that asks for it, older print and embroidery software: EPS.
- AutoCAD, laser, CNC, plasma, waterjet: DXF.
You do not have to choose only one. MyVectorizer exports the same result as SVG, PDF, EPS, DXF and high-resolution PNG, so you can send each partner the format they prefer.
Frequently asked questions
Is SVG better than EPS?
For most uses today, yes: SVG opens in browsers, cutting-machine software and modern design tools. EPS is mainly useful when a printer or supplier specifically asks for it.
Can a PDF be a vector file?
Yes. A PDF can contain real vector paths that stay sharp at any zoom. A PDF exported from a vectorizer contains paths, while a scanned PDF only contains a picture.