Do you want to turn your favorite logo, symbol, handwritten letter, or simple graphic into a cookie cutter or polymer clay cutter? You don’t need to model everything from scratch. In this guide, I’ll show you how to use an SVG file and convert it into a 3D printable cutter in just a few steps — using Blender, a free 3D modeling tool.
This workflow is perfect for polymer clay artists, bakers, small business owners, and creators who want to make custom cutters, stamps, and shapes based on any image you provide.
Watch the tutorial – Create Cookie & Clay Cutter From ANY Image (SVG to 3D Print)
In this video, I show you step-by-step how to import an SVG into Blender, convert it into a 3D object, and prepare it for 3D printing as a cookie or clay cutter:
Why use SVG files when designing cutters?
SVG is a vector format, which means you can:
- scale the design up or down without losing quality,
- work with clean, sharp outlines ideal for cutters,
- edit the shape easily in Inkscape, Illustrator, or Affinity Designer,
- preserve the exact shape of your original graphic or logo.
Combining SVG with Blender gives you complete control: you keep the precision of the vector and gain the flexibility of building a fully functional 3D cutter with thickness, blade walls, a handle, and more.
Workflow overview: from SVG to a 3D printed cutter
1. Preparing the image as SVG
Start by choosing a graphic with clean outlines. Ideal SVG sources include:
- simple icons, symbols, letters, logos,
- high-contrast graphics,
- shapes without excessive tiny details.
If your image is in PNG or JPG format, you can:
- trace it manually in a vector program,
- use “trace bitmap” in Inkscape or Illustrator,
- export the final outline as .svg.
2. Importing the SVG into Blender
When you import the SVG, Blender will load it as a Curve object. This is perfect, because the outline is already smooth, sharp, and mathematically clean.
At this stage, it’s good to:
- check the orientation (top-down view → Z axis),
- remove unnecessary paths or shapes,
- ensure the outline is closed.
3. Converting the SVG into a 3D solid
To turn your graphic into a cutter, you need a 3D shape. The process typically includes:
- converting the Curve to Mesh,
- using Extrude or Solidify to give the object height,
- adjusting the size (e.g., 25–40 mm for earrings, larger for cookie cutters).
At this moment, you already have the “body” of your future cutter.
4. Designing the cutting blade
Now it’s time for the most important part — the cutting edge. In the tutorial, I show how to:
- set blade thickness (usually 0.4–0.8 mm),
- achieve clean, crisp slicing performance,
- maintain strong, well-supported walls along the contour.
A well-designed blade should:
- cut cleanly without tearing clay or dough,
- be safe to handle,
- be strong enough not to crack when pressed.
5. Adding a handle or top frame
Most people prefer cutters with:
- a top handle or frame for easier pressing,
- reinforcements connecting thin sections,
- a flat top surface for better pressure distribution.
In Blender, you can do this by adding basic shapes (boxes, rings, arcs) and combining them using Boolean → Union, followed by smoothing transitions if needed.
6. Preparing the model for 3D printing
Before exporting, make sure the model is 100% print-ready:
- check if the mesh is manifold (no holes or duplicate faces),
- flip or recalculate normals if required,
- apply scale (Apply → Scale) so dimensions match slicer units,
- export the final shape as .stl.
You can now load it into Cura, Bambu Studio, or PrusaSlicer and print it on any FDM printer.
3D printing settings and tips for cookie & clay cutters
- Filament: PLA or PLA+ works great for strong, clean cutters.
- Layer height: 0.16–0.2 mm for a balance of detail and speed.
- Walls/perimeters: at least 2–3 for good blade strength.
- Brim: recommended for tall or narrow shapes.
- Scaling: smaller sizes for polymer clay jewelry; larger for cookies.
What can you use this technique for?
- Cookie cutters with custom text, initials, or logos,
- clay cutters for earrings, pendants, and jewelry elements,
- stamps (perfect for branding the back of clay pieces),
- 3D molds and decorative shapes,
- personalized products for customers (names, symbols, icons).
Summary – SVG + Blender = unlimited cutter design possibilities
Combining SVG graphics with Blender gives you massive creative freedom. You don’t need advanced 3D modeling skills — with a clean vector shape, you can quickly build a functional, printable cutter for clay or cookies.
If you create polymer clay jewelry or bake custom cookies, this workflow lets you design tools exactly the way you want: simple, minimal, decorative, or highly personalized.
Watch the tutorial again, pause in key moments, and experiment with your own images. Every new cutter will be better — and your collection of unique tools will keep growing.