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ShapeMason

Text to sketch or solid

Typed text becomes outlines or lettering solids with no design tool in between. How it works: Text to profiles.

Lettering for a name plate

Section titled “Lettering for a name plate”

“I want my name on a little stand for my desk. I just want to type it, pick a font, and get letters I can 3D print.”

You’ll design the base in CAD and want the name as a solid to place on it.
Input The text and a font
Output WILLOW.step, named after the first line
Works with Shapr3D, Fusion, Bambu Studio
Available in App · CLI
Sidebar › Set Text; type the name, choose the Font and Size, pick Extruded Text (STEP) and set Depth to 3 mm. With no Save To folder, the app asks where to save.

What it does. Sets the text in the font at an exact size in mm (the em height), turns the glyphs into profiles and extrudes them.

Why. No exporting text from a design tool, and no fixing broken glyph outlines in CAD.

Tips

  • ShapeMason doesn’t make the base; make it in CAD and combine the bodies.
  • Script and connected fonts can overlap between letters. Turn on Union (--union) for one solid.
  • Thin fonts at small sizes can give walls too thin to print. Check the preview, or pick a heavier weight.

Multi-line label for laser engraving

Section titled “Multi-line label for laser engraving”

“We need a sign for every room with the room name and a line underneath, and they should all look the same.”

Engraved door labels with a room name and a centered second line.
Input Two lines of text
Output Studio 4.dxf
Works with LightBurn, xTool Creative Space, other laser software
Available in App · CLI
Set Text; type both lines, pick Text Sketch (DXF), set Alignment to Center, and adjust Line spacing under Advanced.

What it does. Lays out the lines with the alignment and spacing you chose and writes closed outlines to a DXF.

Why. Consistent, accurately sized labels without opening a design tool.

Tips

  • The file is named after the first line, made file-safe. Use -o to name it yourself.
  • The output is outlines, which laser software fills when engraving. Single-line (stroke) fonts aren’t supported.
  • Letter spacing (--letter-spacing) opens up small text that engraves too tightly.

Mirrored text for a stamp

Section titled “Mirrored text for a stamp”

“I want a stamp with our initials for our packaging. I don’t have a design program; I just want to type the letters.”
Input The text
Output J_C.step (or .dxf)
Works with Stamp makers, laser rubber engraving, 3D-printed stamps
Available in App · CLI
Set Text; turn on Mirror, pick Extruded Text (STEP) with Depth 4 mm.

What it does. Mirrors the text so it prints the right way round, then extrudes it.

Why. Text takes the same placement and cleanup options as vector art, mirror included.

Tips

  • Characters such as & become _ in the file name. Use -o for a tidy name.

Use a brand font that isn’t installed

Section titled “Use a brand font that isn’t installed”

“The client gave me their special font files. I don’t want to install them on my computer; I just want to use them for this one job.”
Input Text, plus font files in a folder
Output DXF or STEP in the brand font
Works with Brand kits, agency work
Available in App · CLI
Set Extra fonts folder (under Advanced) to the folder, then choose the font under Font.

What it does. Looks for the font in that folder as well as in the installed fonts.

Why. Client fonts stay with the project.

Tips

  • If the name doesn’t match, a fallback font is used and the report warns you. Check it before sending anything to a client (font is not installed).