| # | Text | Font | H" | W% | J | Y" |
|---|
| Shortcut | Action |
|---|---|
| Ctrl/⌘+P | Regen View |
| Ctrl/⌘+E | Generate G-code |
| Ctrl/⌘+S | Save Job (.djob) |
| Esc | Close this window |
| Ctrl/⌘+N | New Job |
| Ctrl/⌘+X | Exit Studio |
1. Set Plate dimensions and Machine Config in the left panel.
2. Add lines with + Line. Enter text, choose a font. Line height auto-calculates if Line Ht % is set above 0.
3. Click ⟳ Auto Layout All to distribute baselines. Text that exceeds plate margins auto-condenses automatically.
4. Click ⟳ Regen View or Ctrl/⌘+P to render the toolpath on the canvas.
5. Click ⬇ Generate G-code or Ctrl/⌘+E to download the G-code file.
Width / Height — physical plate dimensions in inches.
Margin L / R — left and right text margins. Text auto-condenses to stay within these bounds.
Margin (T+B) — fixed margin offset added equally to both top and bottom before spacing is calculated.
Btm Multiplier — bottom gap = top gap × this value. Use 1.5–1.8 for the visual weight typical of professional engraving (Dahlgren SuperPro default is 1.8). 1.0 = equal top and bottom.
Line Ht % — when set above 0, Auto Layout automatically sets each line's height to (plate height × %) ÷ number of lines. Set to 0 to control heights manually. Saved with job and session preferences.
Click ⟳ Auto Layout All to distribute all line baselines across the plate using the Margin (T+B) offset and Btm Multiplier. Also fires automatically when you add, remove, or move lines, change any plate dimension, or change a line height. Y positions can be overridden manually in the Y Position field.
Text width is monitored continuously. If a line's rendered width exceeds the usable plate width (between L/R margins), Width % is automatically reduced to fit. Fires on every keystroke, font change, height change, and plate resize — no manual action needed.
The Kern field sets the step size used for manual kern characters in the text. Default 10 matches the font's designed spacing.
Type < anywhere in your text to tighten spacing by one kern step at that position. Type > to widen by one step. Multiple characters stack — << tightens by two steps. The kern characters are not engraved; they only adjust the position of the following character.
Example: AV<A tightens the A–V pair. Kern step size is per-line and saved with the job.
Each text line's Feed Rate field (Selected Line panel) overrides the Machine Config default cutting feed for that line only — leave it blank to inherit the machine default. Useful when text needs a slower or faster feed than an SVG shape in the same job.
Each imported SVG layer has its own F field (SVG Layers panel) for the same purpose — changing it re-processes that shape's G-code at the new feed rate without affecting its position or scale.
Each queue line can contain multiple segments, each with its own font, text, and italic angle. Use + Add Line in the Selected Line panel to add a segment. This allows mixing fonts on a single engraved line — e.g. a name in Script followed by a title in Block.
The Auto toggle next to Width % condenses the selected line to fill the full usable plate width. Useful for a single line at maximum size. Auto-condense handles overflow automatically — Auto Width is a separate tool for intentionally fitting to full width.
Post Processor — Standard (LinuxCNC) outputs .ngc. Brother Speedio outputs .nc with tool-change header and M30 footer.
Table Origin — coordinate origin for your machine. Top-Left (X+, Y−) is typical for LinuxCNC engravers.
Z Mode — Diamond Drag for pneumatic pin (uses work offset G54); Z-Motor for servo/stepper Z-axis; Rotary Spindle for a Dahlgren-style rotating spindle (uses work offset G55, raised/lowered by the M8/M9 air solenoid like Diamond Drag mode, plus M3 at the start and M5 at the end to switch the spindle-motor relay on/off). Diamond Drag and Rotary Spindle each account for the physical offset between the two tools by using separate work offsets, and both return home via G53 G0 X0 Y0 (machine coordinates) at end of program.
Force G1 — disables G5 Bézier output and uses G1 line segments for all curves. Use when your controller does not support G5.
Feed Rate (Machine Config) — the default cutting feed rate (in/min) used by any text line that doesn't set its own override.
Each line can be Left, Center, or Right justified within the plate margins. For curved text, set Bow Direction (⌒ Up or ⌣ Down), then enter a Radius — Center X/Y auto-calculate. Up arches text above the center point; Down arches text below it.
Click Share Link to copy a compressed URL to your clipboard. The entire job (queue, plate, machine settings) is encoded in the URL hash — no server required. Anyone with the link can open the exact same job.
Use Save Job to export your queue as a .djob file (JSON format). Use Load Job to restore a saved job. Jobs include plate dimensions (margins, multiplier, Line Ht %), machine config, and all queue lines.
| Font Name | Description | |
|---|---|---|
| DS Linear Avant | Modern, single-line geometric | |
| DS Studio Slab | Bold single-line slab-serif | |
| DS Modern Path | Clean, contemporary single-line | |
| DS Studio Script | Standard single-line cursive | |
| DS Dual Block | Double-line stroke block style | |
| DS Dual Century | Double-line Century style | |
| DS Dual Connect | Double-line connecting script | |
| DS Linear Deco | Single-line art-deco geometric sans-serif | |
| DS Linear Orbit | Single-line geometric with a future/space feel | |
| DS Deutsch Gothic | Single-line German Gothic heritage style | |
| DS Studio Gothic | Versatile single-line industrial Gothic | |
| DS Swiss Single | Single-line Swiss/Helvetica-style sans-serif | |
| DS Swiss Double | Two-line Swiss/Helvetica-style sans-serif | |
| DS Swiss Triple | Three-line Swiss/Helvetica-style sans-serif | |
| DS Swiss Wide Outline | Wide-stroke outline Swiss/Helvetica-style sans-serif | |
| DS Tech Quad | Four-line technical Microgramma style | |
| DS Optic Sans | Single-line humanist sans-serif with Optima-style flares | |
| DS Ornaments | Decorative flourishes and border ornaments | |
| DS Linear Connect | Single-line connecting script | |
| DS Block Outline | Square block outline geometry | |
| DS Old English | Three-line Old English blackletter caps | |
| DS Heritage Triple | Three-line Roman serif, prestigious feel |