DXF export produces silently incorrect geometry for fabrication workflows
I initially submitted this as a feature request.
After further discussion and testing, I’ve come to the conclusion that this is better classified as a bug: the export completes successfully, but silently produces geometrically incorrect data for precision workflows.
Illustrator offers DXF export as a supported output format. However, when exporting geometry that is visually exact (e.g. circles, constant-radius constructions, rounded slots), the resulting DXF contains only Bézier-approximated splines or segmented polylines, without warning.
This results in silent degradation of geometric accuracy:
• Visually exact geometry in Illustrator
• Numerically incorrect geometry in DXF
• Errors only become apparent downstream during CNC fabrication
From a user perspective, this means the DXF export cannot be relied upon for manufacturing, despite being offered as an export option.
This creates a fundamental problem:
• Either DXF export should preserve exact geometry where it exists (LINE / ARC / CIRCLE),
• Or the export should clearly warn that geometry is being approximated and is not manufacturing-safe.
At the moment, neither happens. The export succeeds, but produces data that is unsuitable for precision workflows without the user being aware of it.
This is not a request to turn Illustrator into a CAD application, but a request for correctness, transparency, or removal of an export option that currently implies reliability it does not deliver.
stefaan van damme
shared this idea
-
stefaan van damme
commented
Hey @Egor,
This isn’t meant to be a duplicate in terms of intent.
I initially posted this as a feature request, but after further discussion and testing I’ve come to the conclusion that it fits better under bugs, as it concerns silent degradation of exported data rather than missing functionality.
If you feel this should live in one place, I’m happy to keep only the most appropriate entry.Thanks for checking!
-
@Stefaan, it seems related to this discussion:
Exact ARC export in DXF
https://illustrator.uservoice.com/forums/333657/suggestions/50817350Illustrator deals with Bézier curves only at the moment, and no conversion happens when these get exported.
Would you mind me merging these two requests?
