--- title: Inkscape SVG saving settings description: If you're using Inkscape to design files for Origin, you'll want to make a few changes to how Inkscape saves and prepares file prior to sending your file to Origin. Use real world units (inches or mil --- [Skip to content](https://support.shapertools.com/hc/en-us/articles/360043458934-inkscape-svg-saving-settings#main-content) English Show submenu for translations [Contact us](https://support.shapertools.com/kb-tickets/new?hsLang=en) ![Shaper-KB-Logo.svg\]](https://support.shapertools.com/hubfs/Shaper-KB-Logo.svg) Open main navigation Close main navigation - English Show submenu for translations - [Contact us](https://support.shapertools.com/kb-tickets/new) - [Go to shapertools.com](https://www.shapertools.com/) [Go to shapertools.com](https://www.shapertools.com/) Shaper Support - There are no suggestions because the search field is empty. 1. [Help Center](https://support.shapertools.com/?hsLang=en) 2. [Designing for Origin](https://support.shapertools.com/designing-for-origin?hsLang=en) 3. [Inkscape](https://support.shapertools.com/designing-for-origin?hsLang=en#inkscape) # Inkscape SVG saving settings If you're using Inkscape to design files for Origin, you'll want to make a few changes to how Inkscape saves and prepares file prior to sending your file to Origin. 1. **Use real world units (inches or millimeters) rather than pixels**. Go to File \> Document Properties to select your default units. 2. **Make sure that your display units and document units match. ** ![inkscape\_doc\_settings.png](https://support.shapertools.com/hs-fs/hubfs/Knowledge%20Base%20Import/inkscape_doc_settings-1.png?width=600&height=499&name=inkscape_doc_settings-1.png) \*Note that the scale value (underlined above) will change based upon your selected units (Inkscape will default to 96 points per inch and 3.77953 points per millimeter) 3. **Save your file as a 'Plain SVG' rather than the 'Inkscape SVG' that Inkscape defaults to**. The Inkscape SVG file type will include extraneous data that will not be used by Origin. ![Screen\_Shot\_2020-04-01\_at\_8.51.36\_AM.png](https://support.shapertools.com/hs-fs/hubfs/Knowledge%20Base%20Import/Screen_Shot_2020-04-01_at_8_51_36_AM-1.png?width=600&height=247&name=Screen_Shot_2020-04-01_at_8_51_36_AM-1.png) 4. **Simplify your SVG export preferences**. Go to Edit \> Preferences \> Input/Output \> SVG Output and match your settings to those found below. (On Mac: Inkscape \> Preferences \> ...) ![svg\_settings.png](https://support.shapertools.com/hs-fs/hubfs/Knowledge%20Base%20Import/svg_settings-1.png?width=600&height=444&name=svg_settings-1.png) 5. **Use a geometric bounding box.** Go to **Edit** \> **Preferences** \> **Tools** and select **Geometric Bounding Box**. (On Mac: **Inkscape** \> **Preferences** \> **...**) Inkscape defaults to a visual bounding box, which includes stroke width in its calculation of the bounding box's dimensions. Origin calculates the bounding box based upon the middle of the stroke. Setting your Inkscape Preferences to a geometric bounding box will ensure that both bounding box dimensions on tool and in Inkscape match up with one another. ![preview\_bounds.png](https://support.shapertools.com/hs-fs/hubfs/Knowledge%20Base%20Import/preview_bounds-1.png?width=600&height=364&name=preview_bounds-1.png) If you have any questions about any of the above, or if you have made these changes and are still having difficulty preparing your Inkscape file for Origin, send us an email—we're happy to help! Attach your file and a include a brief explanation of what's happening on Origin's screen when you try to cut the file. 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