How to turn an image into a cookie cutter
You can turn almost any bold image into a custom cookie cutter in a few minutes: upload it, pick a size and download an STL file to 3D print. Here is the whole process, plus how to choose images that cut well.
Step by step
- Choose your image. Pick a bold, simple PNG, JPG, WebP or SVG. Clipart, silhouettes and logos work best.
- Upload it to the Workshop. Log in to your free Cookie Mercantile account and upload the image. The Workshop traces the outline automatically.
- Adjust the outline. Use the 2D editor to tailor difficult images: clean up the background, add padding to widen and soften the outline, and add raised text if you like.
- Pick a size. Choose the cutter size you want. Common sizes run from about 2 to 5 inches.
- Download the STL. Preview the 3D cutter, then download the STL file (or a full Cake Pop set as one ZIP).
- Print and bake. Slice the STL in your usual slicer, print it, and start cutting cookies.
Choosing an image that cuts cleanly
- Go bold and simple. Silhouettes, clipart and logos trace best. A cutter outlines the outside shape, so interior detail is lost.
- Keep features chunky. Very thin points, hairline gaps and tiny islands are fragile in dough and hard to print. Use padding in the Workshop to widen and soften them.
- Use a clear background. A transparent or plain background gives the cleanest outline. The Workshop can also clean up a light coloured background.
- Use a decent resolution. A sharp image of a few hundred pixels or more traces better than a tiny, blurry one.
- Respect copyright. Free clipart is fine to use for personal baking. If you sell cookies or cutters, use artwork you have the rights to.
Which file types work?
PNG, JPG, WebP and SVG images up to about 12 MB. The result downloads as a standard STL.
Common questions
How do I turn an image into a cookie cutter?
Upload a PNG, JPG, WebP or SVG to the TCM Workshop, pick a size, and the Workshop traces the outline and builds a 3D cutter you can preview, adjust and download as an STL file. Print the STL on any 3D printer. Every account includes 15 free STL downloads.
What file do I get, and what do I print it on?
You get a standard binary STL file, which every slicer (Cura, PrusaSlicer, Bambu Studio, OrcaSlicer and others) opens. It prints on ordinary desktop FDM 3D printers.
What kinds of images work best?
Bold, simple shapes with a clear outline: silhouettes, clipart, logos and cookie-style illustrations. Thin lines and tiny details are hard to cut, so the Workshop offers background cleanup and padding to widen and smooth the outline before you download.