Engrave Text

The Engrave Text tool creates raised (embossed) or engraved (debossed) text on surface objects. This feature enables adding labels, identification marks, or decorative text directly onto 3D surfaces for manufacturing, labeling, or artistic purposes.

Overview

Text engraving is a common requirement for 3D printed parts, manufactured components, and artistic models. The tool provides a complete workflow for:

• Entering and formatting text
• Positioning text on the surface
• Controlling text depth and style (emboss/deboss)
• Generating modified geometry with integrated text

Common applications include:

• Part identification: Serial numbers, batch codes, model names
• Labeling: Orientation markers, assembly instructions
• Branding: Logos (as text), company names
• Medical devices: Patient or device identification
• Artistic modeling: Decorative text elements

Accessing the Tool

Navigate to the Surface ribbon tab and locate Engrave Text in the Edit section. Select a surface object before activating the tool. The active surface becomes the target for the text operation.

Text Configuration

Text Input

Enter the text to engrave in the text input field. The text can include:

• Letters (uppercase and lowercase)
• Numbers
• Common punctuation marks
• Spaces

The text will be rendered as a single line using the selected font.

Text Center Position

The center position defines where the text is placed on the surface:

Parameter	Description
X	X-coordinate of text center (mm)
Y	Y-coordinate of text center (mm)
Z	Z-coordinate of text center (mm)

Tip: Use the P key to interactively pick a point on the surface. This automatically sets the center position to the clicked location, making it easy to place text precisely where needed.

Show Text Preview

Enable the Show checkbox to display a preview of the text in the 3D view before applying the operation. The preview includes:

• Text geometry preview
• Position gizmo for interactive adjustment
• Orientation indicators

Font Settings

Font Selection

The font selection widget allows you to choose from available system fonts. Consider:

• Sans-serif fonts: Clean, modern appearance; good for technical labeling
• Serif fonts: Traditional appearance; suitable for formal labeling
• Bold weights: Better visibility; recommended for small text or deep engraving

Note Not all fonts provide clean outline data suitable for mesh generation. Fonts with complex glyphs, decorative scripts, or color/bitmap layers may generate incomplete or invalid meshes.

Font Size (Points)

The font size in the font selector uses points (pt) and controls the glyph outline resolution. Choose a size that preserves detail for your font style.

Text Scale (mm)

The Text Scale value controls the final size of the text in world units (mm). Use it to fit the text to the target surface without changing the font’s point size.

Application	Typical Text Scale Range
Small labels	2-5 mm
Standard identification	5-10 mm
Large labels	10-20 mm
Decorative text	20+ mm

Consider the minimum feature size of your manufacturing process when selecting text scale.

Warning If a selected font does not expose a compatible outline, the 3D preview may not update correctly and the Boolean operation can fail.

Engraving Parameters

Direction

Choose between two text application modes:

Option	Description	Result
Deboss	Text is cut into the surface	Engraved, recessed letters
Emboss	Text protrudes from the surface	Raised, protruding letters

Deboss creates classic engraved text where letters are below the surface level—ideal for durable marking that won't wear off.

Emboss creates raised text that stands above the surface—good for tactile labels or decorative applications.

Thickness

The thickness parameter (in mm) controls how far the text extends from the surface:

• For deboss: How deep the engraving cuts into the surface
• For emboss: How high the text rises above the surface

Default value: 5.0 mm

Consider structural implications—very deep debossing may weaken thin-walled parts, while tall embossing may be fragile.

Overlap Thickness

The overlap thickness (in mm) controls how much the text geometry extends into (overlaps with) the original surface before the Boolean operation is applied.

Default value: 2.0 mm

This parameter ensures clean Boolean operations by providing sufficient geometric overlap between the text and target surface. Increase this value if you experience Boolean operation failures or gaps in the result.

Result Options

Choose how the result is generated:

Option	Description
Boolean with active surface	Merge text directly with the target surface, modifying it
<New surface object>	Create the text as a separate surface object

Boolean with active surface produces a single, unified mesh with integrated text—ready for manufacturing or export.

New surface object keeps the text separate, useful for:

• Previewing before committing
• Applying different colors or materials
• Further manipulation of text geometry
• Combining multiple text elements

Interactive Workflow

Recommended Workflow

1. Enter text: Type the desired text in the input field
2. Position text: Either enter coordinates or use P-key picking
3. Enable preview: Turn on Show to see text placement
4. Select font: Choose appropriate font and size
5. Configure style: Select emboss/deboss and set thickness
6. Choose result type: Boolean integration or separate object
7. Apply: Generate the final geometry

Using P-Key Point Picking

For precise placement on curved surfaces:

1. Enable the Engrave Text tool
2. Hover over the target surface location
3. Press the P key
4. The center coordinates update to the picked position
5. Enable Show to verify placement
6. Adjust position numerically if needed

Practical Considerations

Font Selection for Manufacturing

For 3D printing and CNC machining:

• Avoid very thin fonts: May not print or machine properly
• Use bold variants: Better feature definition
• Consider minimum wall thickness: Font strokes should exceed manufacturing limits
• Test at intended size: Small text may lose detail

Text Orientation

The text is placed with a default orientation that may need adjustment for your specific surface. Consider the viewing angle and readability when positioning text on curved surfaces.

Multiple Text Elements

For multiple text strings (e.g., label and serial number):

1. Add first text element, choosing "New surface object" result
2. Add additional text elements similarly
3. Use Boolean operations to combine all elements with the target surface
4. Or merge text surfaces first, then Boolean with target

Curved Surface Considerations

Text is projected onto the surface at the specified position. On highly curved surfaces:

• Text may appear distorted from some viewing angles
• Consider using multiple smaller text elements
• Verify readability from intended viewing directions

Technical Considerations

Boolean Operation Requirements

The text geometry is combined with the target surface using Boolean operations. For successful operations:

• Target surface should be watertight (for Boolean with surface)
• Use adequate overlap thickness
• Complex surfaces may require additional processing

Mesh Quality

The generated text geometry uses tessellated curves. The mesh quality is generally suitable for most applications, but very large text or high-quality requirements may benefit from subsequent smoothing.

Font Compatibility

The tool uses outline-based text triangulation. The following cases can reduce mesh quality or prevent successful Boolean operations:

• Fonts stored as bitmap or color layers (no scalable outlines)
• Fonts from collections that do not expose a resolvable font file
• Decorative fonts with highly self-intersecting outlines

Tip: If a font fails, switch to a standard TrueType/OpenType font such as Arial, Calibri, or Times New Roman, then try again.

Performance

Processing time depends on:

• Text length (more characters = more geometry)
• Font complexity
• Target surface complexity
• Boolean operation overhead

Common Issues and Solutions

Issue	Likely Cause	Solution
Text not visible	Position outside surface bounds	Use P-key picking to place on surface
Boolean failure	Insufficient overlap or complex surface	Increase overlap thickness
Text appears inverted	Wrong direction selection	Switch between Emboss/Deboss
Thin strokes missing	Font size too small	Increase font size; use bolder font
Text distorted	Curved surface projection	Reposition for better surface angle
Separate letters	Very small text	Increase size; verify font selection
Font preview not updating	Unsupported font outline	Switch to a standard TTF/OTF font; retry
Boolean fails after font change	Invalid text mesh	Increase overlap thickness; try a simpler font

Related Tools

• Surface Boolean: Use for manual union/difference if you create text as a separate surface object.
• Surface Clean/Repair: Run after Boolean operations if you see non-manifold or self-intersecting geometry.