How do I install the Text To Path skill?

Run npx skillmds@latest add brxs/text-to-path in your terminal (requires Node.js), paste this page's agent-chat prompt into Claude, Cursor, or any MCP-connected agent, or download the SKILL.md file and copy it into your agent's skills directory.

What does the Text To Path skill do?

Convert text elements to paths for plotter/CNC output It is listed under Coding & Dev Tools on SkillMD.

Is Text To Path safe to use?

This skill has not completed SkillMD's automated safety review yet. Capability flags: executes scripts, makes network calls. SkillMD never runs a skill's scripts for you; review the SKILL.md before installing.

Which AI agents work with Text To Path?

This skill is tagged as working with Claude Code, Claude.ai, OpenAI Codex. SKILL.md is an open format, so most agents that read a skills directory can load it too.

Is Text To Path free to use?

Yes. Installing skills from SkillMD is free, and the skill stays under its author's original license.

Who published Text To Path?

brxs (@brxs) published this skill. Their other Agent Skills are listed on their SkillMD profile.

Text To Path by brxs — Agent Skill

Name: Text To Path
Rating: 4.5 (4 reviews)
Author: brxs

File contents

Text to Path

Converts SVG text elements to vector paths using a font file. Essential for pen plotters, laser cutters, and CNC machines that can't render fonts.

Usage

node .claude/skills/text-to-path/index.js <svg-file> <font-file> [options]

Arguments

Argument	Description
`svg-file`	SVG file to process
`font-file`	TTF or OTF font file to use

Options

Option	Description
`stroke-only`	Output stroked paths (for single-line fonts)
`fill-only`	Output filled paths (default)
`stroke=<width>`	Stroke width for stroke-only mode

Examples

Basic Conversion (Filled Outlines)

node .claude/skills/text-to-path/index.js output/art.svg /path/to/Arial.ttf

Single-Line for Plotters

# Using a single-line font (Hershey, etc.)
node .claude/skills/text-to-path/index.js output/art.svg fonts/HersheyScript.ttf stroke-only stroke=0.5

Custom Stroke Width

node .claude/skills/text-to-path/index.js output/art.svg fonts/font.otf stroke-only stroke=1.5

Output Modes

Fill Mode (Default)

Creates filled path outlines - suitable for:

Vinyl cutting
Laser engraving (filled)
General vector output

Stroke Mode

Creates stroked paths - suitable for:

Pen plotters
Single-line engraving
Drawing machines

Font Sources

System Fonts (macOS)

# Common locations
/System/Library/Fonts/
/Library/Fonts/
~/Library/Fonts/

# Example
node index.js art.svg /System/Library/Fonts/Helvetica.ttc

Single-Line Fonts (Recommended for Plotters)

Limitations

textPath not supported - Text on curves (circular text) not yet converted
Font required - Must provide a font file that matches the original design
No CSS styles - Inline attributes only (font-size, fill, etc.)

Workflow for Plotters

# 1. Remove animations
node .claude/skills/remove-animations/index.js output/art.svg

# 2. Remove defs
node .claude/skills/remove-defs/index.js output/art.svg all keep-paths

# 3. Convert colors to black
node .claude/skills/convert-colors/index.js output/art.svg black

# 4. Convert text to paths
node .claude/skills/text-to-path/index.js output/art.svg /path/to/font.ttf stroke-only

# 5. Ready for plotter!

Notes

Preserves text position, anchor, and transforms
Handles letter-spacing attribute
Original text elements are replaced (not duplicated)
Works with TTF and OTF font formats

---name: text-to-pathdescription: Convert text elements to paths for plotter/CNC output---# Text to PathConverts SVG text elements to vector paths using a font file. Essential for pen plotters, laser cutters, and CNC machines that can't render fonts.## Usage```bashnode .claude/skills/text-to-path/index.js <svg-file> <font-file> [options]```## Arguments| Argument | Description ||----------|-------------|| `svg-file` | SVG file to process || `font-file` | TTF or OTF font file to use |## Options| Option | Description ||--------|-------------|| `stroke-only` | Output stroked paths (for single-line fonts) || `fill-only` | Output filled paths (default) || `stroke=<width>` | Stroke width for stroke-only mode |## Examples### Basic Conversion (Filled Outlines)```bashnode .claude/skills/text-to-path/index.js output/art.svg /path/to/Arial.ttf```### Single-Line for Plotters```bash# Using a single-line font (Hershey, etc.)node .claude/skills/text-to-path/index.js output/art.svg fonts/HersheyScript.ttf stroke-only stroke=0.5```### Custom Stroke Width```bashnode .claude/skills/text-to-path/index.js output/art.svg fonts/font.otf stroke-only stroke=1.5```## Output Modes### Fill Mode (Default)Creates filled path outlines - suitable for:- Vinyl cutting- Laser engraving (filled)- General vector output### Stroke ModeCreates stroked paths - suitable for:- Pen plotters- Single-line engraving- Drawing machines## Font Sources### System Fonts (macOS)```bash# Common locations/System/Library/Fonts//Library/Fonts/~/Library/Fonts/# Examplenode index.js art.svg /System/Library/Fonts/Helvetica.ttc```### Single-Line Fonts (Recommended for Plotters)- [Hershey Fonts](https://github.com/evil-mad/EggBot/tree/master/inkscape_driver/hersheydata)- [CNC Vector Fonts](https://www.evilmadscientist.com/2011/hershey-text-an-inkscape-extension-for-engraving-fonts/)## Limitations- **textPath not supported** - Text on curves (circular text) not yet converted- **Font required** - Must provide a font file that matches the original design- **No CSS styles** - Inline attributes only (font-size, fill, etc.)## Workflow for Plotters```bash# 1. Remove animationsnode .claude/skills/remove-animations/index.js output/art.svg# 2. Remove defsnode .claude/skills/remove-defs/index.js output/art.svg all keep-paths# 3. Convert colors to blacknode .claude/skills/convert-colors/index.js output/art.svg black# 4. Convert text to pathsnode .claude/skills/text-to-path/index.js output/art.svg /path/to/font.ttf stroke-only# 5. Ready for plotter!```## Notes- Preserves text position, anchor, and transforms- Handles letter-spacing attribute- Original text elements are replaced (not duplicated)- Works with TTF and OTF font formats

Frequently asked questions

Text To Path