Bridges and tabs
Automatic stencil bridges, so nothing falls out of the cut
The centre of an O, the dot of an i, the islands in fretwork: pieces that are held by nothing once the cut goes round them. Magic Carve finds every one and adds bridges before you cut.
Tracing is free in your browser. A free account exports files of up to 40 shapes; paid plans from $2 a month export without limits.
How it works
Upload your design
A drawing, scan or photo of the pattern, lettering or fretwork.
Let it find the islands
Every shape floating inside a hole is detected and gets bridges spaced around it. Set the bridge width and how many each piece gets.
Export with bridges
Bridges are left uncut in the G-code and marked on their own layer in SVG and DXF.
Why woodworkers use Magic Carve
Finds every floating piece
Nesting depth is worked out for each shape, so an island inside a hole inside a shape is caught at any depth.
Width and count you choose
Pick how wide each bridge is and how many each piece gets, and see them on the drawing straight away.
Tabs in the toolpath
For routers the bit lifts over each tab on the final passes, leaving a thin web you snap and sand after.
Made for fretwork and stencils
Mashrabiya screens, lettering stencils, scroll-saw patterns and laser-cut wall art.
Questions
What is a stencil bridge?
A thin strip left uncut that holds a floating piece — like the middle of an O — to the rest of the sheet, so it stays in place during and after the cut.
Can I change where bridges go?
You set the bridge width and the number per piece; they are spaced evenly around each floating shape.
Do bridges work for lasers as well as routers?
Yes. Laser jobs skip the bridge spans; router jobs cut them to a set tab height so the piece is held but easy to free.
Is it free?
Tracing and bridge placement are free to try. A free account exports files of up to 40 shapes; paid plans from $2 a month export without limits.