Shadow Box SVG Cut Files

Layered shadow box designs built for real physical depth. Each bundle ships every layer as a separate SVG plus the combined file, so you cut each sheet from cardstock and stack them in order. Voids in the upper layers reveal the layers beneath, which is what produces the 3D look.

Buying guide

What a shadow box SVG actually is

A shadow box design is not a single image with shading. It is a set of separate cut sheets, stacked in order so that the gaps in each upper layer reveal the layer beneath. The shadows are cast by real physical distance between the sheets, which is why the effect holds up from any angle and under any lighting, unlike printed or flat-shaded artwork.

What you need to make one

Cardstock in the 250-350 gsm range, a craft knife or machine blade, foam tape or craft glue, and roughly an hour per piece. Nothing else. The SVG files already contain the cut paths, so there is no tracing, no cleanup in the software and no test cut needed beyond confirming your blade offset.

How to choose the right cardstock weight

Heavier cardstock gives cleaner cut edges and holds its shape when stacked, but it also needs a sharper blade and more pressure. Below 250 gsm the layers bow and the depth flattens out. Between 250 and 350 gsm is the range where most layered designs look their best, and it is what the designs here were proportioned for.

Sizing and scaling

The artwork is drawn at 300mm and scales without loss because every shape is a vector path. If your machine cannot cut that width, scale it down proportionally before importing. Avoid scaling up beyond roughly twice the original size, because very fine interior details in the smallest layer can close up and tear out.

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