Unreal Engine is exceptionally good at rendering, animation, and real-time visuals.
Where it still falls short is something far more basic: starting from 2D data.
Most professionals don’t begin inside Unreal. They arrive with drawings, diagrams, logos, or vector illustrations created elsewhere. The CAD 2D Importer exists to try closing that gap, cleanly, predictably, and without forcing users into heavy Datasmith or mesh-based workflows.
This plugin is not about “CAD support” in the traditional sense.
It’s about bringing structured 2D intent into Unreal as editable, native spline data.
Why a 2D CAD Importer matters in Unreal
Unreal has no native 2D spline import
Out of the box, Unreal cannot:
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Import DXF drawings as splines
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Preserve layers from 2D files
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Use vector drawings as procedural or animation drivers
The usual workaround is manual tracing or round-tripping through DCC tools, both slow and error-prone.
The CAD 2D Importer turns existing 2D assets into first-class Unreal data, ready to drive geometry, animation, or logic.
Core idea: DXF & JSON → Unreal Splines
The plugin reads standard DXF files and a lightweight JSON schema, converting them into:
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Native Unreal Spline Actors
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Organised by layers
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With correct units and scale
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Editable, selectable, and reusable across workflows
No meshes. No baking. No loss of intent.
Use cases across industries
ArchViz & AEC
For architects and visualisation artists:
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Import floor plans directly as splines
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Preserve CAD layers (walls, grids, circulation, structure)
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Extrude walls and floors procedurally
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Use splines as snapping guides for assets
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Iterate layouts without re-exporting meshes
This fits before Datasmith, not instead of it, especially for early-stage or schematic work.
Urban planners & simulation designers
For planning, GIS-adjacent, or analytical workflows:
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Import zoning diagrams, site boundaries, road layouts
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Keep clean 2D references for simulations
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Drive procedural generation or agent systems
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Maintain unit correctness across large scales
Splines remain lightweight and editable, unlike imported meshes.
Motion Designers
This is where the plugin quietly becomes very powerful.
Motion designers working in Unreal often need:
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Logos
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Type outlines
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Line illustrations
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Abstract vector paths
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Infographics
These usually exist as:
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CAD drawings
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Illustrator exports
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3ds Max shapes
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Technical diagrams
With CAD 2D Importer, those vectors become:
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Animated spline paths
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Motion-controlled geometry
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Niagara drivers
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Procedural reveals, wipes, or line growth animations
Instead of rebuilding vectors manually or relying on meshes, designers get true spline-based motion control.
This makes the plugin especially suitable for Unreal Motion Designer workflows.
Illustrators & technical artists
For illustration-heavy projects:
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Import line art or diagrams as splines
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Control stroke behaviour procedurally
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Use splines as masks, paths, or construction guides
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Combine with materials, Niagara, or Blueprint logic
This bridges the gap between vector illustration tools and real-time rendering.
Key features (current scope)
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DXF Import
- Lines, Polylines, Circles, Arcs, Splines (NURBS tessellated)
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Layer Preservation
- Toggle, filter, colour, and batch-process by layer
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Unit Handling
- Auto-detect where possible, manual override when needed
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JSON Schema
- Clean internal format for reliability and extensibility
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Spline-Based Output
- Native Unreal Spline Actors, not baked meshes
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3ds Max Integration
- Python exporter for precise shape transfer
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3D Building Tools
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Wall and floor extrusion
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Seam welding
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Mesh cleanup.
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Typical workflow
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Import a DXF or JSON file
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Review layers, counts, and units in the importer window
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Select which layers to spawn
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Generate spline actors in the level
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Use splines for:
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Architecture
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Motion graphics
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Procedural tools
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Animation and VFX
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Technical overview
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Modules
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CADCore(Runtime) -
CADIO(Editor) -
CADEditor(Editor)
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Data
- JSON schema as internal source of truth
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Blueprints
- None (pure C++ for performance and control)
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Dependencies
- ProceduralMeshComponent (built-in)
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Platforms
- Windows, macOS, Linux
What this plugin is not
To set expectations clearly:
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Not a DWG editor
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Not a BIM replacement
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Not a text/dimension importer
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Not a full CAD round-trip tool
It focuses deliberately on clean 2D geometry as splines, because that’s where Unreal benefits most.
The CAD 2D Importer is less about CAD, and more about intent preservation.
Whether that intent is:
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a wall layout,
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a city diagram,
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a logo path,
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or an animated line illustration,
the plugin lets Unreal start where professionals already are, instead of forcing them to start over.
Check out CAD 2D Importer on FAB: