FAQ

Is SolidVents a company?

No. It is an indie project founded by Yoshi, who handles the product design and the roadmap, built together with a trusted frontend developer. A small team focused on solving real design problems.

Will there be regular updates?

We are committed to improving SolidVents continuously. Both of us have full-time day jobs, though, so development happens in our spare time and releases land irregularly, but we are in this for the long run. Every release is listed on the changelog page.

Do I need to install anything or create an account?

No. SolidVents runs entirely in the browser, so you can open it and start designing. An account is only needed for Pro features such as the cloud library.

What pattern layout modes are there?

Nine layout modes, with live gradients. Grid, path, spiral, concentric, Fibonacci, cross-hatch, Voronoi stone and flow lines. Control points sit directly on the canvas and drive size, spacing, angle and rotation, and everything redraws live as you move them.

How do the gradient controls work?

You drop controllers (points, lines, curves or polylines) onto the canvas, and each one pulls a parameter toward a target value within its influence range. Size, Spacing, Angle and Shape each have their own set of controllers, so a design can get denser toward one edge while the holes also rotate and grow. Advanced options add hard edges, single-side falloff, and syncing one controller’s geometry across the other modes.

Can I use my own shapes instead of circles?

Yes. The custom shape editor lets you draw outlines, stack them as layers, and give each layer a boolean role (union, subtract or normal) for cut-outs and composite forms. Fillets stay editable after you reopen the editor, and the merged result previews live while you edit.

Can I turn a photo into a pattern?

Yes. Load an image as a controller and its brightness drives the pattern: dark areas get larger or denser elements, light areas smaller or sparser. That is how the halftone portrait effect is made, and it exports as vectors like any other design.

How do I reset the parameters to their defaults?

Refresh the page (F5, or your browser’s reload button). Every parameter returns to its initial default state.

Can I export and share my design parameters with someone else?

Yes, there are two ways:

• JSON config file: right-click any design thumbnail in your Repository and choose “Export JSON”.
• SVG file: simply share an exported SVG of the design.

Which file formats can I export?

SVG for Illustrator, Figma and laser cutting; DXF for AutoCAD and CNC; STEP (.stp) for SolidWorks, Fusion 360, CATIA, Inventor and Rhino.

When does the daily free export limit reset?

The free plan’s 3 exports a day are counted in Coordinated Universal Time (UTC) and reset at 00:00 UTC every day.

Why can’t I open the exported STP file in my software?

First check your software’s import settings and try switching the import mode between “Solid” and “Surface”. If it still will not open, convert the file to .x_t (Parasolid) or .igs (IGES).

My CAD software lags after importing a complex pattern. What can I do?

A design with a very large number of holes can bog CAD down when it arrives as a single solid. Turn on the “STP Split” option before exporting and the model is divided into several smaller blocks, which takes a great deal of load off your CAD software.

Can I use SolidVents designs for laser cutting?

Yes. Export SVG or DXF and hand the file straight to your laser cutting service.

Is it suitable for 3D printing?

Yes. Export a STEP file, add thickness and combine it with your main body in SolidWorks or Fusion 360, then generate the STL from there.

Can I control the open area ratio of a speaker grille or vent?

Yes. Open area is controlled precisely through the size, spacing and gradient parameters, so adjust them and the ratio follows.

Is SolidVents really free?

Yes. Every layout mode, the gradient controls, the custom shape tool and every export format are free, with 3 exports a day. Pro at $49/year removes the export limit and unlocks Shape Morphing, STP Split, the cloud library and the full Marketplace.

What do I get with Pro?

Unlimited exports with no daily limit, plus the advanced tools: the Shape Morphing gradient, STP Split export, Draft Angle on STP solids, the cloud repository, and every Marketplace preset unlocked.

Which plans are available?

Two subscriptions and two one-time passes: Monthly at $5/month, Yearly at $49/year (about $4.08 a month), a 3 Month Pass at $15, and a 1 Year Pass at $55 (about $4.58 a month). All prices are in US dollars.

How do I pay?

Checkout runs through Lemon Squeezy with a credit or debit card. In mainland China, or if you do not have an international card, you can buy through Afdian with WeChat Pay or Alipay instead.

What is the difference between a subscription and a pass?

A subscription renews automatically, monthly or yearly, until you cancel it. A pass is a single payment for a fixed period; when it ends, nothing is charged again.

Can I get a refund?

Email us about anything payment-related and we will handle it case by case.

What happens to my cloud designs when Pro expires?

Nothing is lost. Your cloud data is automatically migrated back to local storage when Pro ends.

Can I use the patterns commercially?

Absolutely. Patterns you generate with SolidVents are fully yours to use in any commercial product, client project or personal creation.

How many devices can use one account?

One at a time. For account security SolidVents uses a single-device session, so signing in on a new device automatically signs the previous one out.