If a street-map SVG contains roads but no names, first check whether the exported file contains any label objects. Enlarging the roads or tracing them again cannot recover words that were never exported. Add only names you can verify, then test their appearance at the final physical size.
This is a real request from a recent browser-tool discussion: a user liked the map maker but wanted major street names. That comment identifies a useful distinction between a recognizable road pattern and a labeled map. It does not establish that every SVG map exporter has a hidden label switch.
Inspect the file before changing the engraving
Open a copy of the export and examine its objects or layers. Look for selectable text, outlined letters or a label layer that is present but hidden. Compare it with the exporter preview. A website can display names in its browser map without including those same names in its downloadable vector artwork.
If the file has no letters, return to the exporter's documented options. Where labels are unavailable, choose whether to add a small set manually or keep the piece as an unlabeled decorative map. Do not assume road width, line color or a tracing command encodes a street's name.
When road geometry itself appears doubled, centerline versus outline tracing is the separate problem to resolve. Fixing two borders into one path still will not supply missing names.
Select labels the buyer can actually use
Start with the names that help the recipient recognize the location: a main street, the road containing the chosen address or a distinctive bridge. Verify spelling and which road each label belongs to using an authoritative local source. Respect the mapping source's attribution and usage terms.
Leave room around intersections. A long road name crossing several unrelated streets can be more confusing than no label. Inspect the final-size proof at the expected viewing distance rather than judging a zoomed-in screen. If text becomes too crowded, remove lower-priority labels instead of squeezing every name smaller.
An X1S 2026 label proof
| Proof item | Check on the physical sample |
|---|---|
| Longest road name | Whole word remains readable |
| Tightest intersection | Label does not imply the wrong road |
| Lightest wood area | Letter strokes remain distinct |
| Darkest grain patch | Name can still be recognized |
The TYVOK X1S 2026 product page describes an 800 × 800 mm starting configuration and an 800 × 2000 mm expanded option. Plan within the installed area with room for support. A wider panel permits a larger composition, but readability still depends on the chosen type, spacing, material and tested engraving result.
Use a small section of known compatible wood containing both roads and lettering before a full panel. Map correctness also extends beyond text: if a design includes terrain, check implausible elevation values separately before turning them into layers.
Can I trace a screenshot to get the missing names?
A screenshot may contain visible words, but automatic tracing can distort small letters and introduces source-permission questions. Verified text placed deliberately is usually easier to inspect than a mass of tiny traced contours. Check the final spelling either way.
Should every street have a label on a gift map?
Not necessarily. Agree on the important names and intended viewing distance. A few clear, correctly placed labels can serve a personal keepsake better than an unreadable list. Do not present a decorative engraving as a reliable navigation aid.