Explode to Polygons

Converts selected shape types (paths with width, closed zero-width polylines, circles, arcs, NURBS, donuts, and text) into polygon boundaries.

When to Use

• Before exporting to formats that only support polygons (e.g., GDSII BOUNDARY records)
• When boolean operations require all geometry to be closed polygons
• To eliminate path width and end-cap ambiguity

Options

Option	Description	Default
Explode all shape types	Convert every supported non-polygon shape type	On
Polylines with width	Convert only polylines that have non-zero width when Explode all shape types is off	On
Zero-width closed polylines	Convert closed zero-width polylines to polygons; this checkbox is independent of Explode all shape types	Off
Text	Convert text labels to polygon outlines when Explode all shape types is off	On
Circles	Convert circles to polygons when Explode all shape types is off	On
NURBS	Convert NURBS/splines to polylines when Explode all shape types is off	On
Donuts	Convert donut shapes when Explode all shape types is off	On
Donut style	Use Single Outline or Half Donuts for donut conversion	Single Outline
Arcs	Convert arcs to polylines when Explode all shape types is off	On
Arc Precision	Precision value and units for circle, arc, donut, and spline approximation	32 segments/360°
Apply To	Apply to All Visible geometry or only the current Selection	All Visible

The Zero-width closed polylines control is separate from Polylines with width. This lets you preserve closed zero-width polylines as polylines while still exploding wide polylines, or convert closed zero-width polylines without converting every other polyline type.

Arc Precision Modes (Circle → Polygon)

When circles/arcs are approximated into polygon segments, Arc Precision can be interpreted in two common ways:

• Segments per 360°: uses a fixed segment count around a full circle
• Maximum error: uses a geometric tolerance and increases segment count until the deviation stays below the limit

Segments per 360°

Fixed segmentation creates a predictable vertex count per full circle.

Maximum error

Tolerance-based segmentation limits the worst-case deviation $\varepsilon_{max}$ between the true circle and the polygon approximation.

How It Works

1. Polylines with width are expanded to outline polygons, including end caps
2. Zero-width closed polylines are converted to polygon boundaries only when their dedicated checkbox is enabled; Explode all shape types does not include them
3. Circles, arcs, NURBS, and donuts are approximated with the configured Arc Precision
4. Text is converted to filled polygon outlines of each character when enabled

Technical Notes

• The original shapes are replaced — this operation is not reversible without undo
• Arc precision controls the smoothness of curved shapes: higher values produce smoother curves but more vertices
• Batch mode uses the same option key, ToolConvertZeroWidthClosedPolylines, on the Convert to Outline tool group