How to Project a Sketch onto a Surface in SolidWorks?

Projecting a 2D sketch onto a 3D surface is a common task in SolidWorks – for engraving text or logos, defining mold parting lines, applying appearances, driving sweeps, or creating complex fillets.

SolidWorks gives you three main tools to do this:

• Split Line (Projection type)
• Project Curve (Sketch on faces)
• Wrap (Scribe / Emboss / Deboss)

They all “project” a sketch, but they behave very differently. This article walks through each method step‑by‑step and then compares them so you can pick the right tool for your part.

Quick Overview: Which Tool Should You Use?

• Use Split Line when you want to split faces into smaller regions (for appearances, decals, fillets, simulation loads, etc.).
• Use Project Curve when you want a 3D curve on a face but don’t want to change the face topology (great for sweep paths and surfacing).
• Use Wrap when you need to wrap a closed sketch all the way around a cylinder or cone, or emboss/deboss on curved faces.

All three methods require two things:

1. A 2D sketch (the profile to project).
2. A target face or faces (solid or surface bodies).

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Method 1: Using the Split Line Command (Projection)

What it does: Split Line projects an entity (typically a sketch) onto faces and splits those faces into separate regions. The underlying geometry stays the same, but you get new faces and edges that you can select independently for features, appearances, and boundary conditions.

Step 1 – Start the Split Line Command

1. Make sure you have:
   • A 2D sketch positioned so that it “sees” the faces you want to split (usually sketched on a plane in front of the model).
   • The body or surface with the face(s) you want to project onto.
2. On the CommandManager, go to Features > Curves > Split Line.
   Alternatively, use Insert > Curve > Split Line.

Step 2 – Set Type of Split to Projection

3. In the Split Line PropertyManager, under Type of Split, select Projection.
4. Under Selections:
   • In Sketch to Project, select your sketch (from the graphics area or the FeatureManager tree).
   • In Faces to Split, select the face or faces you want the sketch projected onto.
5. Control the projection direction:
   • Use Single direction to project only in one direction normal to the sketch plane.
   • Clear Single direction to project in both directions.
   • Use Reverse Direction or click the arrow handle in the graphics area to flip the projection.

Step 3 – Confirm the Split

6. Click the green checkmark.
7. The sketch is projected onto the selected faces and those faces are now split into regions along the sketch.

You can verify this by hovering over the face – each region created by the split will highlight separately.

When to Use Split Line

• Appearances & decals: Apply different colors, materials, or decals to specific regions of a curved face.
• Simulation & loads: Define separate regions for pressure, temperature, or fixtures.
• Fillets & chamfers: Use split faces to control where variable size fillets start/stop.
• Mold tools: Help define parting lines or shut-off regions.

Split Line Tips & Common Errors

• Your sketch must actually intersect the faces in the projection direction. If it doesn’t extend far enough, you’ll see errors such as “the projected sketch does not split the face” or “curve does not intersect surface”. Extending the sketch or adjusting the projection direction usually fixes this.
• You can project open or closed sketches, but open contours need to cross the face fully in the projection direction to create a valid split.
• Split Line works on multiple faces at once; select as many faces as you need in Faces to Split (useful on filleted or multi-face surfaces).

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Method 2: Using the Project Curve Command (Sketch on Faces)

What it does: Project Curve creates a 3D curve on the model by projecting a sketch onto one or more faces. Unlike Split Line or Wrap, it does not split or modify the faces – it only creates reference geometry (a curve) on top of them.

Tip: Project Curve is ideal when you need a curve for sweeps, lofts, or surface features, but you do not want to alter the face topology.

Step 1 – Start the Project Curve Command

1. Prepare:
   • A 2D sketch for the profile to project.
   • The body or surface whose face(s) will receive the projection.
2. On the CommandManager, go to Features > Curves > Project Curve.
   Or use Insert > Curve > Projected.

Step 2 – Use “Sketch on Faces” Projection Type

3. In the Projected Curve PropertyManager, under Projection type, choose Sketch on faces.
4. Under Selections:
   • In Sketch to project, select your sketch.
   • (Optional) In Direction of projection, select a plane, edge, sketch, or face to define the projection direction. If you leave this blank, SolidWorks projects normal to the sketch plane.
   • In Projection faces, select the face or faces you want the sketch to project onto.
5. Options:
   • Use Reverse projection or click the direction arrow in the graphics area to flip the projection direction.
   • Enable Bi-directional if you want the curve projected in both directions from the sketch plane.

Step 3 – Create the Projected Curve

6. Click the green checkmark.
7. SolidWorks creates a 3D curve on the selected faces where the projection hits. This curve usually appears as a blue entity in the graphics area.

How to Use the Resulting Curve

Because Project Curve creates a 3D curve, you can:

• Use it as a path for a Sweep (for cuts or extrudes following a complex surface).
• Use it as a boundary for surfaces (Boundary Surface, Lofted Surface, etc.).
• Convert it into a 3D sketch using Convert Entities if you want more control or to combine with other curves.

When to Use Project Curve Instead of Split Line

• When you only need a curve and don’t want to change face topology.
• When you want to project open contours that lie inside the boundaries of a face (Split Line requires the projection to create or divide a face; Project Curve does not).
• When you’re building a complex path for sweeps or surface modeling that must lie directly on a curved surface.

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Method 3: Using the Wrap Command (Scribe / Emboss / Deboss)

What it does: Wrap projects a closed sketch onto a face and can either split the face (Scribe) or add/remove material (Emboss/Deboss). Using the Analytical method, it is the only feature that can truly wrap a sketch all the way around a cylindrical or conical surface while creating geometry.

Tip: Wrap cannot use sketches with open or intersecting contours. Your wrap sketch must be fully closed and clean.

Step 1 – Start the Wrap Command

1. Prepare:
   • A closed 2D sketch (for example, text or a logo) on a plane that is tangent or parallel to the target surface.
   • A face to wrap onto – commonly a cylindrical, conical, or complex freeform surface.
2. On the CommandManager, go to Features > Wrap.
   Or use Insert > Features > Wrap.

Step 2 – Define the Wrap Parameters

3. In the Wrap PropertyManager:
   • Under Wrap Type, choose:
     • Scribe – projects the sketch and splits or imprints the face (no material added/removed).
     • Emboss – adds material normal to the face based on the projected sketch.
     • Deboss – removes material, creating engraved features.
   • Under Wrap Method:
     • Analytical – for planar, cylindrical, and conical faces. This method can wrap fully around a cylinder or cone.
     • Spline Surface – works on almost any face type (freeform surfaces) but cannot wrap all the way around a model; it’s more for localized wraps.
   • Under Wrap Parameters:
     • Select your sketch in Sketch.
     • Select the face (or faces) to wrap onto in Face.
   • If the preview looks rough or inaccurate, increase the Accuracy slider for a cleaner result.

Step 3 – Create the Wrap

4. Click the green checkmark.
5. Your sketch is now wrapped onto the target surface:
   • With Scribe, the face is split along the sketch – similar to Split Line but following the wrapped shape.
   • With Emboss or Deboss, you get fully modeled 3D features (raised or recessed) that follow the surface.

When to Use Wrap

• Engraving or embossing text around cylindrical bottles, handles, or shafts.
• Logos and patterns that must follow curvature accurately while remaining true to their original size.
• Situations where you need a true “sticker-like” wrap that follows the surface and can continue all the way around a cylinder or cone.

Wrap Limitations & Troubleshooting

• Open or intersecting contours are not allowed. If you see an error about open or intersecting contours, use Tools > Sketch Tools > Check Sketch for Feature with “Wrap” selected to find gaps or overlaps, and fully close the profile.
• Wrap works best on cylinders, cones, and relatively smooth surfaces. Complex shapes like full spheres or heavily self-intersecting regions may fail or need modeling workarounds.
• For text or long patterns that must go fully around a cylinder, make the sketch length equal to the circumference (or a known fraction of it) so that the wrapped feature lines up cleanly.

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Split Line vs Project Curve vs Wrap – Comparison

Here is a quick comparison of the three main projection tools:

Tool	Result	Splits faces?	Allows open sketches?	Can wrap 360° around cylinder/cone?	Adds/removes material?	Best for
Split Line (Projection)	New faces created where sketch hits the surface	Yes – existing faces are divided	Yes, as long as the projection fully intersects the face(s)	No – projects normal to the sketch, not wrapped around	No – only changes face topology, not thickness	Appearances, decals, variable fillets, simulation regions, mold parting prep
Project Curve (Sketch on faces)	3D curve(s) on the face	No – faces remain unchanged	Yes – open or closed contours within the face boundaries	No – creates curves following projection direction	No – reference geometry only	Sweep paths, surfacing, layout curves on complex shapes
Wrap (Scribe / Emboss / Deboss)	Wrapped imprint or 3D feature on the face	Yes – Scribe splits faces; Emboss/Deboss create new faces	No – requires fully closed, non-intersecting sketch	Yes (Analytical) – can truly wrap around cylinders and cones	Yes – Emboss adds material, Deboss removes	Text, logos, and patterns wrapped around cylinders/cones or localized on complex surfaces

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Practical “Rule of Thumb”

• I just want different appearances or a region for a fillet or load.
  ⇒ Use Split Line (Projection).
• I need a curve to drive a Sweep or surface, but I don’t want to cut up the face.
  ⇒ Use Project Curve (Sketch on faces).
• I want engraved/embossed text or a logo that wraps around a cylinder.
  ⇒ Use Wrap (usually Emboss/Deboss with Analytical method).

Summary

In SolidWorks, “projecting a sketch onto a surface” can mean very different things depending on whether you want extra faces, 3D curves, or fully modeled features.

• Split Line gives you split faces for control and selection.
• Project Curve gives you 3D curves for sweeps and surfaces.
• Wrap gives you wrapped geometry (or imprints) that follow the surface and can truly go all the way around cylinders and cones.

Once you know what end result you need – faces, curves, or solid features – choosing the right tool becomes straightforward, and projecting sketches onto complex surfaces in SolidWorks becomes a predictable, repeatable part of your workflow.