LightBurn Complete Guide: Interface, Layers, and Workflow
What LightBurn Is
LightBurn is the de-facto standard controller and design software for hobby and professional laser cutters. Works with GRBL diode lasers, DSP CO2 controllers, and Galvo lasers. ~$60 one-time license. 30-day free trial.
Interface Layout
Left toolbar: selection, node editing, drawing tools (shapes, text, Bezier), alignment.
Laser panel (right): Start, stop, frame, move to origin — the core controls.
Cuts/Layers panel (bottom right): your layer list. Each color is a separate operation with its own power, speed, and mode.
Preview panel: toggle Design and Preview to see the actual laser path before running.
Console (bottom left): raw machine communication for troubleshooting.
The Layer System
Every object belongs to a layer (color). Each layer has independent power, speed, passes, and mode settings.
To assign an object to a layer: select it → click a color square at the bottom.
Execution order: layers run top-to-bottom. Convention: engrave layers first, cut layers last. This prevents cut pieces from shifting before engraving finishes.
Cut Settings Per Layer
Double-click a layer to open settings:
Mode: Line (cut/vector engrave), Fill (raster engrave), Image (photo), Offset Fill.
Speed: mm/min for diode, mm/s for CO2.
Max Power: actual power during cuts. Min Power: power at very slow speeds — set equal to Max for cutting, lower for engraving to reduce corner blobbing.
Passes: number of repeats. Air assist: on/off per layer if your machine supports it.
Z-offset: moves the head up/down on this layer. Useful for multi-thickness setups or intentional defocus.
Essential Workflow
Frame: traces the job boundary without firing the laser. Always run before cutting to verify positioning.
Start From: controls whether jobs start from current head position, a saved user origin, or absolute coordinates. Mismatch here is the most common cause of jobs firing in the wrong place.
Material Library: Edit → Material Library. Save settings by right-clicking a layer → Save to Library. Name descriptively with material, thickness, machine, and settings. Export and back up this file — it is your most valuable LightBurn asset.
Trace Image
Select an image → Tools → Trace Image (T). Key controls:
- Threshold: black/white cutoff. Adjust while watching preview.
- Smooth: reduces jaggy edges from pixels. Start at 1-2.
- Optimize: reduces node count.
- Ignore Less Than (mm²): removes tiny noise paths.
After tracing: delete the raster image, keep the vector paths. Check that closed shapes are actually closed — open paths create line burns instead of filled cuts.
Useful Operations
Boolean (Weld, Subtract, Intersect): under Edit menu. Weld combines overlapping shapes. Subtract removes one from another.
Array: Edit → Array. Tiles objects into grids. Perfect for batching identical cuts.
Node editing: press N. Add, delete, and adjust individual path nodes for precise curves.
Rotary support: Edit → Rotary Setup. Enables engraving on cylinders with a rotary attachment.
Camera Integration
A LightBurn camera mounted above the laser lets you see the material through a calibrated overlay. You draw artwork on the canvas, see exactly where it will fall on the actual material, and position precisely.
Requires: camera purchase, one-time calibration by burning a provided pattern and photographing it.
Common Problems
Job fires in wrong area: check Start From setting — User Origin vs Absolute Coordinates mismatch.
Job is mirrored: check mirror/flip in Device Settings. Many diode lasers need an axis mirrored depending on home position.
Inconsistent cutting depth: check belt tension, focus consistency, and material flatness.