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.

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