Creating and Importing Artwork
If you've followed along so far, you've installed LightBurn, set up your first device profile, connected to your laser, and gotten familiar with the LightBurn interface. If you need a breather, we wouldn't blame you — we'll be waiting when you get back.
When you're ready, it's time to dig into the reason you're here: using LightBurn to make stuff with your laser. Every laser project requires some sort of artwork to send to the laser, and that artwork has to come from somewhere. You can create original graphics directly in LightBurn, or import graphics created elsewhere and modify them (or just leave them be).
Creating¶
There are three tools in the Creation Toolbar that you can use to make original graphics in your Workspace. All three work similarly, with minor differences. As with most LightBurn tools, there's a lot we could say about each of them, but we'll stick to brief explanations for now.
Draw Lines¶
You can use the Draw Lines tool to create custom lines and curves. Select the tool, click in your Workspace to place one end of a line, then drag and click again to place another point, and a line between. Press S to toggle between creating straight lines and curves between points.
Click here to see a full video guide on using the Draw Lines tool
Draw Shapes¶
Click the arrow in the bottom right corner of the Draw Shapes icon to select from a menu of eight different types of shapes. Then click in your Workspace, hold, and drag to set the size of the shape. Release to finish creating it. If you hold Shift while dragging, the shape's width and height will be the same, so you can create perfect circles and squares using the Ellipse and Rectangle options.
Create Text¶
Click the Create Text icon to enable the tool, then click anywhere in your Workspace and type in the text you'd like to add.
Press Enter while typing your text to jump to a new line and continue typing. Press Esc to finish creating the text.
Importing¶
We know that many people prefer to design in other software they're already familiar with, or to work from stock artwork.
For that reason, LightBurn can Import a variety of file formats:
Vector / mixed formats:
.ai— Adobe Illustrator.svg— Scalable Vector Graphics.dxf— AutoCAD Drawing Exchange Format.pdf— Adobe Portable Document Format.plt/.hpgl— Plotter / Hewlett-Packard Graphics Language
Image formats:
.png— Portable Network Graphics.jpg/.jpeg— Joint Photographic Experts Group format.bmp— Windows Bitmap.gif— Graphics Interchange Format.tif/.tiff— Tagged Image File Format
To import artwork saved in any of the above formats, click the Import button in the Main Toolbar, go to File → Import, or press Ctrl/Cmd+I, then navigate to the location the file is saved on your computer and select it.
Quick Tip: Drag and drop directly into LightBurn
For more help using LightBurn, please visit our forum to talk with LightBurn staff and users, or email support.