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Preview Window

The preview window allows you to preview the path the laser will take and verify your order of operations while getting a rough idea of your final result, while giving an estimated time of how long the program will take.

You can bring up the preview in a few ways:

  • Press Alt + P
  • Click the preview button on the toolbar - it looks like a TV
  • In the menu, go to Window > Preview
  • Right click and choose Preview in the context menu

The previewed path is handled exactly like it will be sent to the laser control so the path is affected by things like

  • Cut settings (multiple passes, tabs, kerf, etc)
  • Layer order
  • Optimization settings
  • Cut Selected Graphics
  • Origin

Path Preview

There are a few ways you can see how the job will run.

Time Slider

Time Slider

The Time Slider allows you to quickly slide through the project and understand the cut order and path.

Play Button

Play

Play allows you to play the project in real time or sped up or slowed down based on the "Playback Speed" slider.

Job Information

Below the Time Slider there is information about your project:

  • Cut distance - The distance the laser travels while on
  • Rapid Moves - The traverse move distance (laser not on)
  • Total time estimated - This is the total time estimated for the job based on the cut speeds and traversal move speeds defined in "Additional Settings" in Device Settings. If you've changed your acceleration or speed settings, or you find that your preview times are not accurate, you can use the Read From Controller button in this window to update the settings for the preview.

Job Info

New in v1.3: The preview will automatically simulate the overscan moves used by DSP controllers, giving a more accurate time.

Preview Output

Start Here

The Start Here button will you allow you to start a program on the laser part way through, from wherever the preview time slider is currently set.

Save Image

Save Image saves out an image file of the current state of the preview window.

Options

Show Traversal Moves

Show traversal moves shows travel (non-laser moves) with red lines when enabled.

Travese No Traverse

Shade According to power

The shade according to power option only works with Grayscale with Image Mode or Power Scaling with Fill Mode

No Shade Shade

Invert

The Invert button is used to change the preview to make the lasered areas light, and the background dark, so you can see what your output might look like on slate, wood that's been painted black, or any other material where the burned area will be lighter than the original material.

invert

Troubleshooting

If the preview window's estimated time is inaccurate, you may need to update the Simulation Settings as part of your Device Settings.