Guides

Laser engraving guides & comparisons

Everything in one place: honest software comparisons, per-machine setup, material preparation, how-to workflows and a plain-English knowledge base for laser engraving.

Start here

  1. Choose software for your laserBest laser engraving and cutting software
  2. Find a cheaper or free LightBurn alternativeFree LightBurn alternatives
  3. Run a laser from a MacLaser engraving software for Mac
  4. Prepare a photo for engravingPrepare a photo for laser engraving
  5. Find speed and power for a new materialLaser material test grid
  6. Understand DPI and line intervalDPI, dot density and line interval

Compare

Honest comparisons and LightBurn alternatives.
Best laser engraving and cutting software in 2026
Laser engraving, cutting and marking software compared by laser type and computer: LightBurn, LaserGRBL, Rayforge, EZCAD, xTool Creative Space and Vextrify.
Vextrify vs LightBurn
Vextrify vs LightBurn compared: LightBurn's mature single-machine control versus Vextrify's multi-laser, camera alignment and built-in image and vector tools.
Laser engraving software for Mac
Laser engraving software for Mac: LaserGRBL is Windows-only, LightBurn is paid, Rayforge is free — and Vextrify runs natively on Apple Silicon with photo prep built in.
LightBurn vs LaserGRBL
LightBurn vs LaserGRBL: LaserGRBL is free but Windows-only and GRBL-only; LightBurn is paid and drives far more lasers on Windows and Mac. Which fits your setup.
Best LightBurn alternatives in 2026
The best LightBurn alternatives in 2026 — LaserGRBL, Rayforge, MeerK40t and Vextrify — compared by price, platform, supported lasers, camera and photo preparation.
Free LightBurn alternative
Free LightBurn alternatives compared: LaserGRBL (Windows), Rayforge (Win, Mac, Linux), MeerK40t (K40) and Vextrify's free browser preview for photos.
Is LightBurn worth it?
Is LightBurn worth it? For broad device support on one machine, often yes. But if you want free, Mac-native, multi-laser or built-in image prep, weigh Vextrify first.
Laser control software
Laser control software drives the machine itself. Here is what it has to do, which programs do it on which controller, and where each one stops.
G-code sender for GRBL lasers on macOS
LaserGRBL does not run on macOS. Here are the senders that do drive a GRBL diode laser from a Mac, and what each gives up.
CO2 laser software for macOS
Running a CO2 laser from a Mac: which programs drive it, what RDWorks does not give you, and where photo preparation fits.
LightBurn alternative for Mac
Looking for a LightBurn alternative on a Mac? LaserGRBL is Windows-only. MeerK40t and Vextrify run on macOS — Vextrify with photo prep and camera alignment built in.
Diode laser software
Diode laser software compared: LaserGRBL (free, Windows), LightBurn (paid, Mac and Windows) and Vextrify (Mac and Windows, photo prep and camera alignment built in).
CO2 laser software
CO2 laser software compared: RDWorks (free, Windows only), LightBurn (paid, Mac and Windows), MeerK40t for K40s, and Vextrify with camera alignment and photo prep.
K40 laser software
K40 laser software explained: Vextrify, K40 Whisperer and MeerK40t for the stock M2 Nano board, LightBurn after a Ruida upgrade, and where photo prep fits in.
RDWorks alternative for CO2 lasers
Looking for an RDWorks alternative for your CO2 laser? LightBurn and Vextrify drive Ruida controllers; Vextrify also runs on Linux and adds camera alignment.
Open-source LightBurn alternatives
Open-source LightBurn alternatives compared: LaserGRBL, MeerK40t, K40 Whisperer and Rayforge — platforms, supported lasers and status, plus where Vextrify fits.
MeerK40t vs LaserGRBL
MeerK40t vs LaserGRBL compared: platforms, supported lasers, project status and ease of use — and when a third option makes more sense for a Mac or a CO2 laser.
LightBurn price: Core vs Pro
What LightBurn costs in 2026: Core for GRBL-type controllers, Pro for Ruida and galvo, licence terms and updates — plus how free and subscription alternatives compare.
LaserGRBL for Mac
LaserGRBL is Windows-only — there is no Mac version. What its own FAQ suggests for macOS, and the GRBL laser programs that run natively on a Mac.
LightBurn camera alternatives
Which laser programs besides LightBurn place designs on the material with a camera? Rayforge and Vextrify compared, plus what LightBurn's camera already includes.
ImagR alternative for laser engraving
ImagR is free for three photos a day, then a subscription. Vextrify prepares photos on your own computer with no per-image fee, in batches, and sends them to the laser.
Best photo laser engraving software in 2026
Photo laser engraving software compared: ImagR, Laser Photo Wizard, PhotoGrav, LightBurn's image modes and Vextrify — where each runs, what it costs, what it does.
RDWorks for Mac
RDWorks has no Mac version. Which programs drive a Ruida CO2 laser natively from a Mac, and how to switch without losing your machine setup.
LightBurn on Linux: what to use after version 1.7
LightBurn 1.7 is the last LightBurn version for Linux. What that means for your machine, and the laser programs that run natively on Linux today, compared honestly.
LightBurn REST API vs Vextrify API
LightBurn 2.2 adds a local REST API inside the running app. Vextrify's API runs online and prepares the photo itself. What that means for shops and automation.

By machine

Software and setup for specific laser brands.
xTool laser software
Use Vextrify as xTool laser software: connect diode lasers for live control, plus photo, background, vector and relief prep — on macOS, Windows, Linux.
Ortur laser software
Use Vextrify as Ortur laser software: connect diode lasers for live control, plus photo, background, vector and relief prep — on macOS, Windows, Linux.
Atomstack laser software
Use Vextrify as Atomstack laser software: connect diode lasers for live control, plus photo, background, vector and relief prep — on macOS, Windows, Linux.
Sculpfun laser software
Use Vextrify as Sculpfun laser software: connect diode lasers for live control, plus photo, background, vector and relief prep — on macOS, Windows, Linux.
NEJE laser software
Use Vextrify as NEJE laser software: connect diode lasers for live control, plus photo, background, vector and relief prep — on macOS, Windows, Linux.
OMTech laser software
Use Vextrify as OMTech laser software: connect CO2 lasers for live control, plus photo, background, vector and relief prep — on macOS, Windows, Linux.
Creality Falcon laser software
Use Vextrify as Creality Falcon laser software: connect diode lasers for live control, plus photo, background, vector and relief prep — on macOS, Windows, Linux.
Twotrees laser software
Use Vextrify as Twotrees laser software: connect diode lasers for live control, plus photo, background, vector and relief prep — on macOS, Windows, Linux.
Longer laser software
Use Vextrify as Longer laser software: connect diode lasers for live control, plus photo, background, vector and relief prep — on macOS, Windows, Linux.
Comgrow laser software
Use Vextrify as Comgrow laser software: connect diode lasers for live control, plus photo, background, vector and relief prep — on macOS, Windows, Linux.
Algolaser laser software
Use Vextrify as Algolaser laser software: connect diode lasers for live control, plus photo, background, vector and relief prep — on macOS, Windows, Linux.
Monport laser software
Use Vextrify as Monport laser software: connect CO2 lasers for live control, plus photo, background, vector and relief prep — on macOS, Windows, Linux.
Thunder Laser laser software
Use Vextrify as Thunder Laser laser software: connect CO2 lasers for live control, plus photo, background, vector and relief prep — on macOS, Windows, Linux.
Boss Laser laser software
Use Vextrify as Boss Laser laser software: connect CO2 lasers for live control, plus photo, background, vector and relief prep — on macOS, Windows, Linux.
Genmitsu laser software
Use Vextrify as Genmitsu laser software: connect diode lasers for live control, plus photo, background, vector and relief prep — on macOS, Windows, Linux.
Vevor laser software
Use Vextrify as Vevor laser software: connect CO2 lasers for live control, plus photo, background, vector and relief prep — on macOS, Windows, Linux.
A laser engraving API: photo in, laser-ready file out
Send a customer photo to POST /v1/prepare and get a laser-ready PNG plus the settings used back — with a webhook when the job is done or failed.
Laser engraving photo software that keeps customer photos in your workshop
Prepare photos for laser engraving without uploading them or paying per image: Vextrify's Photo Studio, QR and on-device cut-outs run on your computer.
Prepare photos for LightBurn
How to prepare a photo before it goes into LightBurn: tone, background, dithering and DPI, then export a PNG and hand it over with Pass-Through.
Export laser files for LightBurn, EZCAD and SVG
Which files Vextrify exports, PNG for photos and SVG for artwork, and how to hand them to LightBurn, EZCAD or Ruida without double dithering.
Laser engraving production software
How Vextrify splits a laser shop workflow: prepare photos in any browser, run diode, CO2 and fiber galvo lasers from the desktop app, one tab per laser.
Laser engraving software for Chromebook
Can you laser engrave from a Chromebook? What runs in ChromeOS, what needs another computer, and how to prepare photos and files for the laser in the browser.
Glowforge: preparing photos and files outside the Glowforge app
Glowforge runs only through its web app. How to prepare photos, cut-outs and logos before you upload them, and which files to bring into the Glowforge app.
xTool F1, F2, P2 and M1: preparing photos and files outside xTool Studio
The xTool F1, F2, P2 and M1 run with xTool Studio, not GRBL. What other software can still do for them: photo prep, cut-outs and SVG logos for import.
Bambu Lab H2D laser: preparing photos and files outside Bambu Studio
The H2D laser module runs from Bambu Studio. How to prepare photos, cut-outs and SVG logos for it, and what to check when you import a prepared image.
Snapmaker: preparing photos and files outside Snapmaker Luban
Snapmaker laser modules run with Luban on Marlin-based firmware. Vextrify drives Snapmaker 2.0 and Artisan directly and prepares photos, cut-outs and SVG logos.
3D laser engraving software
How 3D laser engraving works on diode and CO2 lasers: depth maps, layered passes, avoiding stepping, and the software that turns a depth map into a relief job.
Laser engraving software for Linux
Which laser engraving software runs natively on Linux: Vextrify's desktop app for Ubuntu and Debian, Rayforge and MeerK40t — and what LightBurn 1.7 means for you.

Materials

How to prepare photos for each material.
Engraving anodized aluminum with a laser
How lasers mark anodized aluminum, why photos need different preparation than logos, and how to find your own settings with a test grid instead of copied numbers.
Photo engraving on stainless steel
How lasers mark stainless steel, which laser types need a marking compound, and how to prepare a photo as a dark-on-light mark. Test on scrap first.
Photo engraving on acrylic
Clear acrylic is usually engraved as a negative, dark or coloured acrylic is not. How to prepare a photo for each, and how to find your settings.
Photo engraving on glass
Engraved glass gives a frosted white mark, so photos are usually prepared as a negative. How the glass profiles work and how to test before a real piece.
Photo engraving on leather
Leather darkens under the burn and can scorch, and dot gain is strong. How to prepare a photo lighter, and find settings with a test grid on scrap.
Dark materials in laser engraving
On dark slate, dark plastic or glass the mark is lighter than the surface. Which Vextrify profiles invert by default, which do not, and how to test.

How-to guides

Step-by-step laser preparation workflows.
Laser engraving settings: how to find the right ones
Laser engraving settings explained: how speed, power, interval and passes interact, why you cannot just copy numbers, and how to find the right settings for your machine.
How to run a laser material test grid
Set up a laser material test grid, read the squares and save the winning speed and power as a recipe — instead of copying numbers from someone else’s machine.
Laser engraving photos on wood
Engraving photos on wood: why grain and species matter more than settings, how to prepare the image, and how to avoid the muddy grey look on birch, plywood and walnut.
Dithering vs greyscale for laser engraving
Dithering turns an image into burn-or-skip dots; greyscale varies laser power per pixel. Which works depends on your controller and material.
How to engrave a photo on slate
Slate engraves as a negative: the laser lightens the surface. Here is how to prepare a photo for that, why inverting matters, and how to avoid a washed-out result.
Why photo engravings look muddy
Flat, grey, smudged engravings have four usual causes: near-white that still burns, flattened mid tones, too fine a dot pattern, too much power.
Line density vs DPI in laser engraving
What line density means on a laser engraver, how it relates to DPI and line interval (25.4 ÷ DPI), and how to find the right value for your own laser and material.
Do you need to remove the white background before laser engraving?
Pure white does not burn, so a clean white background can stay. Off-white photo backgrounds, inverted materials like slate and cut contours are when it has to go.
Laser camera alignment for diode and CO2 lasers
How a camera places designs on the real workpiece for diode and CO2 lasers: lens calibration, alignment with engraved marks and a live overlay, step by step.
Depth maps for laser relief engraving
How a depth map becomes a laser relief: what white and black mean, when to invert it, why 16-bit matters, and how to find real depth settings with a test strip.
How to automate personalised laser engraving orders from your shop
Turn shop orders with a customer photo into laser-ready files automatically: Zapier, Make or n8n, Vextrify's prepare API and a webhook when it is done.
How to batch-prepare photos for laser engraving with one recipe
Prepare dozens or hundreds of photos for laser engraving with the same settings: approve one recipe, run it across the whole order, check the results and download a ZIP.
How to remove a background for laser engraving
Cut out the subject, check the edge at full size and keep the background unburned: the step-by-step fix for the grey rectangle that ruins laser photos.
Laser photo too dark: causes and fix order
A laser engraving that comes out too dark usually has one of four causes: dark source, line spacing, dot gain or too much burn. Fix them in this order.
How to prepare a photo for laser engraving
Six steps from a customer photo to an engraving file: check the source, choose the material, fix the background, tune tone, dither, export and test.
Faces look flat in laser engraving
Flat-looking faces come from weak mid-tone contrast, a busy background and the wrong dithering. How to check each in the preview before you engrave.
Bad phone photos for laser engraving
Customer phone photos are often soft, small, dark or busy. What upscaling, background removal and tone work can fix, and what no software can.
Running several lasers from one computer
How to manage two or more laser engravers from one computer: separate windows in LightBurn, one tab per laser in Vextrify, and what to watch with identical USB lasers.
Laser camera calibration problems and how to fix them
Laser camera calibration failing, scoring 0 % or placing designs off by millimetres? The usual causes, the fix order, and how to see the remaining error in mm.
Photo engraving with banding or missing midtones
Stripes across a laser photo, or only black and white with no midtones? The mechanical and image causes, how to tell them apart, and the fix order that works.
Making rubber stamps with a laser
How to make a rubber stamp with a laser: mirror the design, invert it so the print stays raised, add a shoulder, and choose stamp-safe material. Step by step.
Engraving the background and leaving the text
How to make the laser engrave the background and leave text or a logo untouched: invert the image or knock the shapes out of a filled area. Step by step.
Rotary engraving on tumblers and bottles
How to engrave tumblers, bottles and mugs with a rotary: roller or chuck, diameter, steps per revolution and a test revolution before the first real piece.
Exporting an SVG from LightBurn
Export an SVG from LightBurn with File > Export: which formats exist, how selection works, what the export leaves out, and how to keep processed images.
Laser engraving a QR code that scans
How to laser engrave a QR code that scans reliably: enough size, a quiet zone of four modules, clean contrast, and a test scan before the real piece.
How to import your LightBurn files into Vextrify
How to open LightBurn projects (.lbrn2), material libraries (.clb) and device files (.lbdev) in Vextrify, what carries over, and what to check before the first job.
Engrave many blanks at once with camera workpiece detection
Let the laser camera find every blank on the bed and place your design on each one: detect workpieces, fit or place, masks, cut outlines and holders, step by step.

Knowledge

Core laser-engraving concepts explained.
Dithering methods for laser engraving
What dithering does in laser engraving and how Floyd-Steinberg, Jarvis, Stucki, Atkinson, ordered, halftone and blue noise differ — plus why text should not be dithered.
Dot duration in laser engraving, explained
What dot duration means, why it is not the same as line density, how it relates to DPI, and how it converts to the speed setting gantry lasers use (dot spacing ÷ speed).
DPI, dot density and line interval: a laser engraving glossary
254 DPI is 0.1 mm: how DPI, line interval, dot density and lines per mm convert through 25.4, and what each laser program calls the setting.