Production Artboard

Your workpiece as a canvas — layout, layers, and production data in one place.

The Production Artboard is Vextrify's layout tool for the whole job: set up a canvas at the real size of your workpiece, place images, text, QR codes, SVGs, and shapes, organize them into production layers with their own laser parameters, and finish with a clean LightBurn package or individual export files. An optional visual workpiece reference and a workpiece-shape mask help you design exactly within the real outline, without either ever ending up in the production file.

Open tool See the feature

Setup wizard

On first open, a two-step wizard walks you through the basic setup. Every value stays editable afterwards — "Skip wizard" jumps straight into an empty artboard.

Project name: Name of the artboard project as it will be saved.
Width mm / Height mm: Canvas size in real millimeters — match it to the workpiece, not the laser bed.
Grid mm: Spacing of the grid lines used for alignment and snapping.
Show grid / Snap active: Toggles grid display and snap-to-grid while moving objects.
Background image: Loads a photo of the real workpiece as a purely visual editor reference — never exported.
Workpiece shape PNG: Loads a PNG silhouette with a transparent background to build a workpiece mask from.
Start step: open empty artboard: Jumps straight into the editor without placing a first object.
Start step: place image: Asks for color, layer kind, and photo mode, then opens the image dialog directly.
Start step: start text layout: Asks for line/fill/mark/cut, then opens the text dialog directly.
Back / Next / Open editor: Navigates between the two wizard steps and finishes setup.

Project

Project name: Editable after the wizard too — sets the name used when saving.
Save artboard: Saves the current artboard with all objects, layers, and image assets as a project.
New artboard: Discards the current canvas and starts a new, empty project.
Change setup: Reopens the setup wizard to adjust size, grid, or reference afterwards.

Edit

Undo / Redo: Reverts the last edit, or restores one that was undone.
Copy / Paste: Copies the current selection to the clipboard and pastes it back offset from the original.
Arrange efficiently: Automatically packs all placeable (unlocked) objects tightly on the canvas, spaced by the grid size.
Shortcuts: Cmd/Ctrl+Z (undo), Cmd/Ctrl+Shift+Z or Cmd/Ctrl+Y (redo), Cmd/Ctrl+C (copy), Cmd/Ctrl+V (paste).

Artboard & grid

Width mm / Height mm: Changes the canvas size at any time, not just inside the wizard.
Grid mm: Sets the grid spacing.
Show grid / Snap active: Toggles grid display and snapping independently.
Arrow keys: Move the selection 1 mm; Shift + arrow key moves 10 mm.

Workpiece: background reference

Upload background image: Loads a photo of the real workpiece (board, glass, sign, knife handle, part) as a visual editor aid.
Visible: Shows or hides the reference in the editor.
Edit: Enables edit mode, where dragging moves the reference and the yellow handle resizes it.
Opacity: Controls reference transparency so objects placed on top stay clearly visible.
X mm / Y mm / width / height: Exact reference position and size in millimeters.
Fit to artboard: Scales the reference to fit the current canvas size.
Delete: Removes the reference; production files are never affected since it is never exported.

Workpiece: shape & mask

Create shape from PNG: Builds a workpiece mask from a PNG silhouette, shown as an outline on the artboard.
Mask active: Toggles whether content outside the workpiece shape is clipped in the preview and SVG export.
Cut workpiece: Also adds the outline as its own cut layer in the LightBurn and DXF export.
Edit mask: Enables edit mode, where the mask shape can be dragged and resized.
Hint without edit mode: Without edit mode active, the mask does not block placing images, text, or QR codes.

Add objects

Image: Opens the insert dialog for an image: target layer (new or active), production color, layer kind and mode, then the file picker.
Text: Opens the insert dialog for text: choose line, fill, mark, or cut directly, plus font family, weight, and outline.
QR: Opens the insert dialog for a QR code: content and invert, then free positioning in the editor.
SVG: Opens the insert dialog for an SVG file: target layer, production color and mode, then the file picker.
Shape: Inserts a geometric shape (rectangle, rounded rectangle, ellipse, line, and more presets), shape type selectable in the inspector.
Motif library: Opens the library of ornaments, frames, and clipart; click places it centered, drag-and-drop places it exactly where dropped.

Insert dialog (shared across object types)

Appears whenever you insert an image, text, QR code, SVG, or shape.

Object: Shows the chosen object type (image/text/QR/SVG/shape).
Layer: "New color layer" creates a fresh production layer, "Use active layer" adds to the currently selected layer.
Active production color / New layer color name: Sets the color or name of the new or reused layer — this color separates layers on LightBurn export.
Kind: Sets the layer kind: engrave, mark, cut, or guide/no output.
Mode: Sets the layer mode: image/photo, fill, line, cut line, or guide.
Font / font weight (text only): Picks one of the preset font families and its weight.
Outline, outline width mm, outline color (text only): Optionally adds a text outline with its own width and color.
QR content, invert QR (QR only): Sets the encoded content and flips black/white.
Choose file / Insert: For image/SVG opens the file picker; for text/QR/shape the button inserts the object directly.
Cancel: Closes the dialog without creating an object.
"Layer locked" warning: Appears if the active layer is locked — pick a new color layer or unlock the layer first.

Selection, move & align

Click / Shift-click: Selects an object, or extends the selection to multiple objects.
Drag, corner handle, rotate handle: Moves, resizes, or rotates the selected object directly on the canvas.
Lock aspect ratio: Keeps width/height locked together while resizing (always on for images).
X mm / Y mm / width / height / rotation / opacity: Exact numeric position, size, rotation, and transparency of the selected object.
Left / Center X / Right / Top / Center Y / Bottom: Aligns the selection against the corresponding edge or center axis of the canvas.
Duplicate: Creates an offset copy of the object.
Move forward / move back: Moves the object one position in the layer's stacking order.
Delete selected object: Removes the object from the canvas.
Multi-select: duplicate / delete: Applies duplicate or delete to every currently selected object at once.

Combine shapes

Unsafe combinations are blocked to avoid producing incorrect production geometry.

Weld: Merges multiple selected shapes into one real vector shape.
Subtract: Cuts one shape out of another as a real vector path — needs exactly one base and one cutout.
Intersect: Keeps only the shared overlap of two shapes as a real vector shape.

Image inspector (tone engine)

Appears when an image object is selected — uses the same engine as Photo Studio.

Automatic tone control: Lets the engine automatically adapt brightness, contrast, and dot structure to the material and image type.
Photo Studio recipe: Applies a saved Photo Studio recipe directly to the image inside the artboard.
Invert: Inverts the image's tonal values.
Image preparation: Expandable section with fine controls for face adjustment and other image-prep parameters from the same engine as Photo Studio.
Recalculate image: Re-renders the image with the current control values; otherwise runs automatically (debounced) in the background.

Object inspector: other object types

Shape type / corner radius mm (shape): Choose between rectangle, rounded rectangle, ellipse, line, and other presets; corner radius applies only to rounded rectangle.
Text content / font (text): Change the text and font family at any time after insertion.
QR content, quiet zone, invert (QR): Keep editing content, quiet zone, and inversion after the code has been placed.
Open as relief: Sends a selected SVG or QR shape over to the 3D Relief Studio as a vector.

Layer production values

Visible in the object inspector under "Production values · {layer}" and inside every expanded object card.

Mode: Image/photo, fill, line, cut line, or guide for this layer.
Color: The layer's production color — drives layer separation on LightBurn SVG export.
Speed mm/s: Feed rate for this layer.
Power % (max) / min power %: Maximum and minimum laser power for this layer.
Passes: Number of passes.
Frequency kHz: Pulse frequency, for devices that support it.
Air assist: Toggles air assist for this layer.
Output: Controls whether the layer is included in output at all (off = a pure guide layer).
Locked / open: Locks the layer against moving, editing, and "arrange efficiently".

Object layer cards

One card per object on the artboard — the real design layers of the canvas.

Click card / Shift-click: Selects the object, or extends the multi-selection.
Drag card: Reorders the artboard stacking order via drag-and-drop.
Visible/hide icon: Shows or hides that one object without deleting it.
Forward / back: Moves the object one position in the stacking order.
Delete: Removes only this object.

Manage layers

Delete last layer — blocked: The last remaining layer cannot be deleted; at least one layer always stays.
Delete layer (keyboard): Delete/Backspace with no object selected deletes the active layer along with its objects.

Photo close-up view

Enlarge photo: Switches the selected image object into a magnified working view.
Zoom value / reset: Shows the current zoom factor and resets both zoom and pan offset.
Drag in zoom mode: Pans the visible portion of the image while zoomed in.
Back: Leaves the close-up view and returns to the normal artboard view.

Motif library

Search: Filters motifs by title or category.
Category dropdown / category chips: Filters the library to a specific motif category.
Reload: Reloads the motif list from the server.
Show more motifs: Loads additional motifs when more exist than are currently visible.
Click / drag-and-drop a motif: Places the motif centered on the artboard, or exactly at the drop position — as a real Vextrify object, not a raw file.

Export & hand-off

LightBurn package: Generates a ZIP containing the LBRN2 project file, a layer-separated SVG, DXF, a preview PNG, and a parameters JSON in one step.
PNG quality: Picks the resolution used for PNG and screenshot export: small proof, standard, high detail, or ultra proof.
PNG: Exports a raster version of the visible production layers as PNG.
SVG: Exports all production layers as a layer-separated, color-coded SVG.
DXF: Exports the vector geometry as DXF for CAD/CAM workflows.
Layout screenshot: Exports a PNG view including the workpiece background reference for documentation; requires a loaded reference.

Common mistakes & fixes

The export size doesn't match the real workpiece.

Fix: Set the canvas width/height in the wizard or under "Artboard & grid" to the exact workpiece dimensions — not the laser's bed size.

Objects get clipped at the edge or are missing from the export.

Fix: Check whether a workpiece mask is active and clipping content outside the shape, or whether the object extends past the artboard edge — fix position and size in the inspector.

An imported SVG looks distorted or out of proportion.

Fix: Enable lock aspect ratio and re-set width or height in the inspector; for heavily nested SVGs, welding before export can also help.

A new object won't insert into the active layer.

Fix: The "layer locked" message in the insert dialog means you should either pick "new color layer" or unlock the layer first.

The motif library won't load.

Fix: Click "reload" in the library. If it stays empty, it's temporarily unavailable on the server side — try again later.

The LightBurn package doesn't separate layers as expected.

Fix: Every production layer needs its own distinct production color — two layers with the same color export as one. Check each layer's color in the inspector.

Not obvious

Size the canvas to the real workpiece, not to the laser's maximum bed size — that keeps the layout and preview realistic.
The workpiece background reference and the workpiece shape are pure editor aids and are never exported — delete either at any time without touching the production file.
A finished artboard layout can be saved as a project and reused across a batch of similar workpieces — swap the content, keep the layer structure.
"Arrange efficiently" respects locked layers — objects on a locked layer stay put while the rest gets repacked.
For export, the LightBurn package is usually the fastest choice since it bundles LBRN2, SVG, DXF, preview PNG, and parameters JSON in one ZIP instead of exporting each file separately.
Vector objects (SVG, QR) can be sent straight from the artboard into the 3D Relief Studio without saving an intermediate file.