Software

Glowforge: preparing photos and files outside the Glowforge app

the Glowforge app runs your Glowforge. The photo and artwork work before it is where most engravings are won or lost — and that part can happen elsewhere.

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01

The short answer

Glowforge machines are run through the Glowforge web app: designs are uploaded to app.glowforge.com, and there is no printer driver or direct connection for other software. So the job is always sent from the Glowforge app, and Vextrify does not connect to the machine. Vextrify is useful one step earlier: it prepares photos for the material, cuts out backgrounds, turns logos into clean SVG outlines and lays out the job, then exports PNG and SVG files that you import into the Glowforge app.

  • the Glowforge app sends the job
  • Vextrify does not connect to the machine
  • Vextrify prepares and exports PNG and SVG files
Open Photo Studio
02

Preparing photos

Photos decide most engraving results. In Photo Studio you pick one of 12 material profiles, which sets starting values for brightness, contrast and gamma, compare ten dithering methods plus grayscale in a live preview, and export a PNG at the size you will engrave. When you import an already-dithered PNG, check that the maker's software does not add its own dot pattern on top, and test once on scrap.

  • 12 material profiles as a starting point
  • Ten dithering methods compared in the preview
  • Avoid a second dot pattern on import
03

Logos, cut-outs and layouts

The background remover isolates a subject as a transparent PNG, and transparent areas stay unengraved. The vectorizer and the contour tool turn logos and outlines into SVG, which most maker software can use for cutting or scoring. Text and QR codes can be placed in the same layout before export.

  • Transparent PNG cut-outs
  • SVG outlines for cutting and scoring
  • Text and QR codes in the layout
04

A workflow for repeat orders

Save a setting that worked as a recipe, and Batch applies it to a folder of photos and returns one ZIP. Import the files into the Glowforge app, set speed and power there from your own material test, and run the job as usual. Customer photos are processed on your own computer by the local photo tools, without a per-image fee.

  • Recipes and Batch for repeat orders
  • Speed and power stay in the Glowforge app
  • No per-image fee for local tools

Common questions

Can Vextrify control a Glowforge?

No. Glowforge machines are run through the Glowforge web app: designs are uploaded to app.glowforge.com, and there is no printer driver or direct connection for other software. Vextrify prepares photos and files that you import there.

Which files can I bring into the Glowforge app?

Vextrify exports PNG and SVG files. Export photos at the size you will engrave, and check that the import does not dither the image a second time.

Can I use other software than the Glowforge app?

To run the machine, no: designs are uploaded to the Glowforge app. For preparing photos and artwork beforehand you can use any tool that exports files the app accepts.