Image Lab — AI Image Tools for Laser Engraving

Prep, upscale, remove backgrounds, vectorize, and export laser artwork as PNG, SVG, ZIP, or native LightBurn .lbrn2 files in one connected Image Lab.

Capabilities & Feature Set

Prep, upscale, remove backgrounds, vectorize, and slice images for CO2 and fiber laser engraving.
High-performance tracing engine that converts raster JPEG/PNG into clean vector SVG.
Built-in photo prepping filters (dithering, halftone, thresholding) optimized for slate and wood.

What Operators Say

“I love this software!”

Patrick Hussey — Laser engraver · went from never touching the software to firing real burns in his first week

“This is the easiest I have seen.”

Chris Clark — Laser engraver · Vanguard pack customer · builds custom 1911 grips

“Reticle Red is becoming one of my favorite software to use. It has a lot of tools that many others do not, and approaches things differently to create more consistent results. A++”

Daniel Webster — Laser engraver · long-time power user

“Reticle Red definitely takes the guess work out of your design work with tutorials to walk through the process. I highly recommend it.”

Justin Brown — Laser engraver

Open Image Lab — Free to Start See Real Results →

Related Tools & Guides

Magic Edit a Prepared Image →Photo Prep Tutorial →AI Vector Artist Tutorial →Best Dithering Algorithm Guide →Field Manual: Image Lab →Photo to Laser Engraving Workflow →Reticle Red vs ImagR →

Frequently Asked Questions

Which dithering algorithm is best for laser engraving photos?

Jarvis and Stucki hold detail best on wood and slate; Floyd-Steinberg is a good general default; Atkinson gives a lighter, higher-contrast result. Always test on the actual material — grain and colour change the outcome more than the algorithm does.

How do I convert a photo into a vector for cutting?

Use the AI Vector Artist tracing engine — it converts raster JPEG/PNG into clean vector SVG. Photographs with soft gradients trace poorly; increase contrast and simplify the image first for a usable cut path.

What does the image slicer do?

It splits an oversized design into tiled sections that each fit your machine bed, so you can engrave a piece larger than the working area and align the tiles.

Which Image Lab tools cost credits?

Photo prep, dithering, and thresholding are free. Neural Upscale and Background Remover cost 1 credit each, and photo-to-vector conversion costs 4 credits.