A Kittl alternative built specifically for laser engraving
While Kittl targets general graphic design, Reticle Red is built for physical laser fabrication: full-tone AI engraving artwork, photo prep, 16-bit depth maps, MOPA color settings, and LightBurn/EZCAD exports.
By Scott Bedow, Founder & Lead Developer · Published August 3, 2026
Manufacturing manager who runs CO2, diode and MOPA fiber lasers; builds and maintains every Reticle Red tool.
Method — Compared on publicly documented feature availability as of the stated date. Reticle Red is our own product — read the competing claims at the source, which each row links.
Download a LightBurn .lbrn2, an xTool Creative Space SVG, an EZCAD ZIP, an editable Vector SVG or a transparent Art PNG straight from the Fabricator.
Integrated photo prep, dithering, and material-specific testing
Public pricing, credit refunds on failed jobs, and full output ownership
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Reticle Red vs. Kittl
Comparison based on public feature availability as of August 3, 2026.
| Feature | Reticle Red | Kittl |
|---|---|---|
| Built specifically for laser engraving | Yes | No |
| SVG export without a paid plan | Free tools export SVG | Paid plans only |
| DXF export | Yes | Not listed |
| AI artwork with built-in vector and laser machine-file export | Yes | No |
| Photo-to-engrave prep & dithering | Yes | No |
| 3D relief depth maps & coins | Yes | No |
| Pay-per-use credits with no required subscription | Yes | No |
| Browser-based — no install required | Yes | Yes |
Frequently asked questions: Reticle Red vs Kittl
Why choose Reticle Red over Kittl for laser engraving?
Kittl is a general graphic design app. Reticle Red generates full-tone artwork, supports separate SVG tracing in Image Lab, preps photos with dithering, creates 3D depth maps, and exports files for inspection in LightBurn and a test on scrap.
Who owns the generated designs?
You do. Reticle Red assigns AI-output rights to you in writing and enforces an absolute zero-training policy on private uploads.
What does Kittl cost?
On September 23, 2026 its pricing page listed Free, Pro, Expert and Max, at $12, $26 and $48 a month per editor billed annually for the paid plans. The free plan includes 100 AI tokens and exports PNG or JPG at 800 px and 72 dpi; SVG and PDF export need a paid plan. Extra AI tokens are sold inside paid plans, and we found no way to buy tokens without a subscription.
When is Kittl the better choice?
For general graphic design: logos, merch, social posts and print. Kittl has an AI image generator, an AI vector generator, a background remover and exports PNG, JPEG, SVG, PDF and MP4. We found no laser, engraving, dithering or DXF features on its site. If the design ends on a laser, Reticle Red covers the steps Kittl leaves out: photo dithering, depth maps, DXF and LightBurn or EZCAD handoffs.
Production checks before you export from Reticle Red or Kittl
Use the workflow on a representative sample before committing customer material. Confirm the finished dimensions, smallest line weight, layer assignments, focus, and machine parameters in the software that will run the job. A short test on matching scrap catches scale, contrast, kerf, and material-finish differences while they are still inexpensive to correct.
Guides for Kittl work
Customer quotes
Named Reticle Red customers, quoted from their own public posts with permission. They describe the platform as a whole, not one tool, and they are not ratings.
“I love this software!”
“This is the easiest I have seen.”
“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++”
“Reticle Red definitely takes the guess work out of your design work with tutorials to walk through the process. I highly recommend it.”
Primary sources
Vendor-controlled pages reviewed on September 23, 2026. Product scope can change; recheck before purchasing or standardizing a production workflow.
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