AI design and prep before the LightBurn job
LightBurn is excellent machine-control software. Reticle Red sits before that step: generate artwork, prep photos, create vectors, build templates, and tune parameters before sending clean files to the laser.
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.
Generate and prepare art before machine control
Export files for LightBurn-centered workflows
Use calculators, material data, and calibration tools beside design tools
Compare tools Open Image Lab →
Reticle Red vs. LightBurn
Comparison based on public feature availability as of August 3, 2026.
| Feature | Reticle Red | LightBurn |
|---|---|---|
| Machine control / job sending | No | Yes |
| AI pattern generation | Yes | No |
| AI mask-fill inpainting | Yes | No |
| Photo-to-engrave prep | Yes | Partial |
| Hardware-agnostic, browser-based | Yes | Partial |
| Depth maps for relief engraving | From photos and AI relief | Early Access: from 3D models |
Frequently asked questions: Reticle Red vs LightBurn
What is new in LightBurn 2.2, and does it change the picture?
LightBurn 2.2 entered Early Access on September 16, 2026 (2.2.00 RC-1). It adds True Nest for Pro licenses, Center Line Trace, multi-page projects, 3D model import with depth-map creation from those models, and a local REST API. If you already have a 3D model, LightBurn can now turn it into a depth map. Reticle Red builds depth maps from photos and AI-generated relief, and generates the artwork itself, which LightBurn does not. Check the current LightBurn release before relying on Early Access features.
Does Reticle Red replace LightBurn?
No — they are complementary. Generate and prepare your design in Reticle Red, export SVG or DXF, then send it to LightBurn for firing. Most operators use both.
Will my exports work in LightBurn?
Yes. SVG and DXF exports are built to import cleanly into LightBurn and xTool Creative Space.
Production checks before you export from Reticle Red or LightBurn
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 LightBurn 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 August 3, 2026. Product scope can change; recheck before purchasing or standardizing a production workflow.
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