Reticle Red and LightBurn are not competitors — they're the perfect two-app stack. LightBurn controls the machine. Reticle Red generates and prepares everything going into it.
Step 1: Generate or process your design in Reticle Red Use The Fabricator for AI pattern generation, Photo Prep for photo engraving, Map Maker for city maps, or any of the 30+ other tools. Trace and output your file as SVG (for engraving fills or outlines).
Step 2: Import to LightBurn Open LightBurn → File → Import. SVG imports cleanly with no conversion. Set your layer colors, power and speed, and you're ready.
Step 3: Assign layers by function - Black fill paths → raster engraving layer - Red outlines → vector cut layer - Use LightBurn's fill + line mode for combined engrave-then-cut operations
Pro tip: Use Reticle Red's AI Vector Artist (4 credits) before importing to LightBurn. It produces cleaner nodes and fewer stray paths than standard bitmap tracing — which means faster cut times and cleaner results.
Frequently Asked Questions
How do I import an SVG from Reticle Red into LightBurn?
In LightBurn, go to File → Import and select your SVG file. SVG files exported from Reticle Red import cleanly with correct dimensions and no conversion needed. After importing, assign layer colors: use black fill paths for the raster engraving layer and red outlines for the vector cut layer. For best results, use Reticle Red's AI Vector Artist (4 credits) before exporting — it produces cleaner nodes and fewer stray paths than a standard manual trace.
What file format should I export from Reticle Red for LightBurn?
Export SVG when you need engraving fills or vector outlines — SVG imports natively in LightBurn without scaling issues. For most combined engrave-and-cut jobs, you can use multi-colored vector layers in a single SVG file, which LightBurn automatically separates into different cut/engrave operations.
How do I set up engrave vs cut layers in LightBurn?
In LightBurn, layers are assigned by color. Black fill paths become raster engraving layers (set to "Fill" mode). Red outlines become vector cut layers (set to "Line" mode). For combined engrave-then-cut operations, use LightBurn's "Fill + Line" mode on a single layer — it engraves the fill first, then cuts the outline. Always place the engraving layer above the cut layer in the processing order so cuts happen after engraving is complete.