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), or export a prepped PNG for photo raster jobs.
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 (Fill mode) - Red outlines → vector cut layer (Line mode) - Use LightBurn's fill + line mode for combined engrave-then-cut operations
Step 4: Set the real-world size SVG has no physical units, so import lands at LightBurn's default DPI. Select all, open the Move/Size panel, lock the aspect ratio, and type the exact width or height for your material. For a PNG photo engrave, size the image first, then set its image-mode DPI (254 DPI ≈ a 0.1 mm dot) so the raster matches the physical dimensions.
Troubleshooting: Hollow fills mean an open path — close it (Edit → Close Selected Paths) before switching to Fill mode. Stray nodes come from tracing noisy bitmaps; Reticle Red's AI Vector Artist produces closed, low-node paths that avoid both problems.
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.
On a fiber or MOPA marker? LightBurn drives many galvo lasers, but if you run the stock EZCAD software instead, see Using Reticle Red with EZCAD for Fiber & MOPA Lasers for the DXF/PNG import path and pen-list setup.
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.
My imported design is the wrong size in LightBurn — how do I fix scale?
SVG carries no physical units, so LightBurn imports at its own default (usually 96 DPI). After importing, select everything, open the Move/Size tool, and type the exact width or height for your material — lock the aspect ratio so it scales proportionally. For photo engraving imported as PNG, size the image on the canvas first, then set the image mode DPI (typically 254 for a 0.1 mm dot) so the raster resolution matches the physical size. Setting size once after import is more reliable than trusting the import default.
My SVG imports with stray lines or open shapes — how do I clean it up?
Stray nodes and open paths almost always come from tracing a noisy bitmap. Run the source through Reticle Red's AI Vector Artist first — it produces closed, low-node paths. In LightBurn you can also select the shapes and use Edit → Close Selected Paths, then Tools → Delete Duplicates. If a fill looks hollow, the path isn't closed; close it before switching the layer to Fill mode.