Image Lab · 5 minute guide
Image Lab: Photo Prep
Convert a photo to a 1-bit dithered engrave with material presets and 15 real dithering algorithms — free, in your browser. Export PNG or LightBurn .lbrn2.
What this tutorial covers
- Material presets that auto-calibrate tone, DPI, and dithering per surface.
- 15 real dithering algorithms — Floyd-Steinberg, Stucki, Atkinson, halftone, Bayer, threshold.
- Set true output size in inches or mm at your machine DPI.
- Export a dithered PNG or a burn-ready LightBurn .lbrn2 project — client-side and free.
Validate the workflow on your machine
Treat the finished file as a controlled starting point, not a universal machine recipe. Confirm the artwork dimensions after import, verify focus and lens selection, and run a small test on scrap from the same material batch before committing the production piece. Change one variable at a time when tuning speed, power, frequency, line interval, or pass count. Record the machine, source wattage, lens, material finish, focus method, and final settings with the saved job. That short production note makes the result repeatable for the next operator and prevents a strong screen preview from being mistaken for a proven burn.