How to prepare an SVG for LightBurn
LightBurn can cut, score and engrave any vector it can read, but a messy trace means open shapes, doubled lines and slow, stuttering jobs. Start with a clean SVG and the job setup takes minutes.
1. Trace the image
- Open the LightBurn converter and upload your PNG or JPG. Laser settings keep the design to one or two colors.
- Check the preview. Merge colors until what is left is exactly what you want to cut or engrave.
2. Choose outlines or filled shapes
- Cut outlines: every shape as an unfilled outline, with white areas left out. Use this for cutting and scoring.
- Standard (filled shapes): use this when you want LightBurn to fill-engrave the design.
Either way the shapes are closed and have few nodes, a median of 282 per design in our test, so the head moves in smooth arcs.
3. Import and set up layers
- In LightBurn, use File › Import and choose the SVG.
- Each color comes in on its own layer. Set each layer to Line for cutting or scoring, or Fill for engraving.
- Resize the design to your material using the width and height fields. It stays sharp at any size.
4. Preview and test
Open the preview to check the cut order and time, then run a small test on scrap material before cutting the real piece.
Questions
Why are some of my shapes not cutting?
Open shapes won’t fill and may cut incompletely. SVG Me writes every region as a closed shape; if you edited the file elsewhere, check that paths are still closed.
Does this work for xTool or Glowforge?
Yes. The same SVG imports into xTool Creative Space and the Glowforge app. See the Glowforge converter.