Why this matters
Use LightBurn's image controls to shape tonal information before engraving without confusing image processing with laser power.
How it works
- Brightness shifts the image lighter or darker overall.
- Contrast changes separation between light and dark areas.
- Gamma primarily changes mid-tones, which can recover or suppress detail without moving endpoints in the same way as brightness.
- Adjust Image also exposes layer-related controls, so distinguish pixel processing from laser settings.
Practical workflow
- Start from a reasonably exposed source image.
- Adjust Gamma for mid-tone detail before making extreme Brightness or Contrast changes.
- Use the processed preview to watch highlights and shadows.
- Keep laser Speed, Power and interval as a separate calibration step.
- Run a small crop test before engraving a large final image.
What to watch for
- Overprocessing cannot recreate detail that is absent in the source image.
- An image that looks good on a monitor can still engrave badly on a low-contrast material.
