The big picture
LightBurn becomes much easier when you stop treating every button as a separate feature and instead see one repeatable workflow. Most jobs follow the same path: choose the correct device → prepare artwork → assign layers → set laser parameters → Preview → position → Frame → run.
1. Confirm the active device
Before changing cut settings, make sure the correct laser profile is selected. Device profiles define the work area and influence which controls LightBurn shows. If you own multiple machines, a perfectly prepared file can still behave unexpectedly if the wrong profile is active.
2. Create or import artwork
LightBurn can create basic vector artwork directly or import graphics from other software. At this stage, focus on geometry and size. Do not rely on the visible color of an object to describe the final color of the product — in LightBurn, colors are mainly used to assign objects to operational layers.
3. Assign layers and modes
Use the Color Palette and Cuts / Layers window to group objects by what the laser should do. One layer might engrave text with Fill, another might score an outline with Line, and another might cut the part free.
