Cut Settings & Layers
Understand LightBurn layers, Line, Fill, Offset Fill, passes, sub-layers and the settings that control cutting and engraving output.
Output, Show and Hidden Layer Surprises
A visible object does not automatically mean it will be sent to the laser, and an output-enabled layer can contain geometry you forgot about.
Minimum Power, Slowdowns and Corner Behavior
Some controllers expose minimum/maximum power behavior that changes output as speed varies; do not assume all GCode, DSP and Galvo devices interpret minimum power the same way.
Perforation Mode: Dash and Gap Without Manual Segments
Perforation Mode turns continuous vector paths into alternating cut and gap segments, useful for tear lines, fold guides and decorative dashed cuts.
M3 vs M4: Constant and Dynamic Laser Power
On GRBL laser-mode workflows, M4 dynamically reduces power as motion slows, while M3 is constant-power behavior; device type and $32 determine whether M4 is valid.
Air Assist in Layer Settings and Real-World Cutting
Air assist can improve cutting and reduce flame/soot, but software control only works when the machine hardware/controller supports it.
Sub-Layers: Multiple Operations on the Same Geometry
Apply multiple cut or engraving settings to the same geometry without duplicating the object, and understand the ordering and compatibility implications.
Passes, Z Offset and Z Step: Repeating a Layer Intentionally
Understand repeated passes and Z-axis changes as part of a controlled process rather than a shortcut for unknown cutting settings.
Cut Settings Editor: Common vs Advanced Without Checkbox Hunting
Learn why the Cut Settings Editor changes with device type and Layer Mode, and how to approach Common and Advanced controls systematically.
Image Mode Layer Settings: What Belongs to the Layer and What Belongs to the Image
Separate Image Mode laser settings from per-image processing controls so a change to one image does not unexpectedly affect everything on its layer.
Offset Fill: When Contour-Following Engraving Helps — and When It Hurts
Use Offset Fill deliberately for contour-following fills and recognize designs that can make the calculation unnecessarily expensive.
Fill Mode: Scan Angle, Bidirectional Scanning and Crosshatch
Understand the Fill controls that change scan direction, travel efficiency and the way engraved coverage is built.
Line Mode for Scoring and Cutting
Use the same vector-following mode for light scoring or through-cuts by controlling energy delivery instead of treating them as different tools.
Layer Modes: Line, Fill, Offset Fill and Image
Choose the correct LightBurn Layer Mode by understanding the motion each mode asks the laser to perform.
Speed, Power and Mode: Reading Cut Settings Without Guessing
The three Cut Settings concepts every beginner should understand before copying numbers from the internet.
Layers and Colors: What They Actually Control
Understand why LightBurn colors are operational layers, how objects inherit settings, and what Output and Show really mean.