All Boxford non-metal laser cutting and engraving machines are now available with the option to upgrade to Lightburn laser software.
Lightburn is a powerful editing, layout and control software for your laser cutter. It allows you to import artwork in various formats, including: AI, PDF, SVG, DXF, PLT, PNG, JPG, GIF and BMP. The software also includes a whole host of other useful features, helping to improve your laser cutting and engraving results and workflow.
User interface
The Lightburn user interface is clean, simple and easy to use. It also allows you to configure the various windows in the software, to suit your way of working
All aspects of this dedicated laser cutting software are designed with productivity in mind and it even borrows certain elements from vector design software such as Adobe Illustrator, creating a familiar feel for graphic artists and designers.
Use on Mac, Windows and Linux
Lightburn software can be installed on Mac, Windows and Linux operating systems. Previously our laser cutters could only be controlled using a Windows 32 or 64 bit operating system, but now customers have the flexibility to use their Mac or Macbook to run their laser.
Cutting and engraving settings
We provide you with your own laser cutting and engraving parameter library, to help get you started on your laser journey! This includes fully tested and ready to use settings for cutting or engraving laser plywood, acrylic, glass, plastic laminate, anodised aluminium, fabric and card.
All of our presets can be easily edited to suit your taste. Lightburn also gives you the ability to create your own settings and begin to build a comprehensive settings library to speed up your workflow.
Engraving photographs
This is by far one of the most impressive things you can produce using a laser engraver; photographic images etched directly onto a variety of materials. JPEGS and BMP files can be imported directly into Lightburn, ready for laser engraving. Photograph engraving always works best with high contrast images. Import your image into Lightburn and choose from a range of engraving techniques, such as Dither, Newsprint and Half Tone.
Lightburn camera control
One of the stand out features included with Lightburn, is the ability to connect a Lightburn camera and access the software’s camera control functions.
The camera not only gives you a real-time on screen view of your laser bed, but also allows you to trace images or shapes and quickly turn them into vector files which can be laser cut and engraved.
Lightburn’s camera control also allows you to capture a sheet of material or laser engravable object in position on the laser bed, and accurately overlay your artwork within the software, before being ready to cut or engrave. This option provides an alternative to producing jigs to accurately position your work.
Laser control
Files created in Lightburn can be downloaded direct to the laser controller when connected to your computer by USB, saved on a USB flash drive or transferred using a wired network connection. However, to speed up your workflow, it’s also possible to control many of the lasers functions, such as X and Y axis movement, frame, start, pause and stop from with Lightburn itself.
Art library
Create quick links to all of your favourite designs in Lightburn’s Art Library. From here you can drag and drop both vector and image based files onto your workspace, ready to be cut and engraved.
Other helpful features
Lightburn has many other useful features, allowing you to:
- Image trace JPEG or BMP files and turn them into vectors which can be cut or engraved
- Create QR codes
- Round corners
- Re-size, rotate, mirror and off-set lines and shapes
- Create text objects using any font installed on your PC or Mac
- Freehand draw rectangles, polygons, circles, lines and ellipses
- Add tabs and edit nodes
- Create a rectangular array of items for batch production
Lightburn laser software can be bolted on to any Boxford BGL laser package for an additional £70 (ex VAT), or purchased from our web shop, if you already own a Boxford laser and would like to upgrade your software.
If you require any further information, or would like to speak to a member of our team about how Lightburn could be the right option for you, please don’t hesitate to get in touch…
A single Lightburn license key unlocks the software permanently and can be used across two seats, as well as giving you access to free updates for one year. Boxford became a distributor for Lightburn laser software in the UK in 2020.