Yes, there are some great things with this software.
I mostly cut but if I’m going to buy LB I figured I’d try engraving so I used Imag-R to setup an old photo.
Sized the image to 100mm x 150mm
Selected Norton Wood preset
That’s all, done
Then downloaded the PNG file
Worked perfectly in LaserLBGR with pass-through without any fuse
Not so much with LB
The image came in at 211mm 317mm
I then clicked on the Cut/Layers Setting window and selected Pass-Through I get a stark B&W image, Totally unusable
I’m guessing because LB resized the image larger is why it estimates the time to engrave is twice as long with the same settings as I used in LaserGBRL.
All I need LB to do is to control my laser and I’m not happy.
Yes, there are some great things with this software, but I’m considering not to purchase it
Could you verify that the pre and post Imag-R images are the same X and Y size in pixels?
Is the image you posted above the already processed image or the preview in LightBurn?
Have you considered doing your image processing in LightBurn itself? LightBurn does have image adjustment features: Adjust Image - LightBurn Documentation
Without both the LaserGRBL (.lps) and Lightburn (.lbrn2) project files, we cannot be sure this is true.
LaserGRBL is free, and you can only import files to process.
Lighburn is not free, but you can design projects without needing to import files created with other software.
This is typically the first reaction to trying images with Lightburn. Images are never easy in my experience. It can be done, but you have to invest in learning to get proficient with Lightburn. Please remember Lightburn is a tool, you are the artist. You can’t blame bent nails on the hammer.
But didn’t you say that LaserGRBL already works for you? Since it’s even free and you only “need to LB control the laser”, which LaserGRBL can do as well, why are you trying to go on with LB?
LB provides much more control, of course, also more editing features. But if you use external tools anyhow, I don’t see much added value anyhow. Or, as the others suggested, directly switch to LB and use all the features without external tools, but then you can’t really compare it to the other tools.
Because I like the way I can program the layers in the Cuts/Layers window. If only LB ran as fast as LG I would have already purchase the software.
I can program layers with an extension added to Inkscape that ports directly to LG. I edited the code to work better with my workflow but it still has limited features.
Now if I can get resize slots to work… but that is for another thread
You mean the LB function? That one only works if the slots / tabs have a specific shape. Some tools generate slots with round corners, for example. Those are not detected then, because the tool searches for sharp corners. You can use the shape optimizer to enhance the shapes to make them recognized by the tool.
You can also take a look at Meerk40t. It’s an extremely configurable tool with similar functions as LB, but can be fully automated.
IMO, LB is a fantastic app. I use three apps at the moment, Aspire, LB and xTool Studio. Each has strengths and weaknesses (obv, Aspire is for CNC, but it has excellent vector tools), but LB is 97% perfect.. IMO. Also, it’s super inexpensive! I suggest that you buy it and learn how to use it. You have a raw tool that lets you use it in a million ways … that is where experience pays off.
The preview is not great on photos. It gives you an idea but if I was you click pass though and try it burn. It comes out nothing like the preview. You never know you may even like it.