Mirror across a line

LightBurn Software Questions
1

Hello
Since the last update to 1.4.03, mirror across a line no longer works for me.

We are a group of laser enthusiasts and it works for people with an older version.

Yours sincerely
Jan Meeusen

2

I can’t reproduce this on 1.5.00 beta on Win11.

What happens when you attempt this? Are you using the same steps across versions?

To confirm:

  1. Select shape you want to mirror
  2. Add line to mirror across to selection
  3. Arrange → Mirror across line
3

I am having the same issue - I can’t get mirror across a line to work. I have version 1.4.03. I will have to say though that this is the first time I have tried to do this so I may be doing it wrong. So, let’s pretend I am making a heart shape. Do I make a bezier line with all the right curves and then try to mirror it across another line? Or do I first make an enclosed shape (1/2 heart) and then mirror that across a line? Nothing seems to work. Or is there an easier way to make 2 halves of the heart exactly the same and joined together to be just one heart?

4

I suggest we separate the concerns.

First establish that mirror across line is working. Second issue is how to approach a heart shape.

For mirror across line. Try to reproduce these steps:
mirror

For the heart shape, instead of using mirror across line I’d suggest these steps:

  1. Create a closed shape approximating half of the heart until you’re satisfied with the shape.
  2. Duplicate and flip the shape
  3. Align duplicated shape such that a whole heart form is created
  4. Select both shapes and do a union or weld
5

Did you make sure that it is really a line? Not a curve? If you draw the line, hold the shift key to make it perfectly straight.

6

Thank you for your reply and suggestions. I used your example and it showed that I was wrong. Mirror across line does work. Yea!
I then tried your recommendation to create a mirrored shape. I finally did get that to work but struggled greatly with getting the 2 shapes to “merge”. I found that the vertical edge that would be the merging side needed to be exactly vertical so I had to tweak the initial shape to get it there. Then the two pieces needed to slightly overlap or else I could not get them to join. Probably doing something wrong there. Finally though I did get it to work. Thank you.

7

I’d suggest just making the side of the shape that will eventually merge at the center of the two sides extend outward such that there is sufficient overlap. The weld/union will address the overlap situation and you will be left with a single solid shape.

8

I used LightBurn’s Two-point Rotate and Scale tool to compensate for my lack of drawing ability:

Basically, I snapped the two halves together at their bottom points, then applied rotate-and-scale to snap the top points together.

The joined center line may not lie exactly along the Y axis, but it’ll be close enough for laser cuttery.

9

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