XCS vs Lightburn

[rhastafella (Andrei)]

Hello everybody,

I have 2 xTool laser and I was using XCS Software. But in couple of days a Fiber Laser will arrive to me and I must start using Lightburn for it.

I have it now, in my computer. But I really don’t know how to do couple of things that I was using the most.

1. Can you crop / remove background in Lightburn? I was using that feature very often in XCS.
2. Offset it’s only working with vectors? I have an image uploaded that I wanted to make an offset from it to cut, but it doesn’t work, and it’s not just a simple circle or square.
3. And also in XCS it has Score / Cut / Engrave. But as far as I can see in Lightburn there is not such options. How do I difference the cut from score? I am really confused lol.

This are the most useful features that I was using in XCS to help me for great results, but I can’t make them in Lightburn. Any advice, tips?

Thank you so much!

[Demus (Joe)]

1. Right click on the image you’ll see a “mask” option. Works the same as XCS.
2. No idea what you mean. How would you offset an image?
3. Score and Cut are both “Line” in Lightburn. Actually even in XCS but they differentiate for simplicity. The only difference in either program is the power level you set.

[JessN (Jess)]

Here’s how to create a vector from an image:

Apply Mask to Image - LightBurn Documentation

You can use the offset shapes tool if you don’t what the vector outline snug around your image:

Offset Shapes - LightBurn Documentation

What fiber laser did you get?

[Gaffboat (Oliver Henry)]

This is how I offset an outline around an image. In this example, the image does not have a background. First, I duplicate the image and then adjust the Threshold to create a solid black image. Next, I use Lightburn’s Trace Image function to outline the Threshold image. I can then apply whatever offset I need to the outline. Finally, I combine the original image and my new offset outline.