Image to SVG for Laser Engraving

Vector or bitmap engraving: which do you need?

Laser software can engrave in two ways. Bitmap engraving burns an image dot by dot using dithering, and it does not need an SVG at all: import the JPG or PNG straight into LightBurn or xTool Creative Space. Vector engraving fills or traces closed shapes. It gives crisp edges on logos and text, lets you combine engraving, scoring and cutting in one job, and scales without losing sharpness. This page is for the second case.

How to make an SVG for laser engraving

1. Drop your image above. The Line art preset is selected. It produces one solid layer that laser software reads as a single fill.
2. Adjust Threshold. A higher value makes lines and letters bolder, which helps on wood, where thin lines get lost in the grain.
3. Lower Detail to remove specks. Each speck is a tiny shape the laser head has to travel to.
4. Set Output width in millimeters or inches to match your workpiece.
5. Download the SVG and import it into your laser software.

Using the SVG in popular laser software

• LightBurn: use File, Import. Set the layer to Fill to engrave the shapes, or Line to score their outlines. Check the imported size against the width you set.
• xTool Creative Space: import the SVG and choose engraving with fill for solid areas, or score for outlines only.
• Glowforge: upload the SVG in the app. Artwork is grouped into steps by color, and you choose Engrave, Score or Cut for each step.
• LaserGRBL: open the SVG for a vector job and preview the path before running it.

Different power for different areas

Switch to the Logo preset when your design has areas that need different power or speed, such as a dark fill next to a lighter shaded area. Each color becomes its own path. LightBurn maps colors to its layers, and Glowforge groups colors into steps, so you can give each area its own settings. Keep the color count low, around 2 to 4, so every layer has a clear purpose.

Photos and laser engraving

For a realistic photo on wood, slate or anodized aluminum, skip vectors and engrave the bitmap with dithering in your laser software. Vectors from photos are useful when you want a stylized look: use Photo posterize for a 3 to 5 tone poster effect, or see photo to line art SVG for a sketch style that engraves quickly.

Tips for clean engravings

• Text size: small script text blurs on wood. Keep letters bold and test on a scrap piece first.
• Reverse engraving: for glass or acrylic engraved from the back, mirror the design in your laser software, not in the SVG.
• Engrave and cut in one job: trace the engraving here, then add a cut outline around it in your laser software.
• Cutting parts instead of engraving: if your workflow uses DXF for cutting, see image to DXF for laser cutting.

Frequently asked questions