File Menu
The File Menu contains tools for creating, opening, and saving projects; importing designs and images; and changing, saving, exporting, or importing your LightBurn preferences.
Click any option in the image below to go directly to the relevant page for that tool, or scroll down for a list of options and descriptions.
New
Ctrl / Cmd+N
Clears your current LightBurn project and starts a new, blank project.
See File Management — New for more information.
New Window
Opens a separate instance of LightBurn in a new window, allowing you to edit multiple projects at once, or edit one file while cutting a different one.
See New Window for more information.
Note
LightBurn will automatically save the current preferences and settings of the most recently closed window—overriding any changes made in other windows.
See Multiple Independent LightBurn Instances for more information on running two completely independent LightBurn instances.
Recent Projects
View a running list of up to 24 projects recently opened in LightBurn.
See File Management — Recent Projects for more information.
Open
Ctrl / Cmd+O
Opens LightBurn project files saved in .lbrn or .lbrn2 format.
Click on the dropdown in your system's file browser to show all supported file types, including supported image and vector file types.
Warning
Selecting a supported image or vector file instead of a project file will create a new LightBurn project, replacing the currently loaded project. Use Import to bring artwork files or designs into an existing project.
See File Management — Open for more information.
Import
Ctrl / Cmd+I
Adds additional artwork, designs, and objects stored in a range of file formats to an existing, open project.
| File Type | Files |
|---|---|
| LightBurn Project Files | .lbrn2, .lbrn |
| MillMage Project Files | .mage |
| Image Files | .bmp, .jpg, .pg, .gif, .tif, .tiff, .tga, .webp |
| Vector Files | .ai, .pdf, .dxf, .nc, .hpgl, .svg |
| Additional Files | .gc, .gcode, .plt, .rd, .sc, .scpro2, |
See File Management — Import for more information.
Show Notes
Ctrl / Cmd + Alt/Option+N
Store and view project/file specific notes and comments.
See Show Notes for more information.
Save
Ctrl+S
Saves the current project for later editing and production. Saving a file saves it under the current file name. Saving a file without an existing name will open a Save Project window.
See File Management — Save for more information.
Save As
Ctrl / Cmd+Shift+S
Saves the current project under a different file name.
See File Management — Save As for more information.
Save Machine Files
Alt/Option+Shift+L
This option will change depending on the type of laser you're using — it may say Save GCode (for GRBL, Smoothieware, or Marlin controllers), Save RD File (Ruida), Save OUT File (TopWisdom), or Save UD5 File (Trocen).
All options save your current project as a machine-ready file, in the appropriate format for your type of laser. You can transfer this file to your machine to run it without ever having to directly connect using LightBurn.
See Laser Window — Save Machine Files for more information.
Export
Alt/Option+X
Exports currently selected graphics in .ai, .svg, or .dxf format. If there is nothing in your current selection, the entire contents of your current project will be Exported.
See File Management — Export for more information.
Preferences
See Preferences Submenu for more information.
Import Prefs
Import previously copied or exported .lbprefs LightBurn preference files.
Note
A new project is required to import .lbprefs LightBurn preference files.
Export Prefs
Export the current LightBurn preferences.
Open Prefs Folder
Opens the folder on your computer containing the LightBurn preferences files, created automatically at program close or when settings are changed. Only the latest 50 preference backup files are preserved.
Windows LightBurn Preferences Folder
%localappdata%/LightBurn
C:\Users\username\AppData\Local\LightBurn
Load Prefs Backup
Import a built-in LightBurn preferences back up file.
Windows LightBurn Preferences Backup Folder
%localappdata%/LightBurn/backup
C:\Users\username\AppData\Local\LightBurn/backup
Edit Hotkeys
Create and change the keyboard shortcuts of many LightBurn functions and commands in the Hotkey Editor.
See Hotkey Editor for more information.
Bundles
Bundles simplify the process of migrating LightBurn by bundling everything that needs to be moved into a single .lbzip file.
Bundles can include:
See the User Bundles for more information.
Import Bundles
Load previously exported Bundles into the current instance of LightBurn. Any component contained within the bundle that your computer detects is already present will be grayed out and unavailable on import. Devices can be imported even if already present, and will create a new copy of the device. Bundles can also be imported by dragging the .lbzip file into LightBurn.
Export Bundle
Create a Bundle of LightBurn settings, added laser devices, Material and Art libraries, and more.
Print (black only)
Ctrl / Cmd+P
Output a black and white document to a printer or built-in "Print to PDF" tool. This document is saved exclusively in black and white.
See Print for more information.
Print (keep colors)
Ctrl / Cmd+Shift+P
Output a document to a printer or built-in "Print to PDF" tool. This document is saved with the assigned colors in the current Color Palette.
See Print for more information.
Saved Processed Bitmap
Exports a copy of the selected and edited bitmap.
See Save Processed Bitmap for more information
Save Background Capture
Saves a bitmap image of a Workspace Overlay produced by a camera affixed over your laser's work area.
See Save Background Capture for more information.
Exit
Ctrl / Cmd+Q
Completely close and exit LightBurn. You will be prompted to save the current project if there are any unsaved changes, discard any changes and close without saving them, or cancel the process of closing LightBurn.
For more help using LightBurn, please visit our forum to talk with LightBurn staff and users, or email support.