Today’s update is all about removing the annoying friction that slows you down right before the fun part: actually engraving.
Two big wins landed in Light Lane today:
- Proper export options so you can take your work anywhere.
- Much smarter serial connection flow so connecting to your laser feels less like trial-and-error and more like it just works.
If you’re doing real jobs (or even just trying to dial in settings quickly), these are the kinds of “boring” improvements that make the whole app feel faster, cleaner, and way more professional.
Export options that actually help
You can now export the key stuff you need without messing around:
- Export G-code (the exact job you’re about to run)
- Export preview SVG (perfect for sharing, archiving, or using elsewhere)
- Export preview PNG (great for quick proofs, thumbnails, customers, or socials)
This sounds simple, but it’s a big workflow unlock.
Now you can:
- Send a proof to a customer in seconds
- Save a clean preview for your job history
- Share the exact output someone will get without them needing your whole project
- Keep G-code exports organised for repeat runs
It makes Light Lane feel like a real production tool, not just “the app you hit Generate in”.
Smarter serial connections
The other half of today’s update is the stuff that saves you from the classic GRBL pain:
- Too many random ports
- Ports that look the same
- Sometimes needing to switch between similar ports (like
cu.*vstty.*) - The “why won’t this connect now” moment
Light Lane is now much better at:
- Auto-detecting the most likely engraver port
- Connecting more reliably
- Letting you rename your laser, so the dropdown is human-readable and not just a string of port names
This is the difference between “I’m testing ideas quickly” and “I’m stuck playing tech support for my own machine”.
Why this matters
If you’re building momentum, the goal is to keep you in the creative loop:
Design → Preview → Generate → Send → Repeat
Not:
Design → Debug ports → Try another port → Reboot laser → Try again → Export manually → Lose the file
Today’s update cuts a big chunk of that noise out.
Try it free
If you want a smoother workflow (export everything cleanly, connect to your laser without the hassle, and get back to engraving faster), jump on the free trial for Mac or Windows:
And if you’re following along with the run, keep up with 12 Days of Light Lane on the blog. 1 day left.