First Job

Make sure:

• your laser is powered on
• it is connected to your computer with a USB cable
• you know what material you are using
• your workpiece is in position

1. Choose your machine profile
2. Connect to your laser
3. Import your artwork
4. Position it on the canvas
5. Choose your settings
6. Click Generate
7. Check Preview
8. Click Send

Open the machine menu in the top bar and select the profile that matches your laser.

The machine profile tells Light Lane the size of your work area and the type of controller you are using. Choosing the right one early makes positioning, previewing, and job generation more reliable.

If you do not have an exact match, pick the closest built-in profile. You can create a custom profile later from the Machine tab in Settings.

See Machine Profiles for more detail.

Click Connect in the top bar. The dropdown shows Laser Devices.

Find your laser in the list and click it. When the connection succeeds, the button shows Connected.

If your laser does not appear, click the refresh button inside the dropdown. If it still does not appear, try Advanced: Raw Port Picker.

See Connect Your Laser for troubleshooting steps.

Use Open Image from the File menu, or drag a file directly onto the canvas.

Supported file types include PNG, JPG, BMP, SVG, DXF, and PDF.

Drag the artwork to move it. Use the handles on the canvas to resize it.

For an exact position or size, use the X, Y, Width, and Height inputs in the sidebar.

Light Lane gives you a few ways to get to usable settings:

AI Assistant (Pro and above) - describe your material, laser, and goal. The assistant suggests settings you can apply.

Select Material - if your material is in the database, choose it, pick the thickness and operation, and apply the settings.

Material Test Grid - run a small test on scrap material to compare power and speed combinations before the real job. This is a Pro and above feature.

Manual - if you already know your settings, use the sidebar controls directly.

Click Generate. This creates the job output.

After generating, switch from Canvas to Preview and check the result. Look at the size, placement, and detail level.

If everything looks right, click Send. To save the output as a file instead, use the Export dropdown.

Dry Run (Laser Off) - runs the machine movement without firing the laser. Use this for a safe movement check before committing.

Framing (Low-Power Outline) - traces the outline of the job at very low power on the real material. Use this to confirm placement before the full run.

Preview - always check the generated result before running a real job.