Tools Menu Overview in LightBurn

A Comprehensive Guide to Graphic Selection, Creation, and Modification Tools

The Tools Menu in LightBurn provides an extensive array of options for selecting, creating, editing, and modifying graphics. This menu is essential for efficient project design and customization.

Click on any option in the image below to jump to its dedicated guide, or scroll down for detailed descriptions of each tool.

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Tools Menu Options

Select

Shortcut: Esc
The primary tool for selecting and deselecting objects.


Draw Lines

Shortcut: Ctrl/Cmd + L
Create custom shapes by placing points connected with lines or curves.


Rectangle

Shortcut: Ctrl/Cmd + R
Draw rectangles or squares.


Ellipse

Shortcut: Ctrl/Cmd + E
Create ovals or circles.


Polygon

Create regular polygons, such as hexagons, with an adjustable number of sides.


Edit Nodes

Shortcut: Ctrl/Cmd + `
Modify vector graphics by adding, deleting, or adjusting points and altering lines or curves.


Trim Shapes

Shortcut: Ctrl/Cmd + K
Cuts lines back to the nearest intersection with another line.


Add Tabs

Shortcut: Ctrl/Cmd + Tab
Add small cut sections to prevent objects from falling out of the base material during lasering.


Edit Text

Shortcut: Ctrl/Cmd + T
Activate the text tool to create, edit, and format text.


Position Laser

Shortcut: Ctrl/Cmd + L
Move the laser head to a specific location in the workspace by clicking within the LightBurn interface.


Measure

Shortcut: Ctrl/Cmd + M
Hover over shapes to view dimensions, perimeter, and other details.


Create Bar Code

Generate barcodes or QR codes to store scannable data.


Offset Shapes

Shortcut: Alt/Option + O
Create outlines around shapes, either inward, outward, or both.


Boolean Tools

Boolean tools allow you to combine or modify shapes:

  • Union: Combines overlapping shapes.
  • Subtract: Removes one shape from another.
  • Intersection: Keeps only the overlapping area.
  • Weld: Merges multiple shapes into one.

Shortcut:

  • Union: Alt/Option + +
  • Subtract: Alt/Option + -
  • Intersection: Alt/Option + *

Boolean Assistant

Shortcut: Ctrl/Cmd + B
Preview and apply Boolean operations through an interactive dialog box.


Cut Shapes

Shortcut: Alt/Option + Shift + C
Divide vector shapes using a closed shape as a cutting tool.


Adjust Image

Shortcut: Alt/Option + I
Modify image properties such as contrast, brightness, and gamma, and adjust layer settings.


Trace Image

Shortcut: Alt/Option + T
Convert bitmap images into vector outlines.


Apply Path to Text

Attach text to a vector path, shaping it to follow the contour.


Apply Mask to Image

Cut bitmap images with a closed vector graphic, keeping only the area within the vector.


Resize Slots in Selection

Adjust slot or tab dimensions in selected objects based on user specifications.


Warp Selection (4 Points)

Modify objects by dragging four corner handles.


Deform Selection (16 Points)

Modify objects by dragging 16 handles arranged in a 4x4 grid.