Free browser-based laser artwork preparation
Laser Engraving Tool for Layered and Textured Artwork
MOPA Laser Rasterizer is useful even when you are not engraving color and do not own a MOPA laser. Turn raster images into editable vector regions, use source colors to organize different engraving treatments, create directional hatch textures, and export a layered SVG or a LightBurn project.
Useful without physical color
The source image can contain many colors even when the final engraving will be monochrome. Rasterizer uses those colors to recognize and separate areas of the design. Each region can then receive a different hatch angle, line density, layer setting, or geometric treatment so neighboring areas remain visually distinct through tone, texture, grain, reflectivity, or viewing direction.
Convert neighboring same-color pixels into editable, closed vector regions.
Map artwork regions to different hatch angles and optional line intervals.
Use abstract presets to reshape ordinary image regions into expressive geometry.
Create a layered SVG, or attach compatible Material Library settings to a LightBurn project.
Non-MOPA engraving workflows
Upload a raster image and let its source colors identify regions that should receive different engraving treatments.
Customize your Hatch Palette, then choose a photo-processing preset or an abstract-geometry preset.
Review geometry, scale, layer assignments, and every machine setting in LightBurn or the software that operates your laser.
Hatch Palettes for monochrome contrast
Hatch Palettes are designed for work where source-image colors select different line patterns instead of different physical engraved colors. Every swatch can share one tested base laser setting while its hatch angle and optional line interval vary.
This is particularly useful for illustrations, maps, logos, diagrams, shaded artwork, and decorative engravings where direction and density should distinguish adjacent regions. The preview shows line color as the artwork-matching identifier, line direction as hatch angle, and relative spacing as line density.
Hatch Palette settings require LightBurn mode. Rasterizer applies each swatch's hatch angle, line interval, and base laser setting when it creates a Material Library-backed .lbrn2 project. SVG-only mode does not generate those hatch lines or embed LightBurn fill settings.
Guest and member Hatch Palette workflows
Guests: upload a LightBurn Material Library prepared with one entry for every swatch you intend to use. Each Entry Description must match its Rasterizer swatch name, and that entry must already contain the hatch angle and optional line interval you want applied to geometry matched to that color. A Blue entry controls the Blue swatch, a Red entry controls the Red swatch, and so on. Guest libraries are available for the browser session rather than saved in Swatch Palette Vault.
Members: create and retain Hatch Palettes in Swatch Palette Vault, distribute angles and intervals with the planner, edit individual swatches, and select a saved palette and material when running future Rasterizer jobs.
Both workflows create actual hatch settings only in Material Library-backed LightBurn mode. Review the complete Hatch Palette guide before preparing the library.
Layered SVG without LightBurn
If your machine does not use LightBurn-or you prefer not to upload proprietary laser settings-use SVG-only mode. Rasterizer still performs image reduction, region construction, and preset processing, then provides layered vector artwork without assigning production parameters.
SVG-only mode does not apply Hatch Palette angles, line intervals, laser parameters, or LightBurn fill behavior. It exports the separated vector regions only. You must create and assign any desired hatching in the software used with your laser.
Import the SVG into software appropriate for your machine. Confirm its interpretation of layer colors, fills, scale, closed paths, placement, and every production setting before engraving.
LightBurn projects with tested settings
For a compatible LightBurn-controlled laser, select or upload a Material Library containing settings tested on the exact machine, lens, material, focus, and process. Rasterizer matches recognized swatch names to Material Library entry Descriptions and applies the cut settings stored in those entries to the generated .lbrn2 layers.
The name of this project does not imply that every workflow requires a MOPA source. Q-switched fiber, diode, CO2, UV, and other systems may use the vector-preparation features their controllers and materials support. Read the laser compatibility guide and verify the complete workflow on expendable material.
Additional ways to prepare artwork
Represent photographic tone with distributed dark geometry on a single engraving layer.
Turn flat source colors into clean, separately editable regions.
Create waves, mosaics, crystals, gratings, and other stylized vector structures.
Members can compare selected saved settings in a labeled LightBurn test grid before preparing final artwork.
Laser engraving tool questions
Do I need a MOPA laser?
No. MOPA sources are especially useful for controlled metal-color experiments, but Rasterizer's vector, hatch, texture, and SVG workflows can support other laser types when the machine, controller, software, material, and settings are compatible.
Do source colors become engraved colors?
Not necessarily. In a monochrome Hatch Palette workflow, source colors are classification labels that decide which pattern a region receives. The physical marks may share one nominal color while differing in texture or tone.
Does Rasterizer operate my laser?
No. It prepares artwork and optional LightBurn project settings. The operator must inspect, frame, test, and run the job in appropriate laser-control software.
Can I use it without LightBurn?
Yes. SVG-only mode exports layered vector artwork and leaves all machine-setting assignment to your production software. Hatch Palette angles and intervals are not applied in SVG-only mode; that functionality requires a Material Library-backed LightBurn export.
Prepare your laser engraving artwork
Bring a raster image and choose whether source colors should become separate settings, contrasting hatch patterns, stylized geometry, or simply organized SVG layers.
Open the free tool