Print Settings FAQ
Below are answers to some frequently asked questions about regarding Glowforge print settings.
Can I see the settings used for Proofgrade® materials?
Can you advise on settings for non-Proofgrade materials?
What are the differences among the settings options?
How can I improve my designs for the best results?
How can I precisely place or arrange my design?
Why don't I see all the print settings?
Can I see the settings used for Proofgrade® materials?
Here’s how to see our settings for a piece of Proofgrade material:
- Open the Glowforge App (app.glowforge.com).
- Open a design.
- Choose the material.
- Click a step in the left-hand column.
- Choose Cut, Engrave, or Score.
- Then choose Manual to see the default settings for that operation.
Note: Materials vary widely, and the settings we use for Proofgrade material might not be safe or effective for a material with a similar name.
Can you advise on settings for non-Proofgrade materials?
Unfortunately, we can't provide settings guidance for non-Proofgrade materials.
Whatever material you're considering, to print safely you first need to know that it's laser-compatible. This can be tricky: for example, many plastics look alike, and some plywood is made with glue that isn't laser-compatible. You need to contact the manufacturer, inspect their safety data sheet (SDS), and/or consult an expert to determine if each material is compatible with the CO2 laser inside the Glowforge unit.
You may find advice about materials in the Beyond the Manual section of the Glowforge Community Forum. Note, however, that advice in this section is unsupported and is not reviewed by Glowforge.
What are the differences among the settings options?
Check out our Working With Manual Mode article to learn all about the settings in the Glowforge app.
How can I improve my designs for the best results?
Our Optimize Your Designs articles show how to simplify strokes, rasterize objects, and use stylized strokes in your designs. They also cover more advanced topics, like how to order your print steps.
How can I precisely place or arrange my design?
The Precise Position Tool built into the Glowforge App can help you precisely place and scale your design elements. Check out these articles to learn how to use it to its fullest potential:
Place Designs PreciselyWhy don't I see all the print settings?
If you're using Glowforge Premium with a non-Glowforge laser cutter, the print step settings in the Glowforge app are simplified to Cut, Score, and Engrave. This is because detailed hardware-specific settings like power, speed, and number of passes vary between laser manufacturers and models.
After designing in the Glowforge app, click Export to download your design as an SVG, Lightburn (.lbrn), or xTool Creative Space (.xcs) file. Then open the exported file in your laser's own software (such as LightBurn, xTool Creative Space, RDWorks, or LaserGRBL) to configure the detailed settings for your specific machine and material.
Note: If you have a Glowforge connected to your account, you will see the full range of settings including Manual mode with power, speed, passes, and focus height. Material selection is also optional for non-Glowforge users — it only affects the on-screen preview.