Layer Settings Deep Dive

Every parameter in the Cut Settings Editor explained, what it does, when to change it, what units. Galvo and gantry both covered. Field names match the Lightburn 2.0 UI exactly.

The shared settings (every mode, every machine)

Field	Unit	What it does
Name	text	Layer label. Useful when you have 8+ layers.
Output	toggle	If off, layer is ignored on Run/Send/Save and Preview.
Speed	mm/s (galvo) mm/s or mm/min (gantry)	Maximum head/galvo velocity during cut.
Power Max	%	Peak laser output. Most jobs only use this.
Power Min	%	Used in Grayscale image mode (modulates per-pixel) and DSP gantry ramp control. On galvo, ignored except for grayscale.
Mode	dropdown	Line / Fill / Offset Fill / Image (auto for images).
Air Assist	toggle	Gantry only. Toggles the air solenoid on this layer.

Line mode: Common tab

Number of Passes	How many times the line is repeated. Cutting thick material? Increase passes.
Kerf Offset	Compensates for beam width. Positive value = path expands outward (parts come out larger). Negative = path shrinks (cutouts come out larger). For gantry cutting acrylic, typical kerf is 0.1-0.2 mm.
Perforation Mode	Cut a dashed line instead of solid. Set length on/off in mm. Useful for paper craft / fold lines.
Tabs / Bridges	Leave small uncut sections to keep parts attached to scrap. Set number of tabs and length per tab.

Line mode: Advanced tab

Overcut	Extends the cut past the closing point of a closed shape, burns away the "join seam" so closed shapes drop free cleanly. 0.1-0.5 mm typical.
Lead-In / Lead-Out	Adds a small entry/exit cut OUTSIDE the path. Useful when the entry burn mark would mar a finished part edge.
Dot Mode	Pulses at fixed intervals along the path instead of a continuous beam. Used for dotted score lines.
Z Offset	Layer-specific Z height shift. Useful for working at multiple focal depths in one job.
Z Step per Pass	Drops Z by this amount each pass. Critical for deep engraving, keeps focus on the working depth.
Start / End Pause Time	Wait at start/end of cut. Lets the source stabilize before traveling.
PWM Frequency Override	Override the layer's PWM frequency separately from the Frequency field.
PPI (Pulses Per Inch)	GCode/diode lasers, pulse density along the path.
U Offset	Rotary offset for parts on a rotary axis.
Ramp Length	Threshold image mode, gradient intensity at edges of the engraved zone.

Fill mode: the engraving knobs

Line Interval	Distance between hatch lines (mm). Smaller = denser fill, more time. Typical: 0.01-0.05 mm. Lightburn shows the equivalent Lines per Inch next to it.
Scan Angle	Direction of hatch lines in degrees. 0° = horizontal (bottom to top). 90° = vertical. Rotate 5-15° per pass to mask scan-line artifacts.
Cross-Hatch	Run a second pass at +90° to the scan angle. Doubles fill density. Standard for solid blacks and deep engraves.
Bi-directional	Default ON. Galvo sweeps both directions (faster). Turn OFF for ultra-fine work where galvo turnaround jitter shows on edges.
Overscanning	Extends the fill stroke past the shape edge to compensate for acceleration ramp on a moving gantry. Available on GCode (diode) and DSP/Ruida (CO2) as a user-tunable percentage; CO2 typically 2.5-5%, diode 5-10% (slower acceleration). On Lightburn galvo, the gantry doesn't move so this field isn't exposed, the equivalent compensation lives in the Laser Off / Polygon Delay TC fields below.
Flood Fill	Galvo travel-time win, reduces blank-space jumps between disconnected fill regions. Always on for fast galvo work.
Number of Passes	Same as Line: repeat the fill N times.

Galvo-only settings

Field	Unit	What it does
Frequency	kHz	Pulses per second. See Understanding Frequency.
Q-Pulse Width	ns	MOPA fiber + UV only. 2-500 ns. Q-switched fiber is fixed at 80-140 ns. See Understanding Frequency.
Wobble	diameter / distance	Traces small circles along the path to increase dwell. Used for deep cutting thin metal, widens the kerf and increases material removal.
Dot Width Adjust	mm	Beam-thickness compensation, shortens scan lines slightly to avoid overshoot at edges.
Jump Speed	mm/s	Travel speed of the galvo mirrors when not firing. Higher = faster overall job. Default usually fine.
Min / Max Jump Delay	μs	Mirror settle time after a jump. Increase if you see edge "comma" artifacts where the laser fired before the mirrors stopped.
Laser On TC	μs	Delay before firing after a jump (mirror acceleration time).
Laser Off TC	μs	Delay when ending a marking move (mirror deceleration).
End TC	μs	Pause at the end of a vector before moving to the next.
Polygon TC	μs	Pause at corners / polygon segment endpoints.

Sub-Layers (galvo only)

Up to 11 sub-layers per layer, each a tab inside the Cut Settings Editor. Each sub-layer has the full setting set (speed, power, freq, pulse, mode, etc.) and runs in tab order (left-to-right). Drag tabs to reorder.

• Use case: a knife blade with engrave + anneal + color in one layer (see Knives, Hatchets & Multi-Plane Parts).
• Use case: relief coin with depth-map subject + perimeter text in one parent layer.
• Lightburn shows the parent layer as Multi in the Cuts/Layers panel mode column.

To add: in the Cut Settings Editor, click the "+" tab at the right of the existing tabs. To toggle output per sub-layer: each tab has its own Output toggle.

Verified against LightBurn 2.x. Source: LightBurn official docs. CutSettingsEditor (Shared, Line, Fill, Image, Galvo-Specific, Sub-Layers).