Your files never leave your device. All processing happens in your browser.
Drop a photo on the Img Stop Photo to Laser Engraving tool, pick your material (wood, slate, acrylic, glass, leather or anodised aluminium), type the width in mm or inches and choose the DPI of your laser. Check the dots at 1:1, then download a 1-bit PNG or BMP. Black means burn, and the DPI is saved in the file so it imports at the right size.
About the Photo to Laser Engraving
The Img Stop Photo to Laser Engraving tool prepares photos for diode, CO2 and fibre lasers. You set the real size and the line interval of your machine, and the tool makes a black and white dot pattern with exactly one pixel per laser line. Material presets set sensible brightness, contrast, gamma, invert and dithering for wood, slate, clear acrylic, glass, leather and anodised aluminium.
Choose from Jarvis, Stucki, Floyd–Steinberg, Atkinson, Sierra, Burkes, ordered Bayer, halftone dots, plain threshold or grayscale for 3D and variable power engraving. The preview can zoom to 1:1 so you see the real dots before you burn. Everything runs in your browser – your photo is never uploaded.
Key features
- Real size and DPIWidth in mm or inches; 254, 318, 423, 508 DPI or any custom value. The DPI is written into the PNG and BMP.
- Material presetsWood, slate, clear acrylic, glass, leather and anodised aluminium, each with tested starting values.
- 10 dithering methodsJarvis, Stucki, Floyd–Steinberg, Atkinson, Sierra, Burkes, Bayer, halftone, threshold and grayscale.
- Photo adjustmentsBrightness, contrast, gamma for midtones and sharpening, made for engraving.
- Invert, mirror, no backgroundInvert for slate and glass, mirror for engraving from the back, and leave a white background blank.
- 1:1 previewZoom to actual pixels to see the dot pattern, then download a true 1-bit PNG or a BMP.
How to use the Photo to Laser Engraving
- Add a photo Drop a JPG, PNG or WebP photo. A sharp photo with good contrast works best.
- Pick material and size Choose your material, type the width and pick the DPI (line interval) you use on your laser.
- Fine-tune and check Adjust brightness, contrast and gamma, try a dithering method and zoom to 1:1 to check the dots.
- Download and engrave Download the PNG or BMP and import it into LightBurn, LaserGRBL or your laser software at 100 % size, with dithering off (pass-through).
Photo to Laser Engraving at a glance
| Price | Free |
|---|---|
| Input | JPG, PNG, WebP |
| Output | 1-bit PNG or BMP (8-bit for grayscale), with DPI |
| DPI | 254, 318, 423, 508 or custom (50–2000) |
| Dithering | Jarvis, Stucki, Floyd–Steinberg, Atkinson, Sierra, Burkes, Bayer, halftone, threshold, grayscale |
| Privacy | Runs in your browser – no upload |
When to use it
- Engrave family photos on wood, plywood or cutting boards.
- Make slate coasters and memorial plaques with a photo.
- Engrave pet portraits on anodised aluminium tags or tumblers.
- Mark photos on glass, mirrors or clear acrylic signs from the back.
- Prepare grayscale height maps for 3D engraving on fibre and CO2 lasers.
Tips for the best result
- Set the DPI to match the line interval in your laser software: 254 DPI = 0.1 mm, 318 DPI = 0.08 mm, 508 DPI = 0.05 mm.
- In LightBurn, set the image mode to Pass-Through so it does not dither the file again.
- Always test on a scrap piece of the same material – burn darkness differs a lot between woods.
- If the result is too dark, raise the gamma or brightness; if details are lost, lower the DPI on soft woods.
Frequently asked questions
What DPI should I use for laser engraving?
Use the line interval of your laser. 254 DPI (0.1 mm) suits most diode lasers on wood and slate, 318 DPI (0.08 mm) gives finer detail on hardwood and leather, and 508 DPI (0.05 mm) works on metal, anodised aluminium and with fibre lasers.
Which dithering is best for laser engraving photos?
Jarvis and Stucki give smooth, detailed results on wood and slate. Atkinson leaves more space between dots, which helps on glass and soft materials that burn easily. Use grayscale only when your laser changes power per pixel, for example for 3D engraving.
Why is the image inverted for slate and glass?
On slate, glass, clear acrylic and dark anodised metal the laser makes the surface lighter, not darker. Inverting the photo makes the light parts of the picture burn, so the result looks like the photo and not a negative.
Will LightBurn import the file at the right size?
Yes. The DPI is saved in the PNG and BMP, so LightBurn and LaserGRBL show the image at the size you chose. Turn off dithering in your laser software (Pass-Through mode in LightBurn) so the dots are not changed again.
What does black mean in the file?
Black pixels are burned and white pixels are skipped. The percentage shown under the preview tells you how much of the area will be engraved.
Is my photo uploaded?
No. The engraving file is made by your browser on your own device, and the photo never leaves it.
Made and maintained by the Img Stop team.