Your laser settings are wrong.
Here's proof.
13,209 tested settings from 72 verified sources. Calibration tools that find your real dot size. A cost calculator that doesn't lie. One platform, built for makers who are done guessing.
Sound familiar?
Guessing at settings
You Google "birch plywood laser settings," get 14 different answers from 14 different lasers, and waste an hour running test cuts anyway.
Burning through material
Every test cut is money in the trash. You're dialing in settings on $8/sheet plywood because the manufacturer's recommended specs are fiction.
Photo engraves look terrible
You followed the YouTube tutorial. It looked great on screen. The result? Muddy, banded, and nothing like the preview. The problem isn't you — it's the software.
The old way vs. Laser Lab
The old way
- Google settings, get conflicting answers
- Run 5-10 test cuts per material
- Trust manufacturer DPI specs (they’re wrong)
- Convert photos in Photoshop with generic algorithms
- Price jobs by gut feeling
With Laser Lab
- 13,209 settings from 72 verified sources, matched to your laser
- Start with data, not guesswork
- Measure your actual dot size — find your real DPI
- Physics-based image processing built for lasers
- Know your exact cost per job before you start
5 tools. One platform.
Everything you need to go from "I think these settings work" to "I know they do."
Settings Library
FreeCalibration Tools
FreeBusiness Calculator
FreeImage Lab
ProNestLab
ProFree
Material Settings Library
13,209 tested settings from 72 verified sources. Filter by your laser type, material, and operation. Stop starting from zero every time you switch materials.
- Settings from xTool, Epilog, Glowforge, Thunder, and 68 more
- Filter by laser type — diode, CO2, fiber, UV
- Auto-match to your machine specs
- Export directly to LightBurn
Auto-matched to your machine specs
Create free account to see all results
Manufacturer claims 0.06mm — your actual beam is 33% larger
You're overlapping by 37%
At 400 DPI your lines overlap — causing muddy images and longer engrave times. Drop to 254 DPI for clean, sharp results.
Free
Calibration Tools
Find your actual dot size, optimal line interval, and power curves. The numbers your manufacturer won't tell you — because they make the specs look worse.
- Dot size measurement without a microscope
- Line interval optimizer — stop overlapping burns
- Power curve calibration for each material
- Downloadable test files for your machine
Free
Business Calculator
Calculate true per-job costs including material, electricity, and time. Stop undercharging because you forgot to account for consumables.
- Material cost per job with real pricing
- Time estimation based on your settings
- Profit margin calculator
- Quote generator for customers
Baltic Birch • 50W CO2 • Engrave + Cut
Pro
Image Lab
Photo engraving that actually works. Physics-based image processing designed specifically for laser engraving — not adapted from print or web algorithms.
68+ processing components. Material-specific tone curves. Stippling algorithms calibrated to your actual dot size and line interval. The result: engravings with depth, detail, and tonal range you can't get from generic tools.
- Physics-based stippling — designed for laser dot physics, not screens
- Material-specific calibration — wood, acrylic, slate, anodized aluminum
- Uses your real dot size from Calibration Tools
- Direct export to LightBurn with correct DPI settings
- Web-based — works on Mac, Windows, Linux, Chromebook
Simple pricing. No surprises.
The free tools are genuinely free — forever. Pro unlocks the advanced stuff.
Free
No credit card. No trial. No catch.
- Settings Library — 13,209 settings from 72 sources
- Calibration Tools — dot size, line interval, power curves
- Business Calculator — job costing and quote generator
- Dashboard — save your machines and preferences
Pro
Lock in this price before it goes up
- Everything in Free
- Image Lab — physics-based photo engraving
- NestLab — automatic part nesting for sheet optimization
- Projects — organize jobs, save configurations
- Export to LightBurn — one-click with correct settings
Is Laser Lab right for you?
This is for you if...
- You already own a laser and want better results
- You’re tired of guessing at settings for every new material
- You want photo engravings that actually look like photos
- You sell laser products and need accurate job costing
- You’re upgrading machines and need to recalibrate
This is NOT for you if...
- You don’t own a laser yet (check our reviews first)
- You’re looking for laser control software (use LightBurn)
- You only need to cut — no engrave, no photo work
- You’ve already dialed in every material you’ll ever use
- You prefer trial and error over data
Up and running in 60 seconds
Create your free account
Email and password. That’s it. No credit card, no trial countdown, no 14-day bait-and-switch.
Add your laser
Tell us what machine you have. We auto-match settings and calibration files to your exact setup.
Start getting better results
Browse settings, calibrate your machine, calculate job costs. Upgrade to Pro when you’re ready for image processing and nesting.
Questions you're probably asking
Is Laser Lab actually free?
Yes. The Settings Library (13,209 settings), Calibration Tools, and Business Calculator are free forever. No trial, no credit card, no bait-and-switch. Pro features like Image Lab and NestLab are $19.99/mo.
Will this work with my laser?
Laser Lab supports diode, CO2 (glass and RF), fiber, MOPA, IR, and UV lasers. Settings data covers xTool, Epilog, Glowforge, Thunder, OMTech, Ortur, Atomstack, Monport, Creality, and 63 more brands.
I already use LightBurn. Do I need this?
LightBurn controls your laser. Laser Lab tells you what settings to use, helps you calibrate your machine, and prepares images for engraving. They’re complementary — you can export directly from Laser Lab to LightBurn.
How is this different from googling settings?
Google gives you one person’s opinion on one machine. Laser Lab aggregates 13,209 settings from 72 verified sources, matched to your specific laser type. Plus calibration tools to dial in your individual machine — because every laser is different, even the same model.
What’s different about Image Lab vs PhotoGrav or Photoshop?
PhotoGrav is a $100 Windows-only app that hasn’t been meaningfully updated since 2005. Photoshop uses generic algorithms that know nothing about laser physics. Image Lab uses physics-based processing designed specifically for laser engraving — it accounts for your actual dot size, line interval, and material response curves.
What’s the founding member price?
Pro is $19.99/mo for founding members. This price is locked — it won’t increase for you, even when we raise it for new subscribers.
Can I cancel anytime?
Yes. Cancel anytime, no questions asked. Your free tools keep working — you only lose access to Pro features like Image Lab and NestLab.
Stop wasting material on test cuts.
1,500+ makers are already using Laser Lab to get better results with less waste. Join them — it takes 30 seconds.
Built by Machines for Makers. We review lasers, build tools, and try to make this hobby less frustrating.
