Find the right speed and power settings for any material in one burn
Dialing in laser settings used to mean running test burns one at a time, writing down what worked, and hoping you remembered the right combination next time. The Material Test Grid runs up to 400 combinations in a single session and applies the best result directly to your job.
How the test grid works
The Material Test Grid is a Pro feature in Light Lane. Each patch in the grid is 8mm square with 2mm gaps between patches. Power varies left to right across the columns. Speed varies top to bottom across the rows. The default grid is 5x5 (25 combinations). You can go up to 20x20 (400 combinations) if you need finer resolution across a larger range.
A live color overlay, blue to red, shows the relative energy level of each cell during setup. Blue is low energy (high speed, low power). Red is high energy (low speed, high power). This helps you set sensible ranges before burning.
After the burn, you examine the physical result. Find the cell where the mark looks best for your purpose: good depth without charring, clean edges, or the visual quality you are looking for. Click that cell in Light Lane. The settings from that cell apply to your active job immediately.
You can also save the winning settings to a named material preset. Next time you load that material, the settings are already there.
Running a test grid: step by step
- Step 1
Open the Material Test Grid panel
- Step 2
Set your power and speed ranges
- Step 3
Place scrap material and click Burn Grid
- Step 4
Examine the result and click the best cell
- Step 5
Apply to job and save to preset
Interpreting your test grid result
| What you see | What it means | What to try next |
|---|---|---|
| All cells too light, mark barely visible | Power range too low or speed range too high | Run a new grid with higher power or lower speed |
| All cells too dark or charred | Power range too high or speed range too low | Run a new grid with lower power or higher speed |
| Best cell is in the top-left corner (low power, high speed) | Your ranges are set too high overall | Shift both ranges down and rerun |
| Best cell is in the bottom-right corner (high power, low speed) | Your ranges are set too low overall | Shift both ranges up and rerun |
| Good cells in the middle of the grid | Ranges are well-calibrated | Apply the best cell or run a tighter 5x5 around it for more precision |
| Fine detail looks burnt at the edges | Power is slightly too high at that cell | Try the cell one column to the left (lower power) |
The test grid in Light Lane
The grid setup panel and the apply-to-job flow.
- Grid setup with range controls.
- Winner applied to the active job.
Material Test Grid FAQ
How big is a 5x5 test grid?
Each patch is 8mm square with 2mm gaps. A 5x5 grid is 5 columns x 5 rows = 25 patches. The total burned area is approximately 50mm x 50mm (5 patches x 8mm + 4 gaps x 2mm per axis).
Do I need to watch the machine while the grid burns?
Yes. Stay present during any laser burn. Do not leave the machine unattended. The grid burns like any other job.
How often should I rerun the test grid?
Run a new grid when you switch to a different material batch, different thickness, or different finish. The same nominal material from different suppliers can respond differently. A new batch of birch plywood may need a fresh grid.
Can the AI assistant help with test grid settings?
The Material Test Grid and the AI Engrave Assistant are separate features. The test grid finds speed and power through physical burn results. The AI assistant adjusts image-specific settings like DPI and dither algorithm for a selected piece of artwork. They can be used in sequence: run a test grid to find speed and power, then use the AI assistant to fine-tune how a specific photo is processed at those settings.
What is the maximum grid size?
Up to 20x20 (400 cells). A 20x20 grid covers a large range of speed and power in one burn but takes more material and time. Start with 5x5 to find the rough best zone, then run another 5x5 at a narrower range around that zone if you want more precision.
Run your first material test grid in Light Lane
14 days free, full Pro access, no card required. Grab a scrap of birch plywood and dial in your settings in one burn.
Next steps
Validate one real workflow in Light Lane, then move to the most relevant guide or feature page.
Last updated February 21, 2026