Glowforge App

Yes – an internet connection is required to operate a Glowforge. The Glowforge interface is a cloud-based web app, meaning all print processing is done on Glowforge's servers. Your Glowforge must be connected via Wi-Fi to the internet whenever you prepare or run a job. In other words, the "brains" of the system live in the cloud, and the machine cannot be used offline. (Some owners use a mobile hotspot if their home internet is unreliable, but an internet link of some kind is always needed.)

The Glowforge web app accepts common 2D design formats. SVG and PDF are the primary vector file types for cutting and scoring, and you can also upload raster image files like PNG or JPG for engraving. By default, Glowforge does not support DXF uploads. However, if you subscribe to Glowforge Premium, the software adds support for DXF files as well. (Premium is Glowforge's paid subscription that unlocks additional features, one of which is importing DXF drawings). In general, most users export their designs to SVG or PDF for use with the Glowforge.

The Glowforge App is primarily a print interface, not full design software. It runs in your web browser (nothing to install) and provides tools to position, configure settings, and send the job to the laser. While it has some basic functionality (like simple shape drawing and an art library, especially with the Premium subscription), most users will do their detailed design work in external software. Glowforge recommends using your favorite design program (e.g. Adobe Illustrator, Inkscape, CorelDRAW, AutoCAD, etc.) to create the artwork and then upload the finished SVG/PDF/PNG to the Glowforge web app to print. In summary: you can do minor edits in the Glowforge interface, but for complex designs you’ll want to use dedicated graphic design software and then import the file.

No, you cannot use LightBurn (or any other laser control software) to run the Glowforge directly. Glowforge is a closed system that only works through the official cloud app. In fact, LightBurn does not support Glowforge at all because Glowforge doesn’t expose a standard control interface – the machine relies on Glowforge’s cloud servers for operation. The workaround is to use LightBurn (or another program) only as a design tool: you can design and save your project as an SVG/PDF in LightBurn, then upload that file to the Glowforge web app to print. But you must use Glowforge’s own software to actually send jobs to the laser. There’s no direct integration between Glowforge hardware and third-party controller software due to the cloud-based model.

The Glowforge’s overhead lid camera provides a convenient preview of your work area, but its alignment accuracy is limited to about 1/4 inch (6 mm) under normal conditions. In practice, this means the placement you see in the app can be off by up to a quarter inch from where the laser actually engraves or cuts. Glowforge considers ±0.25" alignment error to be within spec for the wide-angle camera system. They have a calibration tool that users can run to improve alignment, and using the "Set Focus" feature on the material before positioning your design also helps. Overall, for very precise placement (within a millimeter or two), many users resort to jigs or calibration, since the default camera view has that small inherent margin of error.