Warning
The current version of MillMage is a Release Candidate — a stable version of software that is nearly ready for official release, but in need of additional public testing. Please report any unexpected behavior in the MillMage Software Questions section of our forum, including screenshots and as much detail as possible. Ask hardware compatibility questions in the MillMage Hardware Compatibility section.
Users new to MillMage should follow the Getting Started guide.
Video: How to Use a Release Candidate
This video features our sister software, LightBurn. While there may be slight differences in appearance and layout, the demonstrated processes are similar in MillMage.
Warning
This documentation is in active development and in a prerelease state. These documents are not complete and may include missing pages, broken links, and placeholders. Content is being updated as feedback is reviewed. Your patience is appreciated.
File Management
Quick Reference: File Management
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Start, save, and open previously saved projects, and import/export artwork in many file formats.
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Keyboard Shortcuts
Alt+F
Use the file management tools to start New projects, Save projects you're working on, Open previously saved projects, and Import or Export artwork in alternative file formats.
Most file management options are available in the Main Toolbar, with a few additional options available in the File Menu
New 
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Ctrl/Cmd+N
Clears your current MillMage project and starts a new, blank project.
Opening a new project does not change any Settings, window customizations, and special modes active from the last opened project.
If you have an existing project open with unsaved changes, MillMage will ask you if you'd like to Save before starting the new project, click Discard to discard the changes, or Cancel to abort the process.
Open 
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Ctrl/Cmd+O
Opens a .mage, .lbrn, or .lbrn2 project file previously stored on your computer.
If you have an existing project open with unsaved changes, MillMage will ask you if you'd like to Save before Opening the project, click Discard to discard the changes, or Cancel to abort the process.
If you have multiple device profiles, and the device you were using when you Saved the file is not currently selected, MillMage will ask if you'd like to automatically switch to that device profile.
Click Yes to switch or No to open the file with your current device.
Click on the dropdown in your system's file browser to show all supported file types, including supported image and vector file types.
Warning
Selecting a supported image or vector file instead of a project file will create a new MillMage project, replacing the currently loaded project. Use Import to bring artwork files or designs into an existing project.
Recent Projects¶
Hover over Recent Projects in the File Menu to open a submenu containing a list of projects you've recently worked on and Saved.
Click any file in the list to Open it.
Save 
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Ctrl/Cmd+S
Saves your current project in.mage format.
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If you haven't saved it previously, a dialog window will open where you can name it and choose the location to Save it.
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If you have already saved a copy, the existing copy will be immediately overwritten with any new changes you've made.
Save As 
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Ctrl/Cmd+Shift+S
Rather than immediately overwriting your existing file, Save As opens a dialog window where you can save a renamed copy to a new file, leaving the current file unchanged.
Save GCode or Machine File¶
This option will change depending on the type of CNC machine you're using — like Save GCode for GRBL, Smoothieware, or Marlin controllers.
All options save your current project as a machine-ready file, in the appropriate format for your type of laser. You can transfer this file to your machine to run it without ever having to directly connect using MillMage.
See Job Control Window — Save Gcode File for more information.
Import 
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Ctrl/Cmd+I
Loads graphics from a variety of file formats into MillMage. Click on the dropdown in your system's file browser to filter for supported image and vector file types.
MillMage can Import the following formats:
Vector / mixed formats:
.ai- Adobe Illustrator.svg- Scalable Vector Graphics.dxf- AutoCAD Drawing Exchange Format.pdf- Adobe Portable Document Format.plt/ .hpgl - Plotter / Hewlett-Packard Graphics Language
Quick Tip: Drag and drop directly into MillMage
Image formats:
.png- Portable Network Graphics.jpg/.jpeg- Joint Photographic Experts Group format.bmp- Windows Bitmap.gif- Graphics Interchange Format.tif/.tiff- Tagged Image File Format
Importing .mage, .lbrn, or .lbrn2 files
It is also possible to Import .mage, .lbrn, or .lbrn2 files — however, Importing these types of files does not load the CNC operations, laser cut settings, or any other project-specific information saved to the file. Only the graphics will be loaded.
In order to load graphics along with all other settings, you must use Open instead.
MillMage will warn you if you attempt to Import a .mage file.
Click Open to load the graphics and all other settings, Import to load only the graphics, or Cancel to abort the process.
Export 
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Alt/Option+X
Exports currently selected graphics in .ai, .svg, or .dxf format. If there is nothing in your current selection, the entire contents of your current project will be Exported.
Exporting in one of these formats does not save cut settings or any other project-related settings.
Related Topics¶
For more help using MillMage, please visit our forum to talk with MillMage staff and users, or email support.