Frequently asked questions.
Is my original image changed?
No. Your original file is never overwritten — every engine works from a copy, and the Guided Launch flow states this up front (“your original is never changed”).
Does Depth2Beam upload my images anywhere?
Only when you use AI Depth or the Relief Generator, which by design need to send data to a cloud model to work. Shape, Photo, Blend, panel shaping, masking, and layered export all process locally in your browser and never leave your machine.
What does “credits” actually pay for?
Real cloud compute. AI Depth and the Relief Generator call hosted AI models with a genuine per-generation processing cost — see Why Credits for the full breakdown.
Do AI Depth and the Relief Generator share the same credit balance?
Yes — one shared AI allowance covers both. AI Depth (and AI Depth + Detail) use 1 credit per generation; the Relief Generator uses 4. A free monthly allowance of AI Depth generations is included after activating with your email; purchased credits cover anything beyond that, including the Relief Generator.
What file formats can I export?
Seven, across four consoles: a grayscale Height Map and an STL (with a live rotating 3D preview) for continuous engraving or 3D modeling; Stacked Layers (SVG/DXF, with kerf compensation and registration marks) for cutting and physically stacking material; a Layered LightBurn (.lbrn2) project and matching Layered SVG for multi-pass engraving into one piece of material; plus a Lit Relief presentation render and a Complete Job Package that zips up everything, including the editable project. See the export formats overview for the full breakdown.
What's the difference between Physical Stacked Relief and Layered Laser Engraving?
Physical Stacked Relief cuts each depth band as a separate piece — you cut them from plywood, cardstock, or acrylic and physically glue or stack them together; the depth comes from real material thickness. Layered Laser Engraving (beta) instead engraves every depth band as its own layer into a single piece of material, each at its own power/speed/passes — no cutting or stacking involved.
Does switching preview modes change what gets exported?
No. Height Map, Lit Relief, Slope Map, and Compare are all views of the same underlying data — switching between them never alters the export.
What image formats can I upload?
PNG, JPG, and WEBP.
What's the difference between Depth2Beam and Image2Beam?
Image2Beam is the free, general-purpose laser image preparation tool — cleanup, vectorization, 3D-illusion prep, and export guidance for artwork you already have laser-ready or close to it. Depth2Beam is the dedicated relief and depth-map generator, including the AI-powered engines. They're built by the same team and designed to work together.