TexHouse Plain comparisons of 3D printing and maker tools

VectorMagik vs LightBurn in 2026

VectorMagik and LightBurn for makers: what each tool covers, what it costs, which computers it runs on, and what to check before you pick one.

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TexHouse is published by the makers of LunarWerx 3D Print, Vector3D and MeshyDL, which are compared here alongside other tools.

VectorMagik and LightBurn compared for makers: what each does, what each costs, how each is set up, and what to check before you pick one.

OptionWhat it doesPriceWhere it runs
LightBurnLightBurn describes itself as digital fabrication software for makers. [1] It supports hundreds of lasers of all varieties. [1]Price not published. Licences are perpetual. [1] One year of free updates comes with a licence. [1] A 30 day trial period with no restrictions is offered. [1] Card fee not published.Windows 10 and later, and macOS 13 and later. [1] A Windows 32-bit download is listed. [2]
VectorMagikIt traces a picture into vector shapes using its own engine. [3] You can save the result as SVG, PDF, EPS, AI, DXF, EMF or PNG. [3]Free for everyone, and business use needs a licence (PolyForm Noncommercial 1.0.0). [3] Card fee not published.Downloads for Windows x64, macOS (Apple Silicon and Intel), and Linux x64, plus a browser version. [3]

The short answer

VectorMagik traces a picture into vector shapes using its own engine. [3] You can save the result as SVG, PDF, EPS, AI, DXF, EMF or PNG. [3]

LightBurn is described in the table on this page, drawn from its own pages. The sections below use only part of what those pages say, so the table gives the fuller account.

If you need a picture turned into vector files, VectorMagik's claims say it does that. [3] If you want a trial with no restrictions before you pay, LightBurn's source says it offers a 30 day trial period with no restrictions. [1]

What LightBurn is built for

LightBurn's source says its licences are perpetual. [1] The facts gathered for this page say nothing more about what LightBurn does, so read its own pages for a full description before you decide.

What VectorMagik is built for

VectorMagik is made by the team that publishes this site.

It traces a picture into vector shapes using its own engine. [3] A setting merges neighbouring curve pieces, and an Auto option picks the largest amount of merging that keeps the picture. [3] After converting, you can move or delete the points that make up the curves, and round individual corners. [3]

You can limit the result to between 1 and 64 colours. [3] You can click shapes to delete them, such as a background, or merge two shades into one. [3] It can add a die-cut sticker outline with a border, a white rim and an optional drop shadow. [3]

You can compare the traced result with the original picture side by side, or flip between them with the B and V keys. [3] A command-line version does the same work without a window, and it lets an AI assistant trace pictures on your computer. [3] A browser version runs in the web browser using the same engine. [3]

Pricing and fees

LightBurn's price is not published in the sources for this page. Its licences are perpetual, and the facts do not state a fee beyond that. [1] Its trial runs for 30 days with no restrictions. [1]

VectorMagik is free for everyone, and business use needs a licence. [3] The product is licensed under PolyForm Noncommercial 1.0.0. [3]

No card fee is published for either tool in these sources.

Setting it up and printing

VectorMagik installs with a Windows installer, a portable zip, a macOS zip, a Debian or Ubuntu .deb, or a Linux tar.gz, all from GitHub releases. [3] Downloads exist for Windows x64, macOS on Apple Silicon and Intel, and Linux x64. [3]

A browser version runs in the web browser using the same engine. [3] The claims for VectorMagik do not describe how it connects to a 3D printer or to its print preparation software, so check its download pages before you rely on that.

The facts gathered for LightBurn do not describe how it is installed or how it connects to a machine, so check its own pages for setup steps.

Things to check before you choose

Ask whether you need to trace a picture into vector shapes, since that is what VectorMagik's claims describe. [3]

Check the licence before using VectorMagik for business work, because business use needs a licence. [3]

Ask LightBurn for its current price, since none is published in the sources for this page.

Confirm that your computer is one of the systems VectorMagik has downloads for. Those are Windows x64, macOS on Apple Silicon and Intel, and Linux x64. [3]

Try LightBurn's 30 day trial with your own files before you pay, since its trial has no restrictions. [1]

How to choose

If you need to trace a picture into vector shapes and save it as SVG, PDF, EPS, AI, DXF, EMF or PNG, VectorMagik's claims say it does that. [3] [3]

If you want a licence that does not expire, LightBurn's source says its licences are perpetual. [1]

If you want a tool that costs nothing to start with, VectorMagik is free for everyone, though business use needs a licence. [3]

If you want to trace a picture in a web browser, VectorMagik has a browser version that uses the same engine. [3]

Frequently asked questions

Is VectorMagik free?

VectorMagik is free for everyone, and business use needs a licence under PolyForm Noncommercial 1.0.0. [3] The product is licensed under PolyForm Noncommercial 1.0.0. [3] Read the licence terms before using the tool for paid work, so you know what the licence covers for your situation.

Does LightBurn offer a trial?

LightBurn's source says it offers a 30 day trial period with no restrictions. [1] The facts gathered for this page do not say what the trial covers beyond that, so check LightBurn's own page for the current trial terms before you start one.

What file formats can VectorMagik save?

You can save the result as SVG, PDF, EPS, AI, DXF, EMF or PNG. [3] You can also limit the result to between 1 and 64 colours. [3] A setting merges neighbouring curve pieces, and an Auto option picks the largest amount of merging that keeps the picture. [3]

Can VectorMagik be used from the command line?

A command-line version does the same work without a window, and it lets an AI assistant trace pictures on your computer. [3] A browser version also runs in the web browser using the same engine. [3] Pick the version that matches how you like to work.

Does LightBurn charge a subscription?

LightBurn's source says its licences are perpetual. [1] The facts gathered for this page do not state whether any updates or renewals are charged, so check LightBurn's own page for its current pricing before you decide.

Free for everyone; business use needs a licence (PolyForm Noncommercial 1.0.0). [3]

Try VectorMagik

Sources

  1. LightBurn, lightburnsoftware.com, read 2026-10-10
  2. LightBurn, lightburnsoftware.com/pages/download-trial, read 2026-10-10
  3. VectorMagik's own description of itself (the product of this site's publisher)

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