Warp9 have now added the ability to laser reproduce (raster) 8 bit photographic images using their ESS and the v221 release Mach4 plugin. It is still very much in the beta stage and does not have a GUI but an excellent and detailed ‘setting-up’ tutorial has been prepared which should get any potential users up and running in no time. It equally supports vector laser work and is suitable for use with Diode, RF and DC excited CO2 lasers.
I have not had a chance to try it out yet but for those who may wish to do so, the full documentation and further details can be found here;
https://warp9td.com/index.php/faq/faq-mach4#LaserSetup Tweakie.