xTool Creative Space (XCS) is an all-in-one software for graphic designing and editing, laser process setting, and machine controlling.
Item | Minimum configuration | Recommended configuration |
Processor | A10 | A12 or later |
Operating system | iPadOS 15 or later (except for iOS15.4.1, at which XCS may have exceptions) | |
RAM | 4 GB | 6 GB or more |
Storage | 32 GB | 64 GB or more |
(1) Search for "xTool Creative Space" in App Store or Google Play, or visit xtool.com/software to download and install XCS.
(2) Open XCS. In the top-left corner, tap > Settings and select the language you use.
(1) In the top-right corner of XCS, tap + Add project > Create project.
(2) On the top of the project editing page, tap Please connect a device.
Note: If you have connected an xTool device in XCS before, tap the name of the device > select Connect device.
(3) Tap Hotspot > Go to enable. Permit XCS to access your location.
Note: If you have allowed XCS to use your precise location, XCS will not prompt you to allow location access.
(4) Long press the button on xTool S1 until the annular indicator blinks purple, which indicates that the device is in hotspot connection mode.
(5) Tap Go to connect to go to your iPad's Settings . Select WLAN, and connect to a network whose name starts with xTool_S1.
(6) Go back to XCS, and you will see your device name under Hotspot. Tap it to connect it.
(1) In the top-right corner of XCS, tap + Add project > Create project.
(2) On the top of the project editing page, tap Please connect a device.
Note: If you have connected an xTool device in XCS before, tap the name of the device > select Connect device.
(3) On the Connect device window, tap Configure Wi-Fi. Then, select S1 and tap Next.
(4) Long press the button on xTool S1 until the annular indicator blinks purple. On XCS, tap OK, next.
(5) Follow the onscreen instructions to connect xTool S1 to a Wi-Fi network. Then, tap Go to connect.
(6) On the device list, tap the name of your xTool S1 to connect it. After xTool S1 is connected, its annular indicator turns solid purple.
Note: If you cannot find your device through Wi-Fi, try IP connection instead: select IP, input the IP address of your device, and tap Connect.
(1) On the processing panel, tap the gear icon next to the xTool S1 image to open the device setting window.
(2) In Basic info, you can view the device information and modify some information.
(3) In Working info, you can set up the device for work.
XCS that runs on iPad supports the following processing modes:
Note: XCS that runs on the mobile phone or iPad does not support the Curved material and Use conveyor feeder modes. If you need to use these two modes, please use XCS on your computer.
xTool S1 supports different material thicknesses when working with different accessories.
Combinations of xTool S1 and accessories | Supported material thickness (H) |
xTool S1 | 0 mm < H ≤ 42 mm |
xTool S1 + slats | 0 mm < H ≤ 34 mm |
xTool S1 + honeycomb panel | 0 mm < H ≤ 15 mm |
xTool S1 + riser base | 70 mm ≤ H ≤ 125 mm |
xTool S1 + riser base + honeycomb panel | 0 mm < H ≤ 99 mm |
xTool S1 + riser base supporting conveyor feeder | 15.5 mm ≤ H ≤ 133.5 mm |
xTool S1 + riser base supporting conveyor feeder + honeycomb panel | 0 mm < H ≤ 106.5 mm |
Open the lid of xTool S1, and place the material to be processed on the baseplate.
Note: To cut a material, you are advised to place the slats or honeycomb panel on the baseplate before placing the material. The slats or honeycomb panel can reduce the burned area on the back of the material and protect the baseplate.
In the top-right corner of XCS, tap + Add project > Create project.
(1) On the right side of XCS, select Process on baseplate.
(2) Tap User-defined material. Select the name of your material, and tap Confirm.
If you can't find the name of your material, you can select User-defined material.
Note:
You can tap More to search among more materials.
After you select a material on the material list or material library, the software will automatically set parameters for laser processing. The default settings apply to xTool materials. You can adjust the settings based on your needs.
If you select User-defined material, you need to set the processing parameters by yourself.
(3) Turn on or off Laser module position based on your need.
Note: If you turn on Laser module position, XCS will display the position of the laser module in real time. The red cross in the canvas indicates the laser module, and the coordinates of the laser module are shown in the Laser module position section.
xTool S1 has a distance sensor, which can measure the distance between the laser module and the material surface. You can also manually measure and calculate the distance between the laser module and the material surface, and input the obtained values into XCS. Before processing, xTool S1 will perform auto-focus based on the Distance parameter.
(1) Move the laser module over the material. Ensure that the locating spot falls on the surface of the material.
(2) On the right side of XCS, tap the icon under the Distance parameter, and xTool S1 will automatically measure the distance from the laser module to the material surface.
Note: Before auto-measure, ensure that the probe of the distance sensor is not extending.
(1) Use a ruler to measure the distance from the surface of the material to the top of the laser module.
(2) Subtract 100 mm (3.937 in) from the measured value from step (1), and input the calculated value into the Distance parameter on the right of XCS.
(1) On the right side of XCS, tap Start Marking.
(2) Select a marking mode based on the shape of the target processing area, and tap Start marking.
(3) Manually move the laser module to make the red cross spot fall at a vertex of the target processing area, and press the button on the device to record the position. Then, repeat the same steps to record the other required vertex(es) for the target processing area.
(Here the Rectangle mode is used as an example.)
(4) Tap End marking > Done, and then the target processing area will be marked out on the canvas.
Note: You can also use Snapshot preview to take a photo of the processing area and insert the photo into the canvas as the background for visualized positioning. For more information, see DIY Marking Stickers & Use 'Snapshot Preview' with xTool S1.
Note: You can design objects based on the marked area.
Use the tools below the canvas to create objects. You can import images, insert shapes, enter text, and so on.
Note: XCS supports importing the following image formats: SVG, DXF, JPG, JPEG, PNG, BMP, etc.
Select objects on the canvas. Then, on the right side of XCS, set parameters for the selected objects.
Note:
You need to set parameters for every object. A missed object may fail to be processed.
The parameters that can be set for bitmap objects and vector objects are different. You can select multiple objects of the same type and set parameters for them at once.
Processing type
Image - Engrave: Laser beams hit on the surface of the material to change the color of the surface. By creating different shades of color on the material surface, xTool F1 Ultra prints an image on the material.
Vector - Score: Laser beams walk along the path of the vector graphic, drawing the vector on the material with lines.
Vector - Engrave: Laser beams walk through the entire area enclosed by the vector path, engraving the vector on the material with monochromatic fillings.
Vector - Cut: Laser beams cut the material along the path of the vector graphic.
Setting
If you have saved settings for the same type of material before, you can use your saved settings.
If you want to manually set the parameters, select User-defined. Then, tap EasySet panel below to set parameters.
EasySet panel
Tap EasySet panel, and set processing parameters on the panel.
You can preview the processing area on the material by framing. Framing means laser dots walk along the border of the processing objects on the material. Take the following steps to start framing:
(1) In the top-right corner of XCS, tap the setting icon next to Framing and set the framing speed.
Note: You can tap the arrow buttons to control the movement of the laser module.
The other three parameters allow you to configure how the laser module moves with every tap on an arrow button.
XY speed (mm/s): The moving speed of the laser module in X and Y directions.
XY distance (mm): The moving distance of the laser module with each tap on an XY arrow button.
Z distance (mm): The moving distance of the laser module with each tap on a Z arrow button.
(2) Close the lid of xTool S1, and then tap Framing in the software. Press the button on xTool S1 to start framing. The laser spot will move along the boundary of the processing pattern on the material so that you can preview the processing area.
(3) After you confirm that the processing area is proper, tap Framing completed in XCS. If the area is not ideal, you can adjust the material position or adjust the element positions in the software, and then preview the processing area again.
(1) In the top-right corner of the software, tap Process.
(2) Preview the processing pattern and path.
On the bottom-left corner, tap the button, and XCS will show you the processing path.
(3) Close the lid of xTool S1. In the upper right corner of XCS, tap Start. When the software shows “Ready”, press the button on xTool S1 to start processing.