Laser engraving adds a personalized touch to jewelry that can significantly increase its value. We’re introducing xTool Demo Room today, a detailed step-by-step guide for xTool engraver beginners. In episode 1, we walk through the process of creating a custom colour-engraved stainless steel cat keychain using the xTool F2, as demonstrated during a live session with a client, Michelle 😊
Step 1: Select Your Design 🎨
Begin by opening a new project in the xTool software. For this project, Michelle chose a cat design from the royalty-free library, which includes a wide variety of animals, plants, and shapes.
Step 2: Vectorize and Trace ✍️
If you are importing a custom JPEG or logo, you must prepare it for engraving. You can right-click the image to “export as vector file” or use the “edit trace” tool. This ensures the laser follows the lines of the design accurately. You can also apply filters like “black and white” or “line art” to clean up the image.
Step 3: Clean the Background 🧹
To ensure a clean engrave, remove any unnecessary background from your image. While the software has a brush tool and AI credits for this, you can also use external tools like ChatGPT or Photoshop to quickly remove backgrounds before importing the file.
Step 4: Create a Framing Guide ⃝
To ensure the design fits perfectly on your jewelry blank, create a shape (like a circle) and set its aspect ratio to the exact size of your piece (e.g., 30mm). This circle is for visual placement only; be sure to disable the “output” for this layer so it does not actually engrave onto the metal.
Step 5: Align Design and Add Personalized Text 🐈
Move your cat design into the center of your framing circle. Use the text tool to add a name, such as “Michelle,” and select a font as you want. You can rotate and resize the text to fit the aesthetic of the piece.
Step 6: Measure Thickness and Focus 👀
Place your gold-plated stainless steel blank into the machine. Measure the material thickness- in this case, 1.9mm- and input it into the software. The F2 uses a dual-light system where a blue and red light must overlap perfectly to ensure the laser is in focus.
Step 7: Configure Color and Power Settings 🔥
The F2’s IR laser allows for color engraving on stainless steel.
For Darker Text (Michelle): Use a higher power (e.g., power 50 or higher) and slower speed to achieve a dark gray or nearly black finish.
For Color (Blue Cat): Use a lower power setting (e.g., power 25, speed 28) to achieve a blue gradient.
Step 8: Final Framing Check and Engrave ✅
Before starting the laser, run the “outline” framing. This projects a light onto the physical jewelry piece so you can verify the alignment one last time. Once satisfied, hit start. The result is a beautiful two-tone keychain with a blue cat and dark-colored text.
Pro Tips for Jeweler Success 💡
- Reflective Surface Fix: If the laser’s auto-focus struggles with highly reflective metal, place a small piece of paper over the surface to help the sensors find the correct focus point.
- The “Magic” Shortcut: Use Command + O to instantly center your selected design elements within the workspace.
- Client Approvals: Use the visual framing circle as a digital mockup for your clients. Showing them exactly how the design sits on the charm before you engrave builds trust and prevents errors.
- Precision Alignment: If you need to be extremely precise with text placement, use the “line tool” to create temporary vertical or horizontal markers to ensure everything is perfectly square.
- Batch Templates: Once you have a layout you love, save it as a template. This allows you to quickly swap names or icons for future orders without re-measuring your jewelry blanks
Shop xTool Engravers
Shop Blanks
✨ At Stones and Findings, we provide everything from high-quality blanks to professional training, so you can confidently expand your skills and offer meaningful, personalized pieces to your clients.