xTool SVG Files: Creative Space and Studio Import Guide

xTool machines are run from xTool's own free software. For years that was xTool Creative Space (XCS). Newer versions continue as xTool Studio, and newer machines only work with Studio. The good news is that the import workflow is very similar in both. This guide shows how to bring xTool SVG files into xTool Creative Space or Studio, set each line to cut, score or engrave, and avoid the mistakes that waste material.

XCS or xTool Studio: which do you have?

If you installed your software in 2025 or later, you probably have xTool Studio. If you have an older machine and have not updated, you may still be on XCS. They are separate programs, so installing one does not remove the other, and Studio can open older XCS project files.

Everything below works in both. Where a button is in a slightly different place, the name is usually the same. If you cannot find a control, check xTool's support pages for your version.

Why SVG is the right file for xTool

xTool software imports SVG, DXF, JPG, PNG and a few other formats. For cutting, SVG is usually the best fit:

SVG keeps colours, which the software uses to split the design into layers.
It keeps fills, so engrave areas arrive ready to engrave.
It keeps paths, so cut and score lines can be traced exactly.

DXF works for cutting, but it tends to lose fills and sometimes colours. JPG and PNG can only be engraved. If a design pack includes an SVG, use that one. Our article on SVG vs DXF for laser cutting covers the differences in more detail.

xTool Creative Space import: step by step

Open the software and connect your machine.
Choose the processing mode for flat material (labelled Laser Flat or similar).
Import the SVG. Use File > Import, the Import button in the toolbar, or drag the file onto the canvas.
Check the size. Select the whole design and look at the width and height in the right-hand panel.
Open the layer list (the Layer and Object List, near the bottom left in Studio) to see the colours in the file.
Select each colour group and set its processing type: Cut, Score or Engrave.
Choose your material, or enter your own settings for a material that is not in the library.
Place the design on the material using the camera view or framing.
Run Framing to confirm the position, then start the job and stay with the machine.

Matching colours to processing types

xTool software sorts the imported design by colour, which makes it easy to set up a whole group at once. A widely used convention is:

Red (#FF0000): Cut. These lines go right through the material.
Blue (#0000FF): Engrave. These are filled shapes, such as logos or text.
Green (#00FF00): Score. A light line on the surface for folds and details.
Black: Reference only, such as part names. Do not process these.

Files made with our laser cut file generator use exactly these colours, and the SVG is the file intended for xTool. To stop the black part names being processed, either delete them after import or turn off output for that layer. Keep a copy of the original file in case you want to refer to the names when assembling.

If a group shows up with the wrong processing type, select it and change it in the right-hand panel. The software makes a suggestion, but you have the final say.

Check the size every time

Size errors are the most common xTool import problem. Different design programs save SVG units differently, so a file can arrive slightly too large or too small.

To check:

Compare the imported width and height with the dimensions the designer gives.
If they differ, lock the proportions and type the correct width.
Measure one known feature, such as a slot that should equal the material thickness.

On anything with joints, even a small size error matters. A box that is 3% too big will have slots that no longer match the material.

Processing order: engrave and score first

The order of operations decides whether the result lines up. Engraving and scoring should run before cutting, because a part that has been cut free can move slightly. Inner cuts, such as holes and slots, should run before the outer outline for the same reason.

Check the processing order in the layer list and change it if it looks wrong. On your first run of a new design, watch the first few parts closely.

Settings: starting points, not rules

xTool's material library gives suggested speed, power and passes for its own materials. For other materials, you enter values yourself. Treat any value as a starting point to test, because diode and CO2 lasers behave very differently, and so do different power levels.

A sensible routine:

Cut a small test shape in a corner of the sheet.
If it does not go through, add a pass or lower the speed before raising power.
For scoring, start low and raise power until the line is clean.
For engraving, test a small square at two or three power levels.

Diode machines often need several passes to cut 3 mm wood. CO2 machines such as the P2 usually cut it in one. Your own test is the only reliable guide.

Kerf and finger joints

The beam burns away a thin strip of material, called kerf. For finger-jointed boxes and slot-together designs, kerf decides how tight the joints are.

Files from our laser cut tool already allow for kerf in the joints. The starting values for a CO2 laser on 3 mm material are 0.15 mm for plywood, birch plywood and MDF, and 0.12 mm for basswood, cast acrylic, cardboard and veg-tanned leather. A diode beam may be a little narrower or wider. If you have not measured your machine yet, our kerf test guide shows a quick way to do it. Because the files are generated and checked by software rather than physically cut by us, a test joint on your own material is a good habit.

If your software offers a kerf or offset option on cut layers, leave it at zero when using files that already allow for kerf. Otherwise you will count it twice and the joints will be too tight.

Common xTool SVG import problems

Design imports as one block. The file is grouped. Ungroup it so you can set each colour separately.
Engrave area outlined instead of filled. The shape is a stroke, not a fill, or the type is set to Score. Change it to Engrave, or fill the shape in your design program.
Text looks wrong. The font is not installed. Convert text to paths in your design program before export.
Lines cut twice. The file has duplicate lines on top of each other. Remove them in your design program.
Wrong size. See the size check above, or try the DXF version.

Safety rules apply to every job. Do not leave the laser unattended, keep ventilation running, keep a fire extinguisher close, and never cut PVC, vinyl, polycarbonate or ABS. See materials you should never laser cut for the full list.

Frequently asked questions

Can xTool Creative Space open SVG files?

Yes. Both XCS and xTool Studio import SVG files. Use File > Import or drag the file onto the canvas, then set each colour to cut, score or engrave.

Is xTool Studio the same as xTool Creative Space?

xTool Studio is the newer program that continues on from XCS. The import steps are much the same, and newer machines only work with Studio.

Why are my xTool SVG files the wrong size?

The design program saved the units differently. Lock the proportions, enter the correct width, and measure a known feature. If problems continue, try the DXF version.

Do I need LightBurn to use SVG files on an xTool?

No. xTool's own software handles SVG files directly. Some xTool machines also work with LightBurn, but it is not required.