This is how it will look like after the assembly and finishing! Scroll down to see, how it performs in darkness!

To create your own multilayer design, the first step is to choose a photo!

1. Open the photo in a CAD or drawing software of your choice!
2. Start with the rearmost layer of the photo, often mountains or the horizon.
3. Trace the contours of the photo layer by layer (you have to roughly divide the layers beforehand)
4. You can also draw several layers for complex buildings (such as the 'Neuschwanstein' castle in this case).
5. As soon as a layer is finished, you must draw the border on the right and left and the boundary at the bottom (in the size of the photo) so that you can later place the layers perfectly on top of each other.
6. At the end, go through all the layers again after you have deleted the photo to see if you have forgotten anything.
7. Put the layers in a 2D-format and export it as .dxf or .svg File.

Good luck designing YOUR very own photo selection!

To cut your first layers, import the .dxf file into XTool Creative Space. If you want to build 'Neuschwanstein', you can simply open and run the XCS files (not the paper versions!)

• Remember that the parts must fit into your workspace!
• Also, don't forget to adjust the settings for a material other than 2mm birch plywood. Otherwise you can use the above settings.
• You should also remember to measure the final height!

Now you can start cutting!

In XTool Creative Space you can design your own rotatable calendar, which will be integrated into your multilayer design (as shown in the pictures). Of course you will find the whole thing completely ready in the XCS file. But if you want to try something like this yourself, you can carry out the following steps (and follow the pictures)

1. Start with the months (or whatever names / words you want to arrange in the circle) and insert the text.
2. Make the text the right size.
3. Now go to the 'Distribution' tab and then to the distribution of an object in the circle.
4. Here you have to adjust the X and Y values so that the objects fit perfectly into your design (in my case the large and small circle).
5. You should of course also specify the number of copies.
6. Repeat the same for the numbers (day 1-31 of the month), but with more copies and in the smaller circle.
7. Now you just have to set the engraving data or use the above settings as a guide.

The cutting of the next parts can begin!

TIP: After cutting the round parts for the calendar, don't forget to sand them down, so they move smoothly!

Now comes the part that makes your multilayer design colorful! If you own an XTool M1 ultra, you naturally have an advantage. But what it can't do and what you can always rework by hand is glow-in-the-dark color!
In the second picture you can see which color I used for this. You can find some sets on Amazon!

A few important points for painting:

1. Let the first coat of paint dry and then go over it a second time with paint. This makes the glow effect even stronger!
2. You don't have to paint each layer completely if you're sticking them on top of each other anyway. In the third picture you can see which layers are on top of each other and where you need to paint.
3. In principle, it doesn't matter which colors you use where. However, as the fluorescent colors often don't have such a wide range of shades, you can use my template as a guide.
4. If you want to color your own multilayer design, it helps to try it out beforehand in your drawing software, as I did with 'Neuschwanstein'.

You can see the final and mega cool effect of the color in the last step after the assembly!

Here you can see how the layers have to be glued together. I simply used superglue for this and then always made sure that the bottom and side edges of the individual layers were flush.

Have fun with the assembly!

Isn't this a beautiful result for a night scene?!

Your multilayer design can be used in many different ways! So the whole thing doesn't have to be made of wood: Another very COLORFUL option is colored kraft paper.

This is where the XTool M1 shines, because you can use the built-in blade! Attached you will also find the XCS files for this! With the above settings, thicker paper can be cut well. I have marked the respective color of the paper in the name of the XCS file. However, you are of course flexible here and can also paint the paper afterwards.

When removing the parts, you will need a cutter knife in some places.

In order to be able to glue the individual layers to the base afterwards, you have to fold over approx. 7-8mm of the edge (which I added) at the bottom of each layer.

Now you can glue (again with superglue) the layers in the correct order onto the large piece of orange kraft paper.

And there you have it: a perfect multilayer castle made of paper!