This step features the full-length video tutorial in xTool Creative Space, and is especially good for new users.  It is geared towards the P2, but could help set the project up for other xTool cutters.  If your work area is smaller than the P2, pick an area of the grid and make a note of the coordinates, then rotate around that point.  

The first step is to create the snowflake design in XCS.  You'll need to be in millimeter mode to do this correctly, which can be found in the Settings.  Also verify that Autosnapping is turned on in the Settings box.  

1. Add a hexagon shape to the canvas, or open the Blank Snowflake.xcs template on this page.  It should automatically be placed in the middle horizontally, which will correspond with the 300 on the top ruler.  Move it down until you see vertical and horizontal blue lines, indicating it is in the center of the canvas.
2. Zoom in using the Ctrl key and the scroll wheel on your mouse until you see 150 in the ruler on the left side.  Select the hexagon, and use the arrow keys on your keyboard to move it up so the middle of the hexagon is on the 150 line.  
3. In the Processing Type section, ensure that Score is selected, and change the Power setting to 5%.

The X and Y numbers will be important.  We'll be working with 300 on the X axis, and 150 on the Y axis being in the center.

1. Use the Text tool in the left tool panel to add text to the canvas.  It will appear at the top in the center.  If you don't see it, zoom out.
2. Enter the desired name or text in the panel on the right.  Choose a typeface (font) like Dancing Script for this example.  
3. The letters are not connected, so with the text box selected on the canvas, use the Weld button at the bottom of the text panel to join the letters.  
4. From the Processing Type in the right panel, choose the Engrave setting, enter 30% for the Power, 80 for the Speed, and 100 for Lines per cm.  The text will turn a solid color, which indicates that it's been assigned the Engraving process.
5. Click on the little disk icon to save this setting.  Name it Engrave 30/80/100.  It can now be reused easily.
6. Zoom out a bit using Ctrl and the scroll wheel.  With the name selected, choose Circular Array from the Array button in the top toolbar.  
7. In the box that appears, enter 300 in the x box, 150 in the y box, and change the Copies box to 6, using the minus sign to decrease the number from 8 to 6.  Ensure that “Rotate object copies” is selected, and click OK.
8. One of the names, the one on the right, will have a box around it.  THIS IS A DUPLICATE THAT NEEDS TO BE DELETED.  Press the DELETE key or right-click and choose Delete.  

1. Use the text tool to create the year.  Zoom out a little so you can see most of the snowflake.
2. Resize the year and move into position between the names at the top.
3. Look for the small green icon to the right of the year.  Click and drag to bend the text, making the circle equal distance from the hexagon on all sides as shown.  
4. Resize slightly if needed, and center above the hexagon.  It should snap into place.
5. With the year selected, choose the Engrave option under processing, and use the popdown menu under Setting to choose Engrave 30/80/100.
6. Use the Circular Array function to rotate the year.  Enter 300 under x, 150 under y, and change the Copies to 6. Click OK.  

1. Using either a click-drag across elements, or the shift key, select ALL ELEMENTS EXCEPT THE HEXAGON.  Each selected item will have a green “bounding box” around it.  
2. From the Combine menu in the top toolbar, choose Unite.  This will ensure that the ornament is etched as an entire unit, and not item by item; it will process faster.  The green boxes disappear, and are replaced by a single green box around the entire snowflake.  
3. From the Arrange menu, choose Send to Back.  This will make it easier to isolate the hexagon later.
4. With the text selected, reapply the Engrave function, choose the Engrave 30/80/100 option from the Setting menu.  (Earlier when we applied the Engrave function, it was to turn all the text solid so we could see it more easily…)
5. Deselect all by clicking on the canvas outside the bounding box.  

1. Click and drag a green box that crosses both the text and the hexagon.  You will see a green line around the text and also the hexagon…two bounding boxes.  
   If you happen to see three or more green bounding boxes, you have duplicate objects.  Deselect all, and try to remove the extra ones.  If you can't select them, choose the larger united text box, and use the Arrange option to Send to Back and try again.
2. Use the Outline function to add the outline.  Try to eliminate any very small openings by adjusting the size of the outline.  Cutouts are fine, but tiny, tiny openings are not optimal.  Don't forget to click OK when you're done. Deselect by clicking on the canvas outside the bounding box.
3. Zoom in above the top.  
4. Use either the Shape tool or Insert tool to add a circle above the ornament.  If you use the Insert tool, add the Shift key to make the circle proportional.  Move the circle into position so it overlaps a bit and is centered.  It should snap.  
5. Use the Outline function to the negative or left to make the inside of the ring.  Click OK.  
6. Deselect all by clicking outside the bounding box.  
7. Carefully select the larger circle, add the Shift key, and select the outline of the ornament.  Use the Unite function from the Combine menu to merge them together.  There is no need to subtract the smaller circle.  Hold the Shift key and add the smaller circle.  Right click, and choose Group.  
8. From the Processing Type panel on the right, choose Cut.  Change the settings to Power 80% and Speed 16%. Save this as a new setting and call it CUT 80/16/1.

1. Draw a green box around the entire ornament by clicking and dragging.  You should see a total of four bounding boxes.
2. If you're comfortable with the metric system, use the Size box at the top to enter the desired width.  If you're not comfortable with the metric system, change the preference back to inches in the Settings box…on the computer that's in the upper left corner.  Then use the Size box to enter 6 in the Width box to make the ornament 6" wide.
3. Deselect by clicking outside the bounding box.  
4. Select the hexagon by clicking on it.  Then right-click and choose Copy. 
5. Select the entire ornament, right-click, then choose Group from the side menu.  
6. Right-click off to the side somewhere and choose Paste.  
7. Use the Shape menu to add a heart to the canvas.  Click on the canvas to close the Shape menu.  
8. Use one of the corners of the bounding box to resize the heart.  Move it near the new hexagon.  Zoom in for a better look…hint: hover over the hexagon while zooming in to center it in the window. 
9. Select both the heart and the hexagon using the Shift key.  Use the Arrange menu to center them vertically and horizontally.  
10. Then select the heart only, and use the arrows on the keyboard to move it down a little more to visually center it.
11. Select both again, right-click, and Group.  We are not going to Combine/Unite these because we need to be able to separate them in the next section.
12. From the Processing Type panel, choose Cut, and from the pop-down menu, choose the CUT 80/16/1 option.  
13. Right-click again and choose Copy.

If you are going to create the raised part out of the same acrylic, it can be cut at the same time as the snowflake.  In that case, you would only need two canvases—one with the snowflake/raised frame, and one with the heart.  If you would like a different-colored raised frame, like maybe green with a red heart, then you will have three tabs.  Adjust as needed.

1. At the lower left, right click on the word Canvas and choose Rename.  Name this first canvas “Snowflake.”
2. Click the + to the right of this tab.  Rename this new canvas “Raised.”  
3. Click the + to the right of this new tab, and name the newest canvas “Hearts.”  
4. Click on the Raised tab at the bottom.  Right-click on the canvas and choose Paste.
5. While this component is selected, choose Grid Array from the Array menu.  Use the +/- signs to increase both the X columns and Y columns to 3.  Click OK.
6. Click and drag a box around all of these components to select them.  
7. From the Processing Type panel on the right, ensure Cut is chosen, and choose the CUT 80/16/1 from the pop-down menu.
8. Right-click on the objects, and choose Group from the side menu.  It is not necessary to Combine/Unite them.
9. Click on the Hearts tab.  
10. Right-click and Paste the component on this canvas.  
11. Right-click and Ungroup the component.  Deselect by clicking on the canvas off to the side.  Then click on the hexagon and delete it, leaving only the heart.  
12. From the Array menu, create a Grid Array of hearts, with 3 rows and 3 columns, for a total of nine hearts.  
13. Select all of them, and choose Cut from the Processing Type.  From the pop-down menu choose CUT 80/16/1. 
14. Right-click and choose Group.  These can then be moved around as a group.  It is not necessary to Combine/Unite them.  

1. Choose the Snowflake tab.  Click on the canvas (not on the objects), then choose the appropriate option for the configuration of the machine.  I'm using slats in my P2, so I'm choosing the Slats Flat option.  
2. Choose the appropriate material from the pop-down under Material.  I'm using 3mm Transparent Acrylic.  
3. Repeat this for each tab, selecting the appropriate materials.  If you'd like the Raised frames to be a different color acrylic or even wood, choose those options—I think I might try a solid-color green acrylic.  For the Hearts, click on the canvas and choose the material type—I've found a fantastic chunky red glitter acrylic, which is what you see in the photos.  

Turn on the machine, use the Connect Device button in the upper right corner of XCS.  I prefer to peel off the paper or plastic covering from the acrylic before etching and cutting.  Once the machine is visible, move the design onto the appropriate part of the sheet, then click the Process button.  Press the button on the P2, and start cutting!  Cut each sheet as needed.

Because I created my snowflakes with transparent acrylic, I used Weld-on #4 thin solvent cement to bond the layers.  Weld-on solvent cement is flammable, and MUST be used with good ventilation.  I use the scored hexagon on the main snowflake as a placement guide, and placed a few drops of solvent cement with a 25-gauge needle bottle inside the heart, toward the edge, so it would seep under the raised frame via capillary action.  I wait for that to set, then I place a little more solvent cement inside the heart-shaped opening, and placed the heart inside the frame.  

Finish the piece with a piece of cord or a ribbon, and it's ready to hang!