I’ve just made my first xTool C1 cake topper, and I’m really pleased with it. It’s layered, it’s double-sided, and it has a glitter cardstock backing that makes it sparkle. In this tutorial, I’ll show you exactly how I made it, including the settings that worked and the mistake I made along the way.
If you’ve been anywhere near the crafting world lately, you may have noticed there’s a new kid on the block. The xTool C1 has arrived, and it’s causing quite a stir among makers, and being part of the testing team meant I got to try it out first-hand.
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What You Will Find Here
What Is the xTool C1?
In simple terms, the xTool C1 is a desktop cutting machine that scans, prints and cuts all in one go. You pop your cardstock onto the mat, the machine scans it, prints your design and then cuts it out, all without a separate printer or any fiddly registration marks to line up. For anyone who has ever fought with a print-and-cut project, that alone is a big deal.
I’ve started to put it through its paces project by project, and my first big make is this layered, double-sided xTool C1 cake topper. It’s cute, it’s colourful, and it shows off just a little of what the machine can do. In this tutorial, I’ll walk you through exactly how I made it, including the settings that worked and the one mistake I made along the way, so you can skip the head-scratching and get straight to the fun part.
Watch the Video Tutorial
What You’ll Need
- An xTool C1 with the print cartridge and fine point blade
- xTool Studio, which is free software
- The cake topper files
- White cardstock, about 230 to 280 GSM, solid and untextured
- Green glitter cardstock, 250 g, or any colour you like
- A 12×12 electrostatic mat
- Double-sided tape and foam sticky pads
- A straw or dowel for the stick
My Honest Opinion of the xTool C1
Before the tutorial, here’s what I think so far. The best part is that the C1 scans, prints and cuts in one go. There’s no separate printer and no registration marks to line up, so it saves a lot of time.
The print quality is excellent. The colours are rich, and the detail is crisp. I’m also thrilled with the cut results, especially on the glitter cardstock.
It did take me a little while to learn the settings, and I needed more pressure on thicker card. However, once I understood how the software worked, it became easy to use. If you’re a beginner, I’d recommend running a small test cut first. But so far I am thrilled with the results.
xTool C1 Cake Topper Tutorial: How to Make a Layered Print & Cut Topper
1. Upload Your Files to xTool Studio
If you are making your own cake topper from scratch (you can use mine, but it helps to know how to do it from scratch), open xTool Studio and click Import in the left sidebar. Select all your files and drag them in together. Bulk importing saves time, especially with layered designs. This for me is a game change, no uploading one file at a time.
2. Arrange and Group the Design
Next, position the elements to build your topper. Use Arrange in the top bar to send pieces to the front or back. Then select everything and group it, so the design prints and cuts as one image.
If your file has layers, resize everything together. That way the layers stay matched.
3. Add a Number or Name with a Font
Before moving on, I want to show you how easy it is to add text, in case you’d like a birthday number or a name on your topper. I typed in the number 2 as an example.
First, click the Text option in the side bar and type your number or name. Then, in the top bar, choose your font. A side bar opens with every font available. What I love is that they’re all included, with no extra charges.
Next, change the colour. In the top bar, use the fill option to pick a plain colour, or go to style to add a gradient. You can also add an offset to the text and give the offset a slightly different colour, which makes the number really stand out.
I didn’t put the number on my finished topper because I’m giving it to someone else, so I cut mine separately. If you’d like yours on the topper, simply group it with the design.
4. Add an Offset (or a Pattern)
Offsets are something I use all the time. Find the Offset box in the top bar and drag it to the size you want. It’s quite sensitive, so go gently, then confirm. You can also change the colour of the offset.
If you’d like a pattern, click Pattern, then Upload pattern to use your own. I tried a pumpkin pattern as an example. It’s all about getting used to how the software works.
5. Resize and Duplicate Your Design
Now prepare the design for your mat. The mat is 12×12; right-click and drag everything smaller to fit. I had space left on my mat; I could have made a bigger cake topper easily.
Before adding the final offset, I duplicate the design. Right-click and copy, then right-click and paste. Then right-click the design and group it so it prints and cuts as one image.
6. Set Print & Cut and Die Cut
Click on the image in the sidebar. It will show Print, so change it to Print & Cut. This is where I went wrong, so check it carefully. When the cut options pop up, you’ll see kiss cut. Change this to die cut. Then set the material colour a little further down to match your card, which for me was white.
Next, go back to the top bar and add your offset. It gives the topper a little dimension once it’s cut and ties all the elements together so it looks finished. You’ll now have your print-and-cut image, with the number separate.
7. Reflect for a Double-Sided Topper
Click your grouped topper, copy it, then right click and paste it to the side. In the top bar, click Reflect. This gives you a front and a back. You don’t have to do this, but a double-sided topper looks good from any angle, depending on where your cake sits in the room.
Then separate your elements so they cut individually if you want a layered look.
8. Load the Mat and Scan
Place your cardstock on the 12×12 mat and feed it into the C1. Let the machine scan the mat. Because it scans, you don’t need registration marks, and you can place your design right up to the edges.
If you’ve joined smaller pieces of card together, the scan shows the join line. Simply arrange your design around it. ( I explain this in more detail in the video)
9. Print and Cut the White Layers
Next, search for white cardstock in the materials list and apply it. I used 250 g.. Before you press go, check the time estimate. Mine was about 7 minutes.
My first estimate said 57 minutes, which was a sign that something was wrong. It turned out I had kiss cut selected instead of die cut. Once I fixed that and changed the settings to 200 g and upped the pressure ( I wasn’t sure if there was an issue with the 250 g settings, so I decided to change anyway), the time dropped straight away.
Thick card may need more pressure than the preset. My white cardstock needed two passes, so I’d raise the pressure and run a test first.
10. Cut the Glitter Cardstock Backing
Load your glitter cardstock and let the machine scan it. Select the front and back shapes and add an external offset to each. Drag it to the exact size you want, then confirm. Then turn the output off on all the print and cut elements, so only the glitter shapes cut.
Set the process to Cut and choose green as the material colour. Search for glitter in the materials list and select green glitter card, 250 g. I used a pressure of 600, and it cut cleanly in one pass in about 19 seconds.
11. Assemble Your Layered Cake Topper
Finally, lay out your pieces. Use double-sided tape for parts that should sit flat or lift at one edge. Use foam sticky pads for raised layers, which gives the topper real depth.
Then tape a straw or dowel between the front and back. Flatten the top of the straw and keep the bottom firmer for strength. Press the two sides together, and your topper is ready.
Quick Tips for a Clean Cut
- Always check that die cut is selected before you send the job.
- Look at the time estimate before pressing go.
- Run a small test cut on any new material.
- Resize layered files together, never one piece at a time.
Final Thoughts on the xTool C1
I’m thrilled with how this xTool C1 cake topper turned out. It’s a quick project with a vibrant, professional finish, and it’s a great way to learn print and cut.
I’ll be sharing a sticker tutorial very soon, so keep an eye out. If you make your own topper, I’d love to see it, so leave a comment below.
