xTool Studio Update, August 2026: 8 New Features and How to Use Them

The xTool Studio updates over the summer of 2026 brought in some big features, and in August 2026 I ran through my favorites: a much better preview, offline and backed up material settings, local folders, project notes, better vector editing, a trim tool, variable data with QR codes and image warp.

Here's what each one does and how to use it, with screenshots from my own setup on the F2 Ultra UV. As far as I know, they all still work this way. The newest features since then are in my latest xTool Studio update guide.

Jump to: The new preview · Back up your materials · Local folders · Project notes · Vector node editing · Trim tool · Variable data and QR codes · Image warp

1. A much better preview

The preview has been completely overhauled. Set your material first (I set mine to wood), then click Preview. You now get a proper 3D look at the result on the actual material, and you can move it around.

It doesn't just show the material. It shows the different shades your settings will give you, lighter or darker, and if you set parts of the design to cut, it shows those pieces cut out too.

Here's an extreme example with everything set to cut, so you can see exactly what will drop out and what will be left. If you're a visual person, this is a really good way to check a job before you run it.

There's a new preview for inner engraving too. Click the same Preview button on a crystal job and you get a realistic view of how it will look, and you can switch between different lighting to check it before you engrave.

2. Keep your material settings offline and back them up

This one is long overdue and I'm really happy about it. Your own materials in the My materials tab of the material library are stored in the cloud, so if you lost your internet connection you'd lose access to them.

1. Open the material library and click the My materials tab.
2. Click Manage. A new window opens.
3. Tick the materials you want (or select all).
4. Click Sync to Local to keep a copy on your computer, or Export to save a backup file.

Sync to Local means your settings are there even without internet, at a craft fair or trade show for example. And I really recommend exporting them every so often and saving the file somewhere safe. You can import them again any time. The November 2026 update also added a Material setting page on the Home screen with an export option, which I cover in the latest update guide.

3. Local folders in My Space

When you save a file in Studio it asks whether you want to save it to My Space or locally. I always save locally because I want my files to hand, but that meant they weren't all in one place. Now there's a local option inside My Space.

1. Go to My Space on the left of the Home screen and choose Local Space.
2. Click Add Local Folder and pick the folder where you save your projects.
3. Studio scans the folder and shows every project it finds.

Your files aren't moved. You just get quick access to all of them in one place. The amount of time I spend looking for files, this makes life much easier.

4. Project notes

You can now attach a note to a project and have it pop up when you need it. Mine says to defocus the laser by 2 mm for this material, because I'd probably forget otherwise.

1. In your project, click Project notes on the left-hand toolbar.
2. Type your note.
3. Tick Popup when opening file, Remind me before processing, or both.

Each project has its own note, so it's great for glass or anything where you follow a specific routine. You don't have to remember it every time, you just get the reminder.

5. Better vector node editing

The vector pen tool lets you draw around something so you can engrave a shape that fits a specific item. I drew around a corkscrew bottle opener. When you edit the shape, the toolbar at the top now has Insert, Delete, Break and Scissors, alongside Simplify.

• Simplify was there before. It smooths your shape with curves.
• Insert: click anywhere on a line to add a point (or press the I key), then drag it and use the handles to shape the curve.
• Delete: click a point to remove it, handy if you've added too many.

It makes the pen tool a lot more flexible for getting a custom shape right, quicker.

6. Trim tool

Simple, but really useful if you work with vectors. I had a jigsaw puzzle design. Ungrouping it splits it into lines, but you couldn't break it down any further. Now you can.

1. Open the shapes menu on the left and choose Trim (Ctrl+T).
2. Hover over the lines. The section that will be removed turns red.
3. Click to trim it out.

You could use it to make larger custom jigsaw pieces. It also works where shapes overlap: I put the word Subscribe over the puzzle, and the trim tool picked up where the text crossed the lines, so I could cut those lines out underneath it.

7. Variable data: serial numbers and QR codes

This is a good one if you need to mark or serialize things. Every item above has its own part number in sequence and its own QR code, all generated automatically.

1. Draw a shape (any size) for the QR code, and add some text. I typed "Part number" and set it to engrave.
2. Drag a box around both, right click and choose Set variable at the top. You may get some tutorial tips first.
3. Choose which parts are variables (I picked both the text and the shape) and click Next.

4. Rename each field if you like and click Confirm.
5. For the shape, change the variable type to QR code.
6. For the part number, choose Custom sequence. You can set how many zeros it starts with, the initial value, the step size, and a prefix or suffix. I added "UK" as a suffix.
7. Click the + to add rows. Each row is a new part number with its own QR code. The Process count column sets how many of each.
8. Click Confirm.

Position your item, then copy and paste it. Each copy moves on to the next part number and QR code. Hit Preview and you'll see them all. You can also fill the table from an Excel spreadsheet using the batch data import. xTool has a video showing how.

8. Image warp

Warp used to be for text. Now you can warp images too, like in a lot of photo editing software.

1. Select your image and click Edit at the top.
2. Choose Warp on the left. A grid with handles appears over the image.
3. Pick a preset shape such as an arc, flag or wave, or choose Custom and drag the handles wherever you like.
4. Click Confirm.

It's quite niche, but it's handy for logos, and for having a bit of fun stretching a character's legs. Knowing you can do it is the main thing.

Which is your favorite?

Studio keeps getting easier and more useful, which is one of the things I like most about it. Let me know in the comments on the video which feature you think is the best. If you're setting up a job, my free Laser Settings Library has tested settings for xTool machines.