xTool F2 Ultra UV Ceramic Settings: Tiles & Mugs Chart (2026)

Last updated: October 28, 2026

A UV laser marks glazed ceramic directly, with no CerMark or paint. (AI-generated illustration, generic machine.)

Quick answer: the best starting settings

For flat glazed tiles, start at 45% power, 250 mm/s, 1 pass, 600 DPI.

For mugs on the rotary, start at 45% power, 200 mm/s, 1 pass.

Raise power or add a pass only if the mark is too faint.

xTool F2 Ultra UV ceramic settings chart

Note: xTool's general ceramic blog suggests about 90% power at 45 mm/s, but that is for lower-power diode-style machines, not the F2 Ultra UV. Don't use it as an F2 Ultra UV starting point.

UV leaves a fine frosted mark in the glaze. (AI-generated example.)

What results to expect

• The mark depends on the glaze. Bonny reports a deep white frost on tile. An Atomm maker got dark-grey, sketch-like lines on matte white coasters, with no chipping or cracking.
• White on white can be nearly invisible. Hackster's reviewer could only see a mark on a white plate under glancing light. Contrast is best when the glaze differs in colour from the ceramic underneath.
• Deep engraving reveals the body. Tom's Hardware cut through a mug's glaze at 100% / 88 mm/s / 2 passes and found a light blue left behind. They ran a silver marker over the letters to make them pop.

Why UV is ideal for ceramic

• Thin surface absorption. At 355 nm, glaze absorbs the energy in a very thin layer.
• Low heat. Less thermal stress means less risk of micro-cracks than infrared or CO2.
• No coating. No CerMark spray, no paint, no rinse step.
• Fine detail. Small text, line art and logos stay sharp.

What the settings mean

• Power: too high can yellow or crack the glaze.
• Speed: slower is stronger but adds heat.
• DPI / lines per cm: 600 DPI gives a solid fill; 300 DPI is faster for big areas.
• Frequency (40–150 kHz): higher tends to give a smoother, more even frost.
• Uni-directional mode: cleaner edges on fine text; bi-directional is faster.

Step-by-step: engraving a ceramic tile

Run a small grid on a spare tile first. (AI-generated illustration; numbers are examples only.)

1. Clean

• Wipe the glaze with isopropyl alcohol to remove grease and fingerprints.

2. Focus

• Autofocus on the glaze surface. Curved or textured tiles need a check in several spots.

3. Test

• Run a small power and speed grid on a spare tile or the back of the piece.
• Start at 45% / 250 mm/s and step power up and down by 5%.

4. Artwork

• Use clean vector line art or high-contrast images.
• White or light glaze gives the strongest frosted contrast; dark glaze gives a subtler mark.

5. Engrave

• Run 1 pass. Add a second only if the mark is too faint.

6. Finish

• Wipe off dust. The mark is in the glaze, so it is permanent.

Engraving ceramic mugs with the rotary

Mugs need a rotary so the glaze stays in focus. (AI-generated example.)

• Start at 45% power, 200 mm/s, 1 pass.
• Level the mug on the rollers so the surface is parallel to the bed.
• Keep designs narrow around the curve, or use the rotary's full wrap mode.
• Test on the mug's bottom edge if you have no spare.
• In xTool Studio, choose the rotary mode and enter the mug's diameter. Studio works out the rotation (xTool rotary guide).
• For tapered or odd-shaped pieces that won't sit on the rotary, use Curved material mode with 3D measurement (xTool support).

Troubleshooting

FAQ

Can the xTool F2 Ultra UV engrave ceramic?

Yes. It marks glazed tiles and mugs directly, leaving a frosted or grey mark.

Do I need CerMark for UV ceramic engraving?

No. CerMark is for CO2 and diode lasers. UV marks the glaze without a coating.

What DPI should I use on ceramic tile?

The community setting uses 600 DPI. Try 300 DPI on large fills to save time.

Is a UV-engraved mug food safe?

The mark is in the existing glaze with no added coating. Check your mug maker's food-safety rating, and avoid engraving where lips touch if unsure.

Can a UV laser crack ceramic?

It is less likely than with hotter lasers, but too much power or many passes can still cause cracks. Stay at 1 pass where possible.

Why can't I see my engraving on a white mug?

White glaze over a white body gives little contrast. Use a coloured glaze, go deeper, or colour-fill the mark with a paint marker.

Do xTool's material presets work on any ceramic?

xTool says presets give the best results with xTool materials. For other tiles and mugs, run a material test array first.

Can I cut ceramic with the F2 Ultra UV?

No sourced setting exists for cutting ceramic. Treat it as engrave-only.

Final thoughts

Use 45% power at 250 mm/s for tiles and 200 mm/s for mugs, then fine-tune with a test grid. Light glazes give the best contrast, and a single clean pass protects the glaze.

Sources

1. Bonny Creations, F2 Ultra UV Ceramic Tile: https://www.bonnycreations.com/settings/machines/xtool-f2-ultra-uv/ceramic-tile
2. Bonny Creations, F2 Ultra UV settings (mug): https://www.bonnycreations.com/settings/machines/xtool-f2-ultra-uv
3. xTool Support, Processing Parameters for F2 Ultra UV: https://support.xtool.com/article/2699
4. xTool, How to Laser Engrave Ceramic: https://www.xtool.com/blogs/how-to/laser-engrave-ceramic
5. Lasit, UV laser marking on ceramics: https://www.lasitlaser.com/uv-laser-marking-on-ceramics-and-glazed-sanitaryware/
6. Bonny Creations, F2 Ultra UV Ceramic Mug: https://www.bonnycreations.com/settings/machines/xtool-f2-ultra-uv/ceramic-mug
7. Tom's Hardware, F2 Ultra UV review: https://www.tomshardware.com/maker-stem/xtool-f2-ultra-uv-dual-laser-engraver-review
8. Hackster.io, xTool F2 Ultra UV: https://www.hackster.io/news/the-maker-s-toolbox-xtool-f2-ultra-uv-laser-machine-8ebaaea81825
9. Atomm, F2 Ultra UV on white ceramic coasters: https://www.atomm.com/project/92285-testing-the-f2-ultra-uv-on-plain-white-ceramic-coasters
10. xTool Support, F2 Ultra UV FAQs: https://support.xtool.com/article/2870
11. xTool Support, Process a Curved Material: https://support.xtool.com/article/2706
12. xTool Support, Rotary beginner's guide: https://support.xtool.com/article/2500
13. xTool Support, Process on Flat Surface: https://support.xtool.com/article/3840
14. LightBurn forum, UV 5W on ceramic tiles: https://forum.lightburnsoftware.com/t/uv-5w-can-it-engrave-ceramic-white-tiles/166754
15. Tyvok, How to laser engrave ceramic: https://tyvok.com/blogs/news/how-to-laser-engrave-ceramic-mugs-tiles