Silk PLA print settings

PLA with a gloss additive. Same easy printing, a mirror-like sheen, and noticeably weaker parts — this is a looks material.

Enclosure: Prints fine in open air.

Bed surface & adhesion

As PLA — smooth or textured PEI, no glue needed.

Retraction starting points

The gloss additive thins the melt, so it strings more than plain PLA — favour the higher distance and raise travel speed.

Good for

• Vases and single-wall prints, where the sheen is the whole point
• Decorative models printed slowly with few visible seams

Watch out for

• Weaker layer bonding than plain PLA — decorative, not structural
• Strings and oozes more; the gloss additive lowers viscosity
• The sheen shows every blob, seam and scar — slow down and tune the seam position
• Print a touch hotter than plain PLA or the sheen goes flat

Where to buy

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Problems this material is prone to

Other filaments

These are widely-published starting points for the generic material, not a specification. Individual spools vary by brand, colour and additive package — always defer to the figures printed on your spool.