June 21, 2026
Description
The 3MFs re-uploaded on April 12, 2026 should now work in FS >0.9.3 and print more cleanly.
A reduced-palette design based on the experience of jusdisgi on Maker World and me which we consider optimized for quick-testing the blending of filament colors using the FullSpectrum fork of Snapmaker Orca slicer by ratdoux. Early versions of which were explained and shown in detail in Part 2 (Ch. 4.1) of our deep dive into FullSpectrum color layer stacking.
The purpose of this print is to see how any set of filaments actually mix depending on color depth, filament opacity, and layer height, rather than printing something full sized only to end up with a zebra.
All models shown are designed for printing with (ideally) a tool changer using 4 filaments stacked in various patterns to achieve the effect of added colors using FullSpectrum.
The ultimate stress test for FullSpectrum is the 38-color PeggyPalette Mini Full Spectrum Tester by jusdisgi. This stacks combinations of more than 3 layers of alternating layers for superior color depth:
The files on this page assume you want to either test faster, or test achieving faster printing at up to 0.16 mm layer height for your particular filaments which may mean limiting color mixtures to only 2 to 3 layers deep: FullSpectrum speed palettes.
Layer height: 0.08-0.16 mm
First layer height: 0.16 mm
3mf files sliced for PLA and only fit for use in FullSpectrum slicer fork
The layer height, number of layers per FullSpec color mixture, color contrast, filament translucency, and shallowness of top surface angles can all effect the visibility of "color lines" when color dithering layers. Use these to test your filaments and decide for yourself! My personal suggestion on hard limits from lots of testing was:
If that's TL;DR but you're patient, then just always use 0.08 mm layers for best results.
For maximum success with smoothly blending colors, based on the above totally subjective suggestions, I recommend:
Maximum Quality: jusdisgi's 38-color PeggyPalette Mini. Translucent filament at 0.08 mm layer height, or to maximally stress test the blending of your filament across a wide range of colors.
Medium Quality: 26-color speed palette. Translucent filament, 0.08-0.12 mm layer height, depending on your filaments' color contrast.
Full Speed: 10-color speed palette. Semi-opaque with 0.08-0.12 mm layers, translucents at 0.12-0.16 mm layer height, or just to very quickly test how 4 filaments blend.
Print times vary for each test, with the 10-color test taking only ~33 minutes coarsely sliced, and up to a couple hours for the higher color tests at very fine layer height.
26-color Speed Palette only includes combinations of Tools 1 thru 4 in up to three colors per mixture like so:
10-color Speed Palette only includes combinations of Tools 1 thru 4 in up to two colors per mixture like so:
The preset FullSpectrum 3mf file can also just be used to preview your color palette in the slicer by just changing the colors of your physical filaments and seeing what you get:
The spherical tops let you inspect for any "stair stepping" effects at shallow angles:
Color-shifted spheres indicate your tool changer is due for XY offset calibration. As in this make posted by Nigel:
A small straight section at the bottom of each sphere lets you get a small side view of vertical color stacking:
Highly opaque filament will show stripes more visibly. That's what this test is really all about, to see how your filament does on vertical walls and curved surfaces before committing to a full sized print. Semi translucent filament performs much better, especially on slopes.
"Translucent" and "transparent" are subjective words. Many manufacturers market "translucent" filaments that according to the TD's in the table above are transparent. They let almost all light through with subtle tinting. This is usually easily spotted by looking at the product photo.
Bad: For those who prefer CMY color, I do NOT recommend blindly purchasing a CMYK filament kit! Many contain rather opaque cyan and magentas that are difficult to blend. And these were from major filament manufacturer kits.
Good: The Polymaker Panchroma Translucent PLA CMY filaments work well (purchased, not sponsored). These test in the TD 5-10 or so range and look quite nice.
Yellow: Polymaker Panchroma Trancluent Yellow still works well here. You may find other yellows you already have are semi-translucent.
Red and Blue are very hard to find in PLA with modest translucency. The following suggestions are only tentative since the manufacturers offer multiple reds and blues, so what you receive may change or simply not be the same spools.
Red: This Jayo Red PLA+ has a TD of 5.2 as measured on a TD1S and works well.
Blue: This FlashForge Blue PLA has a TD of 4.7 as measured on a TD1S and works well.
Tricky since it's supposed to absorb light, many are TD 0.1 and will overwhelm almost any filament you blend it with.
Certain spools of Paramount 3D Black PLA are slightly translucent but still opaque enough (TD 1.4) to serve as a base black without completely blotting out mixed colors. BUT! The exact one we purchased on Amazon appears to be sold out and I dunno if their newer spools are more opaque.
Another Discord member notes the Spool3D Canada "Shades" PLA Black (which is advertised with a TD 1.0 for HueForge) is, in fact, about a TD of 1.
Snapmaker Snapspeed "Pearl White" PLA works well. Inland High Speed PLA+ "Milk White" is very similar. Inland Basics "White" (the super cheap kinda translucent looking one) also works well but is slightly more translucent than the other two. These were all TD 6-8 as measured with the TD1S.
I hope this test is useful to ya! Given limited color depth if trying to hide the color lines, don't let anyone tell you what filament colors are best for your project. Sometimes necessity is the mother of invention, after all. Get creative!
Likewise, intentionally embracing the dithered look is an aesthetic choice all its own. Maybe just ignore all these suggestions and embrace massive, dithered gradients!
To jusdisgi for being such a pal while we and the other folks on Snapmaker's Discord have printed tons of tests to see what FullSpectrum can do. And to ratdoux of course for sharing his awesome slicer fork with us to begin with!
This model, post, and all related content are not sponsored by anyone in any way. It's just information shared by a few "friendly nerds on the internet" should it spare anyone else printing dozens of samples over and over.
License:
Creative Commons — Attribution — Noncommercial
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