Decorative and Display Prints

A decorative print is judged by eye, often from close up. That changes the priorities: strength and speed matter less, and the surface, the support marks and the seam matter more. This lesson covers the decisions in the order you make them.

Choose the process by the detail

Small figures and fine lettering push you toward resin; large pieces, bold shapes and work you would rather not handle with gloves and SDS precautions push you toward FDM. FDM versus Resin compares detail, size and handling. If the piece is large and you want resin detail, plan to split it (see Splitting Models).

Layer height where it shows

Formlabs lists organic forms, rounded arches, small embossing and intricate engraving as the shapes that gain from finer layers, and says models made mostly of vertical and horizontal faces gain little. It also notes that going from 100 to 25 microns means four times as many layers and usually about four times the print time Rule of thumb.

Most display pieces mix both kinds of surface: a curved figure on a flat, square base. Variable layer height handles that. Prusa describes it as using different layer heights in different regions of one model, with an adaptive mode driven by a quality versus speed slider and manual editing on top. Use fine layers on the curved upper part and normal layers on the straight base. Choosing a Layer Height covers the trade-offs.

Orient so the marks land out of sight

Every support leaves a mark. Prusa notes that surfaces printed over supports come out rougher, so plan which faces will show before you slice:

• FDM: put the face that will be seen away from supports, and use the back or underside as the supported side. Prusa gives 45 to 60 degrees as the overhang range most printers handle without supports Rule of thumb; rotating the model so more of its overhangs fall inside that range means fewer supports overall. Support Settings covers interface layers and easier removal.
• Resin: tilt the model. Prusa explains that tilted parts spread supports more evenly and calls angled growth the safest way to good-looking prints. Face the detailed side away from the plate.
• Seams (FDM): each perimeter starts and ends at a seam. Place it on a back edge or a sharp corner where it hides. See Seam Placement.

Bases and stability

A figure that stands on two thin ankles prints and displays poorly. Add a base in CAD or your modeling program, and give it a chamfered bottom edge rather than a rounded one: Prusa points out that a rounded bottom edge becomes a steep overhang, while a chamfer prints cleanly. A heavier, wider base also makes a tall piece harder to knock over on a shelf.

Reliefs and plaques

Reliefs, plaques and wall art are mostly gentle slopes a few millimeters tall, which is where stair-stepping shows most. Printing them flat with fine or variable layers usually looks best. Relief STLs made for CNC carving often need preparation before they will print: many are a surface rather than a closed solid, and they may need a base, repair and a check of the scale. Printing a CNC Relief STL walks through that.

Landscape models are a close cousin of reliefs.

Kinetic Terrain Coming soon Kinetic Carving's tool for turning elevation data into printable models.

Finishing

Decide on finishing before you print, because it changes the settings. A piece you will sand, prime and paint may tolerate thicker layers, because filler and primer can cover layer lines; a piece left as printed needs the fine layers and careful orientation above. The finishing lessons cover support removal, sanding, filling and priming and painting. Fillers, primers and paints each need their own label and SDS precautions.

Where it will be displayed

Choose the material for the place, not just the print. Prusa says PLA degrades under UV light and softens above about 60 °C Rule of thumb, so a PLA piece on a sunny windowsill, in a car or near a heater may fade, sag or warp. For those places, read PETG and ABS and ASA, or plan a protective paint system. Resin's behavior in sunlight and heat varies by resin; check the maker's technical data sheet.

A short checklist

Decision	What to check
Process	Size of the smallest detail, overall size, whether you can handle resin safely
Layer height	Curved areas fine, flat areas normal; variable layer height where both exist
Orientation	Show face away from supports; resin tilted; FDM seam on a hidden edge
Base	Wide enough to stand, chamfered bottom edge
Finishing	Planned before slicing
Display spot	Sun and heat compared with the material's limits