It may seem like a medical condition, but blurred skin is a trick that can “fix” one of the biggest complaints about 3D printing. It’s easy enough to enable the setting, but there are a few things you should keep in mind when deciding whether or not to use it and which settings are best.
Here’s what you need to know.
What is fuzzy skin?
Hide those layer lines with a textured finish
Fuzzy skin is a technique that can help hide visible layer lines and other imperfections inherent to 3D printing. These occur as a result of layers of filament being deposited on top of each other, as 3D printers build objects layer by layer.
It works by adding an uneven texture to the surface of a model by using small movements of the nozzle or by varying the extrusion flow during printing. It is mainly applied to the sides (vertical edges) of the models. It can also make a difference on curved edges, although it does not affect flat surfaces.
The end result is somewhat similar to the effect seen on the bottom layer of a print when using a textured PEI print bed. The technique only applies to the outer surfaces of a model; the filling is not affected. Your slicer should allow you to choose whether the effect is applied to the outermost contours, contours and walls, or specific areas of your choice.
Fuzzy skin is not only good for hiding coat lines; can also make unsightly seams unnoticeable and even eliminate ghosting (also known as ringing and echoing) that is caused by vibrations and sudden movements when printing.
Enabling blurred skin requires more than simply checking a box to get good results. You can adjust the way blurry skin is generated by switching between displacement (nozzle movements), extrusion (extrusion flow), or combined (both). You can also choose between different patterns, dot spacing (to control the density of the effect), thickness, or whether the first layer of your print should also be blurry.
When should you use fuzzy skin
How to enable it and what settings to use
The fuzzy skin obfuscates layer lines creating an uneven texture wherever it is used. Models that are printed with fuzzy skin are consistent but not smooth, while those without it may not be completely consistent but are more likely to produce smooth sections.
Perhaps the best usage scenario is elements that do not require a high level of detail. For example, a Reddit user implemented a blur mask with excellent effect on a necklace holder. The model does not appear to have been immediately produced on a 3D printer because the layer lines are not visible and the blurry skin does not interfere with its intended purpose.
The fur texture can also add extra grip to an item that may need it, such as phone cases or grips. It is also ideal when the texture of the item matches an uneven finish, such as items that are supposed to look like metal, leather, or wood. Sometimes you may want to enable the feature as a stylistic option if you are tired of the usual finish.
It is important to adjust your diffuse skin settings. Making changes to the thickness and distance of the dots can drastically alter the effect, along with the pattern and mode you choose. Fortunately, all of these effects are visible in your slicer before printing, so you need to experiment and match the diffuse skin settings to the object you are printing. You can also print a blurred skin test (such as This either This).
For example, Bambu Studio’s default fuzzy skin setting (once the feature is enabled on the Other tab) use a distance of 0.8 mm and a thickness of 0.3 mm for a rough appearance:
In contrast, a thickness of 0.05 mm with a distance of 0.4 mm (using the same traditional pattern and scrolling mode) looks like this:
Smaller numbers will get you closer to the look of a textured constructed plate, while larger numbers mean a blurrier look. While the slicer will give you a good idea of what to expect, printing your own models is the only way to know for sure.
Blurry skin also has its disadvantages
Use sparingly
Arguably the best way to implement fuzzy skin is by painting it with your slicer’s fuzzy skin paint tool. This allows you to use the effect only in areas where you need it, rather than covering the entire model. You can also choose different fuzzy skin configurations like Contourwhich only applies to the outside edge of the model and leaves anything that looks like a hole intact for your cutter.
The main disadvantage of using fuzzy skin is that it will slightly affect the tolerances of your model. If you are printing something that needs to fit exactly, fuzzy skin is arguably not the right choice. Diffuse skin will also add print time to your models, although the amount depends on the exact settings you use. If the effect is used on all walls, it may also weaken the model slightly.
You can easily modify and apply diffuse skin settings in a slicer like Bambu Studio, but Don’t miss these other useful features. Alternatively, consider giving OrcaSlicer a try for even greater customization of the print.
