How do I make a print flush to the first layer? Example: I want to put text on the bottom of my print where the first layer is. I want the text to be a part of my first layer, or in woodworking terms, flush with the first layer. How do I do this? Any tips?
I managed to get text on the first layer by embossing it slightly. The printer will hollow out the letters on the first layer and for the following layers depending on the depth you choose. I don’t know any other way (yet) to texture different parts of the print to make them stand out from the rest of the 1st layer except maybe by using different colors,
On the other hand, my printer doesn’t have an AMS and the few times I imported models that had flush different color lettering facing the hotbed and printed them on a single filament, the textured print plate left if barely visible but you could somehow tell the letters were there because the slicer gave a different toolpath/geometry by recognizing the letters so they did stand out slightly from the first layer pattern. Don’t know if this helps.
Sending you a picture of clamp for the rail of a plunge saw that has lettering both sides, on the bottom and top faces.
Assuming you’re adding text in the slicer (BS/Orca), first, for simplicity, turn (place) your object text-side up. Then using the Text tool place text on your surface with a “Thickness” of 0 (or 0.1 which seems to be a minimum for some reason) and “Embedded depth” of however deep you want your letters to be embedded (eg. 2mm). The will crate a “text shape” object part with the top of the text flush with the surface. Then exit the text tool and flip the object back over so the text is facing down.
One you have a “text shape” you can assign various properties to it, like a different color filament, or a different bottom surface pattern, or just have it be all walls, for example. You can also turn the text in to a “negative” modifier which will carve out the text (like in the clamp example by Albatroz). But be careful because this creates overhangs since there will be no bottom layer(s) where the text is (since it’s empty space). Embossed text/designs typically do best on top.
Also, once you have created a “text shape” you can move it around freely in relation to the parent object. Before I figured out the “thickness vs. depth” difference, I simply created text with some thickness and then moved it so it was flush with the object’s surface.
[This is showing the first layer.]
HTH,
-Max
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Thank you for the response! Your design is very nice and your feedback was very helpful. Would you know how to get a multicolor print flush like the one in the picture I’ve attached
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Thank you for this! Do you know how to do this directly in Fusion 360 or Tinkercad?
Definitely better off doing it in CAD (or any modelling, even if it seems convenient to do it in Studio “real quick,” usually doesn’t work out that way in the long run). And CAD should have better text layout/formatting tools anyway.
Just create all your object in CAD, including the text, and position them relative to each other however you want the final piece to appear (eg. text embedded in the surface). But keep the text as a separate body. Then when you export from CAD, in any of the supported formats, Studio will detect that there are separate bodies in the object. With a .3mf file it will ask if you want to import them all as one object (say yes), or with a STL you have to “split” the main object in Studio after importing it.
Anyway the end result is basically the same thing – your text object and your main object, positioned relatively to each other already. Then simply change the part attributes, same as with a “text shape” added in Studio.
One caveat is that the order of object parts in the object tree view can matter. For example if your text shape part shows up above the main body (in the tree view), then properties you apply to it will not take effect since they’ll be overridden by the next, main, object down the tree. So if you’re wondering why your object isn’t showing up at all after slicing, that can be a common reason.
Cheers,
-Max
PS. Since Fusion (and other software) can’t have one body with multiple unconnected solids, one trick is to place the text on a very thin flat body, so it’s all connected. If you make this base thinner than one layer height, the slicer should ignore it altogether. Though a solid layer “under” (or above in this case) the text might not hurt either.
I usually just use the right mouse button on the text object to “change type” and turn it into a modifier => Alwasy flush, always a good 1st layer.
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Thank you. Not my design though, just an example. Printed out this version but ended up totally changing the model for my own purpose. Have my printer for a couple of weeks and wouldn’t know how to make multicoloured prints yet. Since we’re at it, let me ask Max how to do that if you don’t mind me joining your enquiry. 
If you don’t mind me joining Alweg’s line of enquiry, would you be so kind as to briefly explain how to make a multicolored print for a text object - or any otber surface object -without an AMS? I can do the CAD, no problem. Just wondering about the workflow. Do I have to make a manual filament change along the print? Will the printer prompt me to do so? If so, won’t this create adhesion problems if the printer has to go through the whole proceedure of loading and purging filament?
Sorry about all these questions, but I’ve owned my printer only for a couple of weeks and still learning my way around.
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Yes, you can do multi-color without an AMS. But with more than a handfull of color changes, you’ll quickly come to understand the value of an AMS.
As a test case, make a primitive cube and size it to your liking. But keep it flat, say 3 layers, to prevent frustration overload.
Next, use the text tool to add, say, the letter “A”. Right click to change its type to a modifier, assign it your second filament, move it well into the primitive cube and slice.
Have a look at the preview for the number of filament swaps you’ll have to do manually when prompted by the printer and, if you want to try it out, send it for printing.
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Edit: Adendum: Adhesion and shrinkage issues between the filaments/layers usually take a little while. If you are on your toes, you should be OK. Just do not let the printer sit idle for 20 Min’s while it waits for the roll change.
Thank you. I will try that out. I’m not lazy and did venture out into the forum in the meantime looking for answers but it seems there is no straightforward method that doesn’t imply either fiddling with pauses and filament changes which become impractical depending on the number of changes or even editing gcode which is beyond my skill set for the moment being. Guess I’ll go for the AMS when it’s available again.
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Well, until one of the frequent Studio updates back in 2025 non-AMS multi-color did indeed require gcode skills. Nowadays however, Studio takes care of that. Nevertheless, it still neccessitates manual filament changes.
For simple, flat text of less than a mm in depth, 5 to 6 filament changes are doable in a print. Especially when considering around 3 Min per manual swap.
But when doing full multicolor or multi-material (for example for support interfaces), the number of filament changes required explodes rapidly. My personal “best” ist just shy of 5000 filament changes on a single plate…
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5000 filament changes? FIVE Thousand?!? I humbly bow to your tinkerer’s feet, oh Enlightened One, oh One who has mastered the art of patience and suffering beyond description…
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Erm, no … The 5,000 was with 2 AMS. There’s no way I would gave done more than a dozen manual filament swaps 
The print was only a few centimers but with 6 colors, one support filament and a 0.08mm layer height… It all adds up quickly.
Took 10.5 days rather than the forecast 9.5days as I had to resolve a few clogs and replace the hot end once mid-print.
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Hahahahaha ok. Gotcha. Still, 10,5 days of printing…wow
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How do I do this, and in what software?
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Another question I have is: I have a model in Fusion 360 with a custom name on it. Say I want to make 5 of these each with a different name… how do I do that easily and quick? I am having issues with the copy feature.
Can you guide me through that? I tried doing this, and the text on my object was all blown out of proportion and misplaced. Any ideas? And when I use .stl, the text disappears into the object, even though I use the AMS and Studio to color.
Adding text in Studio:
Changing its type into a modifier (right click):
Placement (and, if desired, size adjustment two icons further to the right):
Change filament (right click):
Slice => Flush top and bottom in this example
Can’t answer for Fusion unfortunately. But if you have separate stl’s for the object and the text, you can import the text stl’s directly as a modifier (or change the type after importing). Again, right click is your friend:
Right click base object, load modifier shape (red) or just import the second (text) object as normal (blue) before merging, changing its type, positioning, sizing, etc.
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iif you need to change the text, I’d suggest to generate the model without text, inject it in the slicer (either Bambu Sutdio or Orca) and as suggested above, create the text as a modifier to change the color
when the print is good, just go back to the model duplicate it as needed, then on each of the duplicate, you can select the modifier and change the text as needed
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