It’s odd that Google and Forum searches don’t find “Top Paint Penetration Layers”. What specifcally does it do? The rollover info just parrots the same info as the name giving no useful insight. Why do we need both “Top Shell Layers” and “Top Paint Penetration Layers?”
Based on applied logic I would assume it define how many top layers will be painted.
This can be vital for more translucent filaments, overhangs and such.
Like 1 resulting in just the top most layer having a different colour while 3 means that the last three layers are coloured, below that the normal colour is used.
hopes that makes somehow sense…
Thanks for the info. What you say kind of makes sense. But if I was printing two colors, wouldn’t that just be handled already in the layers I setup for the 2nd color? I hear what you are saying, I just still need more clarification. It’s odd there is no documentation about it. Thank you regardless… 
I was looking for the same info this morning and found according to Google:
In the context of painting, “Top Paint Penetration Layers” refers to the number of layers that are affected by a color change, typically when using a multi-color 3D printing technique or when painting with different colors in layers. This setting determines how deeply a color change penetrates into the model, influencing the visibility of different colors and the overall appearance of the printed object.
Understanding the Concept:
- Color Swapping:
In multi-color 3D printing, color changes are often managed by swapping filaments or using a paint-like process within the slicer.
- Penetration Depth:
The “Top Paint Penetration Layers” setting controls how many layers at the top of the model are printed or painted with the new color.
- Impact on Appearance:
This setting affects how clearly the color change is visible on the surface and how well different colors blend together.
Example:
- If you set “Top Paint Penetration Layers” to 2, the top two layers of the model will be printed or painted with the new color, while the layers beneath will retain the previous color.
- A higher number of penetration layers will result in a deeper color change, while a lower number will keep the change more superficial.
- This setting is particularly useful when printing overhangs or details where the top layers might be visible through the infill.
It gave a better ideia of the concept. Now its try, print, and realize differences.
Hope it helps!!
Thanks
Hello,
This “paint penetration layer” function does not work as I would expect. But maybe I misunderstand its purpose.
The biggest issue is that the color transition if far too progressive. If I set the top one to 7 (just as an example), it will begin color change at N-7 (N being the top surface layer number), but not on the entire surface, only small patches. Then, at N-6, the patches will be a bit bigger, and so on up to N-1 which will cover almost the entire upper surface with the new color, but the borders remaining with the underlying color. Only the upper layer will be completely printed with the new color. With thin layers, or translucid filaments, you see quite well a color transition from the center of the surface to its border. Especially when the new color is light while the underlying one is black.
Another issue is that the top paint penetration layer parameter does not seem to take into account values higher than 7. If I put 15, it still begins color transition at N-7. Whereas the parameter for the bottom layers operates at any value.
Am I misunderstanding something ? Or is this function buggy ?