Clear Coat

[Kristen L (Kal318)]

So here's the challenge. You know how your print has wall loops to make the outter walls of your print. Here's what I want to try if it's even possible. I want to make the outter most loop a clear color and all other loops leading back into the print as normal a different solid color. Basically I want to create a clear coat effect. (No i do not want to paint my prints)

[Kurt The 3D Printer GUY!!]

1st question - do you have an IDEX or an AMS type unit. 

2nd - most "Clear" filaments are never truly THAT Clear!

-K

[Bryan Eckert]

PVB filament. Sunlu and PolyMaker both make clear PVB. You print it then wipe it with IPA, and it smooths out and becomes clearer.

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[Kurt]

Sounds like what my Eng. buddy from Essentium was trying to do. I didn't remember the filament - but, I do know he was spraying it with IPA. 

But, there is still other questions that Kristen needs to answer, and also find the right solution. Like - he obviously needs a printer that can do multiple filaments. The other problem is - how do you define in the slicer that only the outer layer would be printed in 1 filament, and all the rest of the object would be printed in the other filament. 

-K

[Michael Vohs]

You’d have to make multiple bodies then assign the outmost one to the clear filament. 

Easiest way to do it that I can think of to do it is in the slicer. I use Bambu slicer but I have to imagine the steps are the same. 

Set your object to the center. Clone it. Resize one of the objects to less than a mm different (maybe .8 if you are using a .4 nozzle). Merge the bodies. Move the smaller body up by .4mm.   Do a mesh Boolean operation to remove the smaller from the bigger. Assign the ‘clear’ filament to the larger item. 

I’d experiment with a basic shape to get the changes right. 

Caveat I have never done this. 

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[3D Printing Tips and Tricks]

Super easy solution, which I’ve used a number of times…

Polar Clear Gloss Flawless Lacquer Spray - 2 x 13.5 Fl Oz - Clear Coat Spray Paint - Non-Yellowing & Scratch Resistant - Interior & Exterior Surfaces for Wood, Metal, Plastics, Glass & Ceramics 

https://a.co/d/4rH7LIY

[Kurt The 3D Printer GUY!!]

Andy - the last line of the original post - he stated he didn't want to spray anything on. 

Even though - yes - that's the easiest way to do it. I've actually used a clear coat on one of my abstracts - I did it extensively because of part of the abstract. 

-K

[Kurt The 3D Printer GUY!!]

Michael - that's pretty much what I was thinking. But, I would disagree with part of your method - to do it in the slicer. I think your method would best be done in the original modeling program. 

But, HONESTLY - I bet there HAS to be a way to do it Purely by Slicer - like assign 1st outer layer of object to 1 material, and the rest to another material. 

NOW - I will go a STEP Farther. In fact, I've done a GOOD Bit of work directly modifying GCode. I bet one could actually create a post processor that could Mod the GCode - and force the outer layer (or Loops at the OP stated) - to use a different filament. 

No - it's not THAT simple of a task - but, it COULD be as simple as a Tool Change command insertion!!!

If I wasn't DEEP in the middle of a Move right now - I would dig into this idea myself...

Just now - I even thought this might be a cool little problem to throw at Claude AI - since I am already using it in a BIG way for Coding assistance!

Anyway - we still need some feedback from the OP - as he didn't answer several questions - and now he needs to respond to several of our replies!!!

-K

[Kristen L (Kal318)]

Sorry for the delay on responding. I would want to try this with an AMS. And yes i'm aware clear is not totally clear. But for a single outside loop I don't think it would make a huge difference.

[Kristen L (Kal318)]

It just dawned on me. With 2 purge towers would this not also allow 2 incompatible materials to be printed together into one part? 🤔🤔🤔

[Kristen L (Kal318)]

I guess a good example of where my brain is the second version of the Nintendo DS. It had a glossy outer shell and a colored inner shell. I would like to try and duplicate this effect in 3D printing, such a method could follow intricate curves and details that I think would give a really nice appearance. Or have a clear outer TPU and PETG or PLA inner core.

[Kurt The 3D Printer GUY!!]

My suggestion - use PVB as suggested by Bryan for outer layer - then wipe with IPA to make it more clear (but NOT IPA Beer! ).

-K

[Bryan Murphy]

I took a stab at making some clear prints with Overture PETG Clear.  It's not super duper clear but I imagine a thinner print would let a lot more might through.

Here's the top Z and opposite of Y on a 100% infill cube:

On Wed, Oct 8, 2025 at 9:07 PM Kristen L (Kal318) <kal...@gmail.com> wrote:

So here's the challenge. You know how your print has wall loops to make the outter walls of your print. Here's what I want to try if it's even possible. I want to make the outter most loop a clear color and all other loops leading back into the print as normal a different solid color. Basically I want to create a clear coat effect. (No i do not want to paint my prints)

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[3D Printing Tips and Tricks]

You can get the exact same stuff as a wipe on.

IMO you are not gonna get a glossy finish at all from fdm. Unless of course the surface you want glossy is on the plate and the plate is clean glass. Beyond that it’s not gonna happen.

[Kristen L]

Perhaps, but why not? What's the technical barrier? I do think there's a use for such an ability. 

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[Kurt The 3D Printer GUY!!]

The barrier is indeed Technical. With a lot of experience in 3D Printing - one knows it's a VERY Difficult thing to be purely Clear! 

Look back in prior threads - as there have been Serious discussions - and you can then see the technical Barriers!!!

-K