Pro Tip: Use support blocking on the bottom of figurine bases and visible surfaces. Use support enforcing under small details like fingers, noses, and delicate overhangs.
Support Painting
Manually control where supports are generated on your model.
Accessing the Tool
Select your model and click the Support Painting tool in the left toolbar, or press L.
Painting Modes
| Mode | Color | Effect |
|---|---|---|
| Enforce | Blue | Force supports on painted areas |
| Block | Red | Prevent supports on painted areas |
| Erase | - | Remove any painting |
Brush Settings
- Brush Size: Adjust with slider or scroll wheel
- Brush Shape: Circle or sphere
- Smart Fill: Automatically fill connected faces with similar angles
How to Use
- Enable supports in your process settings
- Open the Support Painting tool
- Select "Enforce" mode and paint areas that need supports
- Select "Block" mode and paint areas where you don't want supports
- Slice to see the results
Common Use Cases
- Remove supports from visible surfaces: Block supports on faces that will be seen
- Add supports to small overhangs: Enforce supports on areas the auto-detection missed
- Protect threaded holes: Block supports inside holes
- Support delicate features: Enforce supports under thin parts
Support Painting vs Auto Support
| Scenario | Best Approach |
|---|---|
| Simple model, standard overhangs | Auto supports only |
| Visible surface must be clean | Block critical areas |
| Small details need support | Enforce on details |
| Complex model, many overhangs | Combination of auto + painting |
Tips
- Use "Smart Fill" for quickly painting entire faces
- Zoom in for precise painting on small features
- Slice and check the preview before printing
- Support painting data is saved with the project file