Skirt Settings

What is a Skirt?

A skirt is one or more lines printed around (but not touching) your model at the start of a print. It serves two purposes: priming the nozzle with filament and giving you a chance to verify your first layer is sticking correctly before the actual print begins.

Skirt Loops

Parameter: skirt_loops
Unit: Count
Default: 1
Description: Number of skirt lines to print around the model. More loops = more priming.

Skirt Distance

Parameter: skirt_distance
Unit: mm
Default: 2mm
Description: Distance between the skirt and the model. Keep small but ensure no contact.

Skirt Height

Parameter: skirt_height
Unit: Layers
Default: 1
Description: Number of layers for the skirt. Usually 1 is sufficient for priming.

Draft Shield

Parameter: draft_shield
Type: Boolean / Height options
Default: Disabled
Description: Extend the skirt to full height to create a draft shield around the print. Helps with ABS and other warping-prone materials.

Skirt vs Brim

Feature	Skirt	Brim
Touches model	No	Yes
Purpose	Prime nozzle	Improve adhesion
Removal	Not needed	Must remove
Material use	Very low	Low
Use case	All prints	Adhesion issues

Tips

Watch the skirt: If the skirt doesn't stick well, your first layer likely won't either
Multiple loops: Use 2-3 loops if you have a long retraction and need more priming
Draft shield: Enable for ABS/ASA prints to block air drafts and reduce warping
No skirt: Set loops to 0 if your start G-code already includes a purge line

Tip: If you're using a purge line in your start G-code, you may not need a skirt at all. However, keeping a single-loop skirt helps verify bed leveling visually.