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Silk and satin PLA filament

PLA with a silk sheen, a satin sheen or a colour gradient, for prints that stand out. Prints just as easily as ordinary PLA.

Silk filament is PLA with a glossy, silky surface. Curves and details catch the light and layer lines are less visible. Here you will find Fiberlogy FiberSilk with a metallic sheen, FiberSatin with a soft satin sheen, Fill 3D Magic Silk that changes colour with the viewing angle and Spectrum PLA Silk Rainbow with a colour gradient. Below the products you can read the differences and how to print silk PLA. Read more…

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What is silk filament?

Silk filament, also called silk PLA, is PLA with additives that make the surface shine. Where ordinary PLA has a slight sheen, a silk print gets a silky or metallic gloss. Curves and corners catch the light, and layer lines are less visible. It prints almost as easily as ordinary PLA, without an enclosure.

Silk, satin or matte?

FinishAppearanceChoose it for
SilkHigh gloss, silky or metallicDecorations, figures and gifts that need to stand out
SatinSemi-matte with a subtle sheen and a slightly rough textureA calm look with almost invisible layers
PLA MatteNo glossClean design prints without reflections
Standard PLASlight sheenEveryday printing, in many colours

Which silk filament should you choose?

FilamentEffectNozzlePrint bedSpool
Fiberlogy FiberSilkMetallic sheen in solid colours, such as gold, silver, copper and bronze210–230 °C50–70 °C0.85 kg
Fiberlogy FiberSatinSatin sheen, semi-matte200–230 °C50 °C0.85 kg
Fill 3D Magic SilkTwo colours in one strand: the print changes colour as you turn it215–235 °C50–70 °C0.5 kg
Spectrum PLA Silk RainbowSilk sheen with a colour gradient along the length of the strand210–240 °C40–60 °C1 kg

Printing silk PLA

  • Temperature: stay within the range of your spool. Silk usually shines most in the upper part of it, with calmly printed outer walls.
  • Profile: you can start from your PLA profile. According to Fiberlogy, FiberSatin works with the same profile as Easy PLA.
  • Adhesion: FiberSatin adheres so strongly that it can damage a PEI sheet. Print it on tape or with a layer of glue.

Something going wrong? Our article on solving common 3D printing problems covers the most common problems and their solutions.

Pros and cons of silk filament

Advantages

  • Eye-catching gloss without sanding or varnishing
  • Prints like ordinary PLA, without an enclosure
  • Special effects such as duotone and colour gradients

Disadvantages

  • Made for looks; other filaments are better suited to functional parts
  • The gloss depends on temperature and speed; a test print pays off

Applications of silk filament

  • Decoration: vases, lamps, figurines and Christmas decorations.
  • Toys: figures, animals and vehicles.
  • Jewellery: rings, necklaces and bracelets.
  • Cosplay: costume parts and accessories with a metal look.

You will find all other types under PLA filament.

Frequently asked questions

  • What is the difference between silk and satin filament?

    Silk has a high-gloss, silky or metallic surface. Satin, such as Fiberlogy FiberSatin, is semi-matte with a subtle sheen and feels slightly rough. Both make layer lines less visible and print like PLA. Choose silk when a print has to shine, and satin for a calm, neat look.

  • What is the difference between Magic Silk and Silk Rainbow?

    With Fill 3D Magic Silk, the strand consists of two colours side by side. The colour you see depends on the viewing angle and the light, so the print changes colour as you turn it. With Spectrum PLA Silk Rainbow, the colour changes along the length of the strand, so a print gradually shifts colour layer by layer.

  • How do you get the most gloss out of silk PLA?

    Print the outer walls at a calm speed and in the upper part of your spool’s temperature range. A smaller layer height gives a smoother surface, so the light reflects more evenly. Every printer behaves differently, so test it first with a small test print, such as a little vase.

  • Does silk filament fit in the Bambu Lab AMS?

    Spectrum PLA Silk Rainbow fits in the AMS, as do some of the FiberSilk and FiberSatin colours. Fiberlogy supplies other colours on a wider spool that does not fit in the AMS, and the 0.5 kg Magic Silk spools are not suitable either. Each product states whether the spool fits in the AMS.

  • Can you sand or paint silk PLA?

    You can, but you then lose the gloss you chose silk for. Silk is meant to shine without post-processing. If you want to sand, fill and paint a print, start with standard PLA or PLA Matte.