Glossy vs. Matte: Reading Your Pro PCTG Prints

The surface of a Pro PCTG print tells you a lot about how well it was printed.

• Glossy, even surface: the plastic melted fully and layers bonded well. This is what you want.
• Matte or dull bands in part of a print: that section printed faster or cooler than the rest. Slicers often speed up on simple sections or tall vertical features. Those areas will have weaker layer bonding.
• Matte all over in a standard color: printing too cold, too fast, or with too much cooling for the whole print.

How to fix inconsistent finish

1. Slow down outer walls to 100 mm/s or less; about 50 mm/s gives the most consistent finish.
2. Check the slicer preview's speed view for sections that print much faster than others.
3. Reduce part cooling fan speed.
4. Raise nozzle temperature 5–10°C within the 250–280°C range.

Can I make standard Pro PCTG look matte?

Printing colder or faster makes it look more matte, but costs strength. For a true matte look without sacrificing layer bonding, use Matte Black. See Printing Matte Black Pro PCTG.

Related articles

• Weak or brittle parts
• Start here: the 5 essentials