Finishing
How do I get a smooth surface finish?
First in this ranking: Bambu Lab PLA Matte.
- Nozzle190–230 °C(374–446 °F)
- Bed50–70 °C(122–158 °F)
- Speedup to 300 mm/s
- Dry50 °C(122 °F)for 8 hManufacturer drying table →
- Density1.31 g/cm³
Speed, Drying. Source: Bambu Lab TDS · Last checked 18 October 2026
Ranked filaments
| Rank | Filament | Material | Nozzle | Bed | Datasheet | Buy |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Bambu Lab · PLA Matte | PLA | 190–230 °C (374–446 °F) | 50–70 °C (122–158 °F) | Datasheet | |
PLA Matte technical data sheet. Nozzle 190–230 °C (374–446 °F), bed 50–70 °C (122–158 °F), drying at 50 °C (122 °F) for 8 h. r/BambuLab 10k03sy prints this family at 0.08 mm on a P1P. A score-4 reply sets matte white flow ratio to 0.93 against a 0.98 default. Both ratios are that comment. | ||||||
| 2 | Polymaker · Polylite PLA | PLA | 190–230 °C (374–446 °F) | 25–60 °C (77–140 °F) | Datasheet | |
PolyLite PLA lists 190–230 °C (374–446 °F), a bed of 25–60 °C (77–140 °F), 40–60 mm/s, and drying at 55 °C (131 °F) for 6 h. r/3Dprinting 1j4uiop is white filament that splits between layers. A reply says to raise the nozzle by 10 to 15 degrees. That increase has to stay inside 190–230 °C (374–446 °F). | ||||||
| 3 | Prusament · PLA | PLA | 205–225 °C (401–437 °F) | 40–60 °C (104–140 °F) | — | |
Prusament PLA lists 205–225 °C (401–437 °F) and a bed of 40–60 °C (104–140 °F). r/prusa3d 12lmmhs is ironing on a Prusa Mini in PLA. The score-19 reply says not to iron. A score-3 reply raises ironing flow by 5 percent at a time and, for one part, sets ironing speed to 70–80. | ||||||
| 4 | Polymaker · Polylite ASA | ASA | 235–260 °C (455–500 °F) | 90–110 °C (194–230 °F) | Datasheet | |
PolyLite ASA lists 235–260 °C (455–500 °F) and a bed of 90–110 °C (194–230 °F). Drying is empty on the row. A score-3 reply on the ironing thread names ASA with acetone vapor for emblems. This page does not turn that into a vapor procedure or a temperature. | ||||||
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A smoother face in these threads is a shorter layer, a supported underside, and a flow ratio that matches that spool. Matte filament is what two of the posters were already running.
Layer height and overhangs
r/FixMyPrint 1r2xxe4 uses a 0.2 mm nozzle, Bambu Lab matte, and 0.10 mm layers, with the AMS moisture meter on B. The score-57 reply says the rough surfaces are overhangs printed in air, and that a 0.2 mm nozzle allows less overhang than a 0.4 mm nozzle. A score-9 reply says the underside will not look clean without soluble supports, and that splitting the model is the practical fix. Detail limits are on FDM detail. Wall count is on walls versus infill.
r/BambuLab 10k03sy is Bambu matte PLA at 0.08 mm on a P1P. The score-16 reply treats the bands as a layer-consistency bug. A score-4 reply sets matte white to a flow ratio of 0.93 instead of 0.98. PLA Matte lists 190–230 °C (374–446 °F), a bed of 50–70 °C (122–158 °F), and drying at 50 °C (122 °F) for 8 h. The 0.93 ratio is the comment. Matte as a look is matte PLA. Sanding and paint are sanding.
Another score-4 reply on that thread says they print PETG at 270 °C (518 °F) so the lines melt together. 270 °C (518 °F) is that comment. It is above the 260 °C (500 °F) top of Bambu PETG HF and SUNLU PETG.
When the lines are the machine
r/FixMyPrint 190yq18 prints two white bodies with the same settings and gets one rough part. The score-20 reply says to check the lead screws and the eccentric nuts. A score-5 reply retells a video in which PLA took on enough moisture in 6 hours to change print quality. Six hours is that retelling. The drying figures that are measured live on the filament drying dataset.
Ironing and white filament
r/prusa3d 12lmmhs is a first ironing pass on Prusa Mini PLA. The score-19 reply says not to iron. A score-3 reply steps ironing flow up by 5 percent and, for a single print, uses an ironing speed of 70–80. The same reply names ASA and acetone vapor for emblems. Prusament PLA lists 205–225 °C (401–437 °F) and a bed of 40–60 °C (104–140 °F). PolyLite ASA lists 235–260 °C (455–500 °F) and a bed of 90–110 °C (194–230 °F). This page does not add an acetone temperature.
r/3Dprinting 1j4uiop is white filament that splits between layers. The score-48 reply blames a draft and a layer that cooled before the next one. A score-16 reply says white pigment needs more heat and to raise the nozzle by 10 to 15 degrees, and a later reply corrects the pigment name to titanium dioxide. PolyLite PLA stops at 230 °C (446 °F), so that increase only fits when the result is still inside 190–230 °C (374–446 °F). PLA is the material page.
Pros and cons
Pros
- Layer height, flow, and ironing stay attached to the comment that stated them.
- Matte PLA is the spool the layer-line posts were already using, with its sheet temperatures.
Cons
- The 0.93 flow ratio is one comment about Bambu matte white. It is not a field on the PLA Matte row.
- A score-5 reply retells a video that PLA can take on enough moisture in 6 hours to change a print. Six hours is that retelling, not a cell in the drying dataset.
Printer considerations
- A 0.2 mm nozzle does not forgive an overhang. The score-57 reply on r/FixMyPrint 1r2xxe4 says the rough faces are unsupported air, and a score-9 reply says a pristine underside needs soluble supports or a split model.
- 0.08 mm and 0.10 mm are the layer heights in the posts. A score-6 reply on r/BambuLab 10k03sy calls 0.08 mm very small on a 0.4 mm nozzle.
- The same settings can still look different. r/FixMyPrint 190yq18 printed two white bodies back to back. The score-20 reply says to check lead screws and eccentric nuts.
What the community says
r/FixMyPrint 1r2xxe4 is a 0.2 mm nozzle, Bambu Lab matte, 0.10 mm layers, and an AMS moisture reading of B, with stringing and mixed surfaces. The score-57 reply says the model is printing on air and that a 0.2 mm nozzle allows less overhang than a 0.4 mm nozzle. A score-9 reply says the underside will not look pristine without soluble supports, and that splitting the model is the better route. r/BambuLab 10k03sy is new Bambu matte PLA at 0.08 mm on a P1P. The score-16 reply calls the layer pattern a widespread consistency bug and says to open a ticket. A score-6 reply questions 0.08 mm. A score-5 reply says to recalibrate and tune flow by hand. A score-4 reply sets matte white to a flow ratio of 0.93 instead of 0.98. Another score-4 reply says they print PETG at 270 °C (518 °F) to melt layer lines together. r/FixMyPrint 190yq18 is two white parts, same filament and settings, one with stronger layer lines. The score-20 reply suspects Z binding. A score-5 reply seconds humidity and retells a video in which PLA picked up enough moisture in 6 hours to matter. r/prusa3d 12lmmhs is a first ironing attempt on a Prusa Mini in PLA. The score-19 reply says not to iron. A score-3 reply increases ironing flow by 5 percent at a time and, for a single print, uses an ironing speed of 70–80, and mentions ASA with acetone vapor for emblems. r/3Dprinting 1j4uiop is white filament that breaks between layers and is strong otherwise. The score-48 reply says the previous layer is too cool, worse in a draft and on a thin wall. A score-16 reply blames white pigment, says titanium oxide and is corrected to titanium dioxide, and says to try a tower or raise the nozzle by 10 to 15 degrees. The poster says the room had an air conditioner running.
- Community source, r/FixMyPrint 1r2xxe4
- Community source, r/BambuLab 10k03sy
- Community source, r/FixMyPrint 190yq18
- Community source, r/prusa3d 12lmmhs
- Community source, r/3Dprinting 1j4uiop
Sources & notes
Accessed 20 October 2026.
- Bambu PLA Matte technical data sheet datasheet
- PolyLite PLA technical data sheet datasheet
- PolyLite ASA technical data sheet datasheet
- Open Filament Database, Prusament PLA other
- Community source, r/FixMyPrint 1r2xxe4 reddit
- Community source, r/BambuLab 10k03sy reddit
- Community source, r/FixMyPrint 190yq18 reddit
- Community source, r/prusa3d 12lmmhs reddit
- Community source, r/3Dprinting 1j4uiop reddit
Related questions
- Is matte PLA worth it, and how does it differ?PLA
- Do more walls or more infill make parts stronger?Strength
- What filament gives the most detail on FDM?Miniatures
- What filament is easiest to sand, paint, and post-process?Finishing
Questions
Will 0.08 mm layers remove the lines by themselves?
r/BambuLab 10k03sy already used 0.08 mm Bambu matte PLA on a P1P and still saw lines. One reply says that pattern is over-extrusion and sets matte white flow ratio to 0.93 against a 0.98 default. Another says 0.08 mm is very small for a 0.4 mm nozzle. The PLA Matte sheet lists 190–230 °C (374–446 °F) and a bed of 50–70 °C (122–158 °F).
Should I iron the top surface?
The score-19 reply on r/prusa3d 12lmmhs says not to. A score-3 reply on the same thread raises ironing flow by 5 percent at a time and, for one part, sets ironing speed to 70–80. Those speeds are the comment. They are not a Prusament PLA specification.