Raised & recessed elements
What the Height setting does, and how to use it for great-looking prints.
Every element on your sign — each text line, the icon and the QR code — has a Height slider. It controls how the element relates to the surface of the sign, and it's the setting that makes a 3D-printed sign feel genuinely three-dimensional.
The three states
- Raised (positive numbers) — the element sticks out of the sign by that amount. The text in the picture above is raised: it casts a shadow and you can run a finger over it.
- Flush (zero) — the element sits level with the surface, like paint. The sign face stays perfectly flat but the element still prints in its own color.
- Recessed (negative numbers) — the element is carved into the sign, like an engraving. The triangle icon in the picture above is recessed: the sign has a pocket in the shape of the icon, with the icon's color at the bottom.
You can mix freely — for example a raised headline with an engraved icon, as in the picture.
Why it matters for printing
When you export, every element becomes its own file, positioned at exactly the height you chose. That's what makes multi-color printing work:
- Raised and flush elements print on top of the sign in their own filament color.
- Recessed elements sit at the bottom of their pockets, so their color is visible inside the engraving.
A nice side effect: when elements sit at different heights, the colors change at different layers of the print. Even on a printer with a single nozzle and no multi-material system, you can often switch filament when the printer reaches the right layer — see the FAQ for details.
Tips
- Subtle is sturdy. A raise of 1–2 mm is plenty for text to pop and is quick to print. Very tall, thin letters can be fragile.
- Recessed text stays readable forever. Engraved elements can't be worn off or knocked loose — great for outdoor signs or anything handled a lot.
- Flush faces are easy to clean. A completely flat sign face (everything at height 0) wipes clean and looks sleek.
- Outlined icons can't be recessed. Icons in the outline style can only be flush or raised — switch to the filled style of the icon if you want it engraved. See Icons.