What would it take to make these usable (3D-printed items)

[Bugatti Fan]

Does it matter one iota if 3D printer layer lines are called striations or not ?   As far as I am concerned if someone understands that the term means layer lines, contour lines, call them what you will it makes no odds to me.

[Cool Hand]

On 10/8/2025 at 6:24 AM, Monty said:

First, my intention is not to slam the vendor.  I've never used anything that was 3D-printed, and these C3 Corvette wheels looked decent, but the "graininess" of the tire sidewalls gives me pause. 

What would make them presentable as realistic tires?  I couldn't imagine trying to sand that out, especially around the letters.  Light coats of primer? 

I guess it depends, what is important and matters to you Monty.

Close up macro pictures will always magnify the layer lines.

The black resin used for the tyres looks to be a satin/semi gloss finish which also makes the layer lines stand out. 

Me personally I dont worry about tyres, the wheel rim is whats more important.

 I used a set of wheels and tyres from a well established vendor that had very visible layers. But  2 good coats of black surfacer made the layer lines less visible. 

Yes the tyre on the other side had a split, didnt care no one will ever see that.🤣 

And once the tyres are under the model viewed from the table top and after it goes in the display case onto the shelf. The layer lines become totally irrelevant 😁

As the saying goes "each to their own" I build shelf models for fun that meet my own standards of approval.

 

Edited October 9 by Cool Hand

[stavanzer]

On 10/9/2025 at 6:10 AM, peteski said:

To me the visible lines of 3D printing layering look like striations, regardless of what others think.

That's because that's what those visible lines are called. 

[Spex84]

The layer lines are caused by several factors:

1. Slice thickness: more slices means a longer printing time, so some people will print thicker layers for the sake of speed, which can cause more obvious layer lines that are more difficult to sand out/fill in.

2. Print orientation: some will print items oriented flat to the build plate rather than tilted, which means less height, fewer layers, and a faster print time...at the expense of having concentric rings of layer lines (ie on tire sidewalls).

3. No anti-aliasing: some free slicing software doesn't offer good anti-aliasing, a feature that can smooth out the stepping created by slicing a 3D file into thin layers by blurring the boundary of each layer slightly. 

The absolute best prints will be sliced and printed with thin layers (minimal layer height), with parts oriented to minimize stepping, and enough anti-aliasing to fix any remaining issues (ideally without reducing detail).

When I print something that has some layer lines I'm unhappy with, my process is:

*edit* 0. re-print it better, haha. OR

1. Sand

2.Fill with Mr Surfacer and sand again OR

3.Spot putty if it's really bad

4. More sanding!
5. Filler primer

6. You guessed it...more sanding. 

So in the case of a tire sidewall with fine lettering, if the letters are raised, you're pretty much out of luck if the layer lines are very pronounced. Recessed lettering is easy to sand over without destroying the lettering.

Just be very aware of what you're buying, and insist on clear photos. Many photos don't show layer lines, but they'll be clearly visible to the naked eye and especially under magnification/in a close-up photo.

3D printed parts aren't necessarily easy and headache-free. They can take clean-up work, just like traditionally cast resin parts, or old AMT and MPC kit parts. It's all part of the hobby IMHO.

And what's with the striations thing? A 3-dimensional imperfection in a surface caused by imperfect deposition of material layers IS a striation, just like in a sedimentary rock. No??
 

[1930fordpickup]

On 10/11/2025 at 2:58 PM, Spex84 said:

The layer lines are caused by 

And what's with the striations thing? A 3-dimensional imperfection in a surface caused by imperfect deposition of material layers IS a striation, just like in a sedimentary rock. No??
 

Thank you for the great answer on how to get ride of the edges from printing parts because of how the layers work.

At no point has anyone on this and other threads called the setting or referred to the setting by striations.  I am not sure why anyone would call them that. My first contact with 3d printed parts was in 1997 or 98. They were called layers then also.