[Solved] Add text with different color to the surface of an object without embossing or debossing  

RE: Add text with different color to the surface of an object without embossing or debossing

Oh, found the solution myself. There is a checkbox "Use surface" in the advanced section of the text tool, which was unchecked.

Cheers

Chris

RE: Add text with different color to the surface of an object without embossing or debossing

Chris, I found the "use surface" checkbox you referred to, but am flailing away from that point on. I'm printing a dogfood can lid with black filament, and want to add my dog's name in another color on the top surface (which is the bottom surface when printed so as to avoid the need for supports).

Would you mind walking me through the steps you are using after discovering that checkbox? Up to now I've only been able to add text to a design by adding it in Fusion. As you pointed out, text added in this way must be embossed or debossed (which I want to avoid) in order to show up in the slicer such that it can be colored differently from the rest of the lid.

Thanks,

Nick

RE: Add text with different color to the surface of an object without embossing or debossing

Digging in a bit further, I see  that checking "use surface" text box causes the added (embossed or debossed) text to follow the contours of the surface, which can be curved... a very useful option! But it doesn't appear to have anything to do with putting text directly on the surface (without embossing or debossing) that can be colored in the slicer's painter differently from the surrounding area. Can you (or one of the many experts here!) help? 

The CAD like features of PrusaSlicer are emergency stopgaps for when there is no better option.  It's always better to do the job in CAD if possible.

For a flush effect cut the text out of the body as if debossing then fill the space with the actual text.  Attached is an example both flat and following a surface curve, it is intended for 0.2mm layers.

Unzip and load both files together as parts, assign each to a different extruder and slice.

Examine the individual files to see the process.

Cheerio,

RE: Add text with different color to the surface of an object without embossing or debossing

Many thanks Diem!

I hear you about how it's better to start upstream in CAD (e.g., using Fusion 360). But a few people have pointed out that flush text added at the CAD level doesn't seem to be visible, let alone selectable for different coloring in PrusaSlicer. My own attempts have confirmed this limitation, but perhaps I'm missing something!

In wandering around in PrusaSlicer after posting my question but before seeing your answer, I found a different way to accomplish this based on some Reddit and other posts:

Right click on the desired surface, select Add Part and then Text. Edit, resize, and place the text as desired. Right click on the text to bring up the Emboss(T) window. Change Selection from Join to Modifier.  Right click the text again, select Change Extruder, and pick the desired extruder/color.  Re-slice to confirm the results.

One of the mistakes I was making while flailing around was trying to apply MMU painting to the letters,  which got me nowhere. The text color needs to be changed as a block!

Again, thanks for your help and for posting the illustrative STL files.

Nick

RE:

If you use a text STL as a modifier. You don't need to cut the text out of the original surface. Which makes re use of the original model easier.