question about outer layers of a print (whether they be horizontal layers or vertical perimeters)
I don't understand much about perimeters and skins and that kind of stuff. Heck this is even only my first post/question. Sometimes I use a Prusa XL with all 5 materials. So if I read this right my print is only going to have one layer of the color filament I selected for it. The rest underneath would/could be some other filament. How can I tell PrusaSlicer that I want to force X number of lines (are they perimeters) of colored filament deep. Like maybe I want a 100 mm tall object of whatever coloration but I want it sliced so that the outer 5 layers are printed with my designated filament, not some default extruder or infill filament.
TIA
RE: question about outer layers of a print (whether they be horizontal layers or vertical perimeters)
Welcome Chuck
terminology can be confusing. For this post, I will use a 25mm Cube with the following settings
this is based on a standard Prusa XL (5tool) printer with a 0.4mm nozzle
where it says Perimiters in red, above, Prusa slicer is highlighting that I have changed the default value, to 5 (its normally 2)
In this window in Prusa slicer, you can change:
the layer heights (Max height is usually 80% of nozzle diameter)
the number of Perimeters (If set to 1 perimeter, it will always be an External perimeter), In this case I have set 5 perimeters which will give 1 external perimeter and 3 perimeters (Internal Perimeters)
I have left the number of top layers and bottom layers, default
the perimeters form a Vertical Shell and the top and bottom layers form a Horizontal Shell
If the top of the model has only one layer, it will Allways be a Top Solid Infill if there are more than one top layer the lower ones will be Solid Infill
Bottom layers will always be Solid Infill 
lower layers will be Solid Infill
Inside all of that you typically have Internal Infill I have chosen a very low density infill called Gyroid in order to aid viewing(there are many infill types)
With a Prusa XL Multitool printer, or a Prusa printer with MMU, you can select various filaments for various purposes
In the image above you can see that I am using Prusa slicer, in Expert Mode
And I have left the perimeter extruder as extruder 1, But i have changed
the Infill extruder to 2 and
the Solid Infill extruder to extruder 3
Now when you slice the model 
All of the Perimeters will be Orange, and both top and bottom infill will be Light blue
AND...
the internal Infill will be Green
there are other settings that you can play with as well!
for instance, you can add a height modifier, and set the perimeter extruder and the infill extruder to be extruder 4, this will give a band of RED filament at the appropriate layer
and if you look inside the infill colour changes as well
I hope this gives you some Ideas,
regards Joan
I try to make safe suggestions,You should understand the context and ensure you are happy that they are safe before attempting to apply my suggestions, what you do, is YOUR responsibility.Location Halifax UK
RE: question about outer layers of a print (whether they be horizontal layers or vertical perimeters)
Wow! This is a fantastic response. It couldn't get any clearer. I built a cube and a cylinder and it goes just like you said. What disappoints me is that none of it seemed to affect the actual object I'm trying to work with. If we have horizontal layers and vertical perimeters, what is any surface that is not horizontal or vertical? Are the other surfaces treated differently?
TIA
RE: question about outer layers of a print (whether they be horizontal layers or vertical perimeters)
on a 3D printer, models are typically built from horizontal layers,
Curves and slopes are created as steps in the horizontal layers, like contour lines on a map
regards Joan
I try to make safe suggestions,You should understand the context and ensure you are happy that they are safe before attempting to apply my suggestions, what you do, is YOUR responsibility.Location Halifax UK