We are happy to announce the stable release of PrusaSlicer 2.9.0.! This major update includes several significant new features and improvements to existing ones. Let’s dive right in!

Download PrusaSlicer 2.9.0.

Multiple beds and bulk export

You can now use up to 9 beds in a single scene! This allows you to handle more complicated projects (which do not fit a single bed) more easily than before. All the beds share the same print settings, so you would typically use this feature to organize multi-part prints. The Arrange tool now spreads objects across multiple beds if they would not fit on a single one. A separate button that arranges objects only within the active bed was also added.

 

Beds are also automatically added and removed based on your interaction. Simply move objects to the space where another bed would be, and it will spawn. The beds are always arranged in the same 3 x 3 grid, making them easy to keep track of.

 

You can slice the beds individually or all at once. If you choose the latter option, you can then bulk export the G-codes or add them all to the print queue via Prusa Connect. The export screen even provides useful statistics about the overall print time and filament use.

 

Automatically detecting multiple beds in older PrusaSlicer projects

PrusaSlicer had a minimal concept of virtual beds for many years, which is obvious from the Arrange function. When there were too many objects to place on a single bed, PrusaSlicer would keep adding them spaced as if there were other beds next to each other. If you load such a project into PrusaSlicer 2.9.0, this situation is detected and the objects on these virtual “beds” are moved so they actually end up on a non-virtual bed in the grid. It’s also worth mentioning that several PrusaSlicer forks (OrcaSlicer/BambuStudio) have already expanded on the original functionality and while the implementation in PrusaSlicer is completely independent, it was useful to see how they approach the problem.

 

Scarf seams

We’ve added a new seam option dubbed “scarf seams” by the community. Its primary purpose is to hide visible seams on smooth perimeters, which is achieved by overlapping extrusions at the start and end of a perimeter loop. The name of the feature originates from a similar technique in woodworking called the “scarf joint.”


In the example above, a cylinder is printed with both a regular seam and a scarf seam. Number one marks the scarf seam start, number two is its end, and number three is a standard seam. The scarf seam greatly reduces the visibility of the usual seam. Yet, it is not a silver bullet, as it may generate a new “ghost” seam, albeit much less visible than the original seam.

Thanks to @MichaelJLew and @vgdh for coming up with this idea, and @Noisyfox for its implementation into OrcaSlicer. Our implementation is original but mimics the functionality of the OrcaSlicer feature.

 

Printables integration

Printables is now a persistent tab in Prusaslicer’s top bar. It is available to all users, even without logging in. The tab is implemented as a webpage within a WebView, allowing users to access the familiar features and functionalities of the Printables website.

Similarly to the web version, you can browse 3D models within the Printables tab and seamlessly open them on the Plater tab using the Slice button featuring the Printables logo, or send G-codes directly to your printer via Prusa Connect.

 

Paint-on fuzzy skin

The new fuzzy skin painting tool, available from the left toolbar, allows you to easily add fuzzy skin to parts of objects without using modifiers. It features a few brush types and a smart fill tool similar to the multi-material tool and the support painting tool.

 

This new tool complements the overall improvement of fuzzy skin generation. Previously, it split an object into separate regions with their own perimeters. The new implementation works as you would intuitively expect, only affecting the outside perimeter. The texture quality of the fuzzy skin has also been improved.

 

Improvements in painting tools and multi-material slicing

The height range tool was added to the multi-material painting, allowing you to create perfect horizontal stripes of color across the whole object.

 

The bucket tool has also been improved and now includes a fill angle setting, similar to the smart fill tool. This works great with the height range tool, which you can use to mark the borders for coloring.

The processing of painted models has been improved, and various types of artifacts have been fixed. This means the sliced models will now better match how they were painted.

Support for printing with different nozzle diameters

Experimental support for printing with different nozzle diameters on multi-tool printers, such as the Original Prusa XL, is now available for experienced users and developers. This workflow allows combining nozzles of different diameters (e.g., a smaller one for fine perimeters and a larger one for fast infill). Check out our Knowledge base for a step-by-step tutorial!

Check out the PrusaSlicer release page for further details about the above-mentioned features and the complete list of all changes and bug fixes.

We truly appreciate all the wonderful contributions from our community members who help make PrusaSlicer and its forks even better!