Two-colour name prints in Bambu Studio

A name in white on a coloured base looks like a finished product. The same name in one colour looks like a test print. For most personalised items (keychains, bag tags, door signs, coasters), a second colour is the cheapest upgrade you can make.

This guide covers how to print two-colour names in Bambu Studio, both with an AMS and on a printer with a single spool.

STL or 3MF: which file to use

An STL is a single shape with no colour information. If a design has a base and raised text, an STL of the whole design is one solid lump; you can't tell the slicer which part is which.

A 3MF can hold several parts in one project, each with its own filament. For two-colour prints, this is the file you want.

In the STLmint studio, two-colour designs offer:

• Download print file, an STL of the whole design, for one colour.
• Bambu Studio project, a 3MF with the base and the text as separate parts, already lined up and assigned to different filaments.
• One STL per part (base and text), listed under the download when All options is open, if you prefer to assemble them in another slicer.

If you use Bambu Studio, take the 3MF. It saves you lining up parts by hand.

With an AMS: assign and print

1. Open the 3MF in Bambu Studio.
2. In the object list, you'll see the design with its parts: the base and the raised text or accent.
3. Click each part and pick a filament slot from your AMS.
4. Slice. Check the preview: the text should show in its own colour from the layer where it starts.
5. Print.

Each colour change on an AMS purges filament, and that waste adds up across a full bed. Two tips to keep it down:

• Keep the colour changes to as few layers as possible. Designs where the text sits on top of the base change colour only for the raised layers.
• Use "flush into object" or "flush into infill" options where they suit the part, so some purge goes into the print rather than the waste chute.

Without an AMS: one filament change

Raised text sits on top of the base, so every layer below a certain height is the base colour and every layer above is the text colour. That means one manual filament change does the job, with no waste tower at all.

1. Open the 3MF (or the full STL) and slice it in one colour.
2. In the preview, drag the layer slider up to the first layer of the text, where the letters first appear above the base.
3. Right-click the slider at that layer and add a pause or a filament change.
4. Print. When the printer pauses, swap to the text colour and resume.

For a full bed of tags, you only swap once for the whole bed. This is the most efficient way to print two-colour names, even if you do own an AMS.

Colours that read well

The right pair is about contrast, not taste:

• White on any dark base (navy, black, red, green, purple) is the safe choice.
• Black on white, yellow or light grey reads well for signs and tags.
• Silk and metallic text looks expensive up close but loses contrast from a distance. Test it before using it for door signs.
• Avoid two mid-tones like blue on green. They look fine in the slicer and blur together in real life.

If a buyer picks colours that won't read, say so and send a picture of a sample.

Which way up?

Most name prints are printed base down, text up. The raised letters print last, with clean top surfaces, and the colour change happens once, where the letters start.

Each design page notes the recommended orientation. Follow it.

Small text and fine detail

Two colours make small text easier to read, but they don't fix lettering that's too thin to print. For small items like keychains, keep names short and check the picture before printing. Our guide to small text on name keychains covers nozzle size, layer height and lettering choice.

Designs that suit two colours

Nearly every design in the catalogue has separate base and text parts. Good ones to start with:

• Sign plate for doors and offices, up to three lines.
• Bold name tag for bags and kits, with a symbol.
• Monogram coasters in matching sets.
• Door name plaques for children's rooms and homes.

Common questions

Can I print two colours on a Bambu Lab A1 mini or P1S without an AMS? Yes. Add a filament change at the first layer of the text and swap spools when the printer pauses.

Why does my 3MF open as one object? Older slicers may merge the parts. Use a current version of Bambu Studio, and check the object list for the separate parts.

Can I use the 3MF in PrusaSlicer or OrcaSlicer? The 3MF is set up for Bambu Studio. Other slicers can usually open 3MF files, but part colours may need assigning again. Per-part STLs are the most portable option.