# How to add surface text

**URL:** <https://discourse.shapr3d.com/t/how-to-add-surface-text/37948>\
**Category:** Modeling Questions\
**Created:** [May 14, 2025, 3:38am UTC](https://discourse.shapr3d.com/t/how-to-add-surface-text/37948 "2025-05-14T03:38:46Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 18\
**Page:** 1

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**Author:** ![msibleyj](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/flex002/user_avatar/discourse.shapr3d.com/msibleyj/32/29845_2.png) [@msibleyj](https://discourse.shapr3d.com/u/msibleyj)\
**Post date:** [May 14, 2025, 3:38am UTC](https://discourse.shapr3d.com/t/how-to-add-surface-text/37948/1 "2025-05-14T03:38:46Z")

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I’m trying to create 3D print of a a tray with holes for hex bits with a label below each hole that is flush with the surface. If I put the text on the surface of the body and export as a 3mf and then import into Bambu Studio, there is no text on the body. It comes through to the slicer if I raise the text or embed embed it, but not if it is flush on the surface. I even tried extruding the text and leaving the extruded test with the top surface flush with the surface of the body. It didn’t show up in the slicer.

 ![image](https://us1.discourse-cdn.com/flex002/uploads/shapr3d/original/3X/c/6/c6455520042225ff57ae7d64a7dc2b9799d2d586.png)

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**Author:** ![Bob3DPO](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/7993a0/32.png) [@Bob3DPO](https://discourse.shapr3d.com/u/Bob3DPO)\
**Post date:** [May 14, 2025, 4:08am UTC](https://discourse.shapr3d.com/t/how-to-add-surface-text/37948/2 "2025-05-14T04:08:36Z")

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I don’t know about Bambu, but this works fine in PrusaSlicer. After drawing the text, extrude it into your hex bit holder—and create new body with that extrude. Then subtract the text from the bit holder—and keep removed bodies.

This will create text with depth in your 3mf export file. Both in Shapr3D and PrusaSlicer you will see bodies for each text element. In your example above, there would be 4 bodies.

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**Author:** ![BKE](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/flex002/user_avatar/discourse.shapr3d.com/bke/32/31690_2.png) [@BKE](https://discourse.shapr3d.com/u/BKE)\
**Post date:** [May 14, 2025, 11:06am UTC](https://discourse.shapr3d.com/t/how-to-add-surface-text/37948/3 "2025-05-14T11:06:10Z")

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I am a little bit lost here, if the text is ‘flush on the surface’ (leveled) how is it supposed to be visible?  
I have only printed _leveled_ texts/logos with a twin head FDM using different colored filament.

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**Author:** ![Xdrakosha](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/flex002/user_avatar/discourse.shapr3d.com/xdrakosha/32/24881_2.png) [@Xdrakosha](https://discourse.shapr3d.com/u/Xdrakosha)\
**Post date:** [May 14, 2025, 11:16am UTC](https://discourse.shapr3d.com/t/how-to-add-surface-text/37948/4 "2025-05-14T11:16:29Z")

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> [@BKE](#):
>
> I am a little bit lost here

Bambulab has AMS system, so you can easily print in different colors.

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**Author:** ![jean-philippe2](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/flex002/user_avatar/discourse.shapr3d.com/jean-philippe2/32/27353_2.png) [@jean-philippe2](https://discourse.shapr3d.com/u/jean-philippe2)\
**Post date:** [May 14, 2025, 11:44am UTC](https://discourse.shapr3d.com/t/how-to-add-surface-text/37948/5 "2025-05-14T11:44:56Z")

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Hi,  
And just Extrude \> Substract ? Result only one body.  
It’s no good for Bambu Studio ?

 ![Capture d’écran 2025-05-14 à 13.41.28](https://us1.discourse-cdn.com/flex002/uploads/shapr3d/original/3X/a/6/a623cdb3e084e497f2dceefc535d6aac052f0777.jpeg)  
 ![Capture d’écran 2025-05-14 à 13.42.36](https://us1.discourse-cdn.com/flex002/uploads/shapr3d/original/3X/a/0/a0ed4dc2edcc758c1f4448ae6f652a128e4e4703.jpeg)

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**Author:** ![GroMark](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/4491bb/32.png) [@GroMark](https://discourse.shapr3d.com/u/GroMark)\
**Post date:** [May 14, 2025, 11:49am UTC](https://discourse.shapr3d.com/t/how-to-add-surface-text/37948/6 "2025-05-14T11:49:35Z")

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I 3d-printed texts extruded to bodies before and it worked just fine.

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**Author:** ![Xdrakosha](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/flex002/user_avatar/discourse.shapr3d.com/xdrakosha/32/24881_2.png) [@Xdrakosha](https://discourse.shapr3d.com/u/Xdrakosha)\
**Post date:** [May 14, 2025, 12:32pm UTC](https://discourse.shapr3d.com/t/how-to-add-surface-text/37948/7 "2025-05-14T12:32:59Z")

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Just to visualize @Bob3DPO advice here is the video:

[![](https://us1.discourse-cdn.com/flex002/uploads/shapr3d/original/3X/7/0/7072d8f1a264ba7434bbc2aec1083817314e69d3.jpeg "demo") ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VknXqLMV6Tw)

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**Author:** ![PlayDoh](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/flex002/user_avatar/discourse.shapr3d.com/playdoh/32/31742_2.png) [@PlayDoh](https://discourse.shapr3d.com/u/PlayDoh)\
**Post date:** [May 14, 2025, 3:58pm UTC](https://discourse.shapr3d.com/t/how-to-add-surface-text/37948/8 "2025-05-14T15:58:53Z")

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You just need to Extrude \> Subtract AND toggle keep original bodies .

Hope it helps

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**Author:** ![kabocha](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/f04885/32.png) [@kabocha](https://discourse.shapr3d.com/u/kabocha)\
**Post date:** [May 14, 2025, 4:53pm UTC](https://discourse.shapr3d.com/t/how-to-add-surface-text/37948/9 "2025-05-14T16:53:07Z")

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It’s not flush in Shapr but will be flush on the 3d printed part. Extrude very small amount, just smaller than your layer height and put a color on the numbers and save it as OBJ. In Bambu assigned color carries over with the OBJ at export.

 ![Screenshot 2025-05-14 at 9.39.41 AM](https://us1.discourse-cdn.com/flex002/uploads/shapr3d/original/3X/f/3/f39285a4ba550c51e4815b3e58554902c178f705.jpeg)  
 ![Screenshot 2025-05-14 at 9.42.42 AM](https://us1.discourse-cdn.com/flex002/uploads/shapr3d/original/3X/9/7/97c60da8fb5f19d2357d17d81229b87caab700b6.jpeg)  
 ![Screenshot 2025-05-14 at 9.44.03 AM](https://us1.discourse-cdn.com/flex002/uploads/shapr3d/original/3X/0/a/0a1a4285a1c77fefe030a6510f97c74c739c82d4.jpeg)

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<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![msibleyj](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/flex002/user_avatar/discourse.shapr3d.com/msibleyj/32/29845_2.png) [@msibleyj](https://discourse.shapr3d.com/u/msibleyj)\
**Post date:** [May 14, 2025, 8:30pm UTC](https://discourse.shapr3d.com/t/how-to-add-surface-text/37948/10 "2025-05-14T20:30:33Z")

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I tried that and it seems to work, although I had to tinker with it a bit to leave a body in the cavity left when I extruded the text–which substracted it from the main body. Oh well, I’ll keep playing with it until I get a procedure defined. Thanks.

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<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![msibleyj](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/flex002/user_avatar/discourse.shapr3d.com/msibleyj/32/29845_2.png) [@msibleyj](https://discourse.shapr3d.com/u/msibleyj)\
**Post date:** [May 14, 2025, 8:32pm UTC](https://discourse.shapr3d.com/t/how-to-add-surface-text/37948/11 "2025-05-14T20:32:46Z")

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I’m not sure about the terminology, but I don’t want the text to be embedded below the surface of the main body or raised above it. When I import other models from makerspace, etc., I can paint the text that is already there and print it in a different color.

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<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![msibleyj](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/flex002/user_avatar/discourse.shapr3d.com/msibleyj/32/29845_2.png) [@msibleyj](https://discourse.shapr3d.com/u/msibleyj)\
**Post date:** [May 14, 2025, 8:37pm UTC](https://discourse.shapr3d.com/t/how-to-add-surface-text/37948/12 "2025-05-14T20:37:18Z")

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Wow, that is so helpful! Thanks. I’m going to study what you did there because it sure makes it easier once you’re in the slicer. Orca must work similar to Bambu because it looks almost identical. Thanks!

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<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![msibleyj](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/flex002/user_avatar/discourse.shapr3d.com/msibleyj/32/29845_2.png) [@msibleyj](https://discourse.shapr3d.com/u/msibleyj)\
**Post date:** [May 14, 2025, 8:37pm UTC](https://discourse.shapr3d.com/t/how-to-add-surface-text/37948/13 "2025-05-14T20:37:44Z")

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Thanks, that helps me grasp the concept.

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**Author:** ![Xdrakosha](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/flex002/user_avatar/discourse.shapr3d.com/xdrakosha/32/24881_2.png) [@Xdrakosha](https://discourse.shapr3d.com/u/Xdrakosha)\
**Post date:** [May 14, 2025, 8:42pm UTC](https://discourse.shapr3d.com/t/how-to-add-surface-text/37948/14 "2025-05-14T20:42:32Z")

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> [@msibleyj](#):
>
> Orca must work similar to Bambu because it looks almost identical.

Bambu Studio is a fork of Orca Slicer in fact, so yes they are similar.

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<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![msibleyj](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/flex002/user_avatar/discourse.shapr3d.com/msibleyj/32/29845_2.png) [@msibleyj](https://discourse.shapr3d.com/u/msibleyj)\
**Post date:** [May 14, 2025, 8:42pm UTC](https://discourse.shapr3d.com/t/how-to-add-surface-text/37948/15 "2025-05-14T20:42:44Z")

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So, the trick here is to embed the text less than the layer height, which in my case is .2mm, so I’d have to extrude it to maybe .1mm and the bambu slicer will see it as flush with the surface. Also, you’re using an obj file to save the color scheme. OK, that answers another question about how to carry over colors into the slicer. Thanks for the detailed explanation!

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**Author:** ![Bob3DPO](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/7993a0/32.png) [@Bob3DPO](https://discourse.shapr3d.com/u/Bob3DPO)\
**Post date:** [May 14, 2025, 10:57pm UTC](https://discourse.shapr3d.com/t/how-to-add-surface-text/37948/16 "2025-05-14T22:57:08Z")

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Hi Mark,

You shouldn’t have to fiddle with this too much… no need to change height so you get a flush result.

Here is a video that is similar to my description above. Also, a picture in PrusaSlicer. Also the exported and zipped 3MF file. I am unfamiliar with Bambu Studio, but would expect it to handle the 3mf file.

  
 ![IMG_0528](https://us1.discourse-cdn.com/flex002/uploads/shapr3d/original/3X/f/7/f73709e032210e8452a2de901e96529a2cdf7b1a.jpeg)  
[Flush text for 3D Printing.zip](https://discourse.shapr3d.com/uploads/short-url/jGeRRy915m6OIfgsV8B3PF7Mi5X.zip) (42.7 KB)

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<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![kabocha](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/f04885/32.png) [@kabocha](https://discourse.shapr3d.com/u/kabocha)\
**Post date:** [May 15, 2025, 1:47am UTC](https://discourse.shapr3d.com/t/how-to-add-surface-text/37948/17 "2025-05-15T01:47:42Z")

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You might not be labeling just one item but whole series of them, in that case you can just write out everything extrude .1mm and color it and just union it with your hex organizer. When you union the hex numbers will stays the same color you selected.

Coloring for OBJ was covered here in the Bambu forum.

> **[Coloring an obj file in Bambu Studio 1.10.2.76](https://forum.bambulab.com/t/coloring-an-obj-file-in-bambu-studio-1-10-2-76/154564)**
>
> I am attempting to import a 2 color OBJ file from Fusion 360 into Bambu Studio but things are not going well. I created a very simple file that has 2 objects, one black, one white. When bambu studio displays the color matching box it seems to...

OBJ Export has Include Vertex Color toggle.

 ![image](https://us1.discourse-cdn.com/flex002/uploads/shapr3d/original/3X/4/a/4adb6a652ea24855394c6857e76f721a1a75496b.jpeg)

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<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![msibleyj](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/flex002/user_avatar/discourse.shapr3d.com/msibleyj/32/29845_2.png) [@msibleyj](https://discourse.shapr3d.com/u/msibleyj)\
**Post date:** [May 15, 2025, 3:12am UTC](https://discourse.shapr3d.com/t/how-to-add-surface-text/37948/18 "2025-05-15T03:12:51Z")

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OK, I got it to work using your method. First, your 3mf file worked fine (photo1).

 ![image](https://us1.discourse-cdn.com/flex002/uploads/shapr3d/original/3X/f/d/fdbfa322bea6ee429f921a2acf9227530a9f350a.png)

I was able to import as a 3mf file, but had to color the letters myself (photo 2).

 ![image](https://us1.discourse-cdn.com/flex002/uploads/shapr3d/original/3X/5/7/578e32d8ff405321d326212e7571a458921491fa.png)

And finally, I tried exporting and importing as an obj file, and that brought in the colors as well (photo 3).

 ![image](https://us1.discourse-cdn.com/flex002/uploads/shapr3d/original/3X/5/7/57e36512ef6beca21482c2d561aa8457867360aa.png)  
Thanks for your help!