Presets & Projects

3dSynth uses a comprehensive preset system to save and share your designs. Understanding the different preset types will help you work more efficiently.

Saving your work

There are two main ways to save your design:

• Save Project (toolbar Save button or Ctrl+S / ⌘+S): Saves the current state to a .3dsynth file to a location you choose. Use this for backup, sharing, or opening later via Open. On desktop, a save dialog lets you pick the path; on web, the file downloads.
• Presets: Save the current design as a named preset from the Presets panel (Save Current). Presets live in the app's presets folder and appear in the preset browser for quick recall — ideal for variants and templates.

Opening a .3dsynth file via the Open menu (toolbar) loads that project and restores the full design.

Preset Types

3dSynth separates settings into different preset types, allowing you to mix and match designs with different printer configurations.

Design Presets (.3dsynth / .json)

Your complete design: profile shape, effects, transforms, Julia Stack settings, material color, and height. Does NOT include printer settings.

• Built-in: Shipped with the app (read-only)
• User: Your saved designs (stored in app data folder)
• Shareable: Export as .3dsynth files to share with others

Material Presets (.json)

Temperature and extrusion settings for specific filament types: PLA, PETG, ABS, TPU, etc.

• Nozzle temperature (printing and first layer)
• Bed temperature
• Cooling fan speed
• Retraction distance (DD vs Bowden)
• Flow rate multiplier

Nozzle Presets (Built-in only)

Optimized settings for different nozzle sizes: layer height, line width, and speed ranges. Essential for vase mode printing.

• 0.2mm: Ultra-fine detail, slow printing
• 0.4mm: Standard nozzle, most versatile
• 0.6mm: Balance of detail and strength
• 0.8mm-1.2mm: Large format, sculptural work

Machine Profiles (Built-in only)

Printer-specific settings: build volume, leveling type, and startup G-code. Select your printer model from the dropdown.

• Tested: Prusa, Creality K series
• Community: Bambu Lab, Ender, Voron, etc.

Profile Shapes (Quick-start templates)

Basic spline shapes (Vase, Cone, Cylinder, Bowl, etc.) available in the Profile Editor dropdown. These set the base shape without effects.

Saving & Loading Designs

Import & Export

Opening a project file

Use the toolbar Open button (or your platform’s file menu, if available) and choose a .3dsynth or legacy .json preset file. The design loads and restores the full project.

Using Material Presets

Material presets are separate from design presets. They store temperature and extrusion settings for different filament types.

Quick Workflow

1. Open Printer Settings panel
2. Click Materials button
3. Select a built-in material (PLA, PETG, etc.) or create your own
4. Click Apply to use those settings

Preset Lock Behavior

Each Nozzle and Material preset writes to a specific subset of PrinterConfig fields when applied. Every lockable field has an individual lock icon in the Print panel — when a field is locked, the preset skips it rather than overwriting your tuned value, and a toast shows which fields were kept.

What each preset type touches

Example: keeping a calibrated flow rate

1. Dial in Flow Rate = 1.02 after a calibration print.
2. Click the lock icon next to Flow Rate in the Material section.
3. Later, switch to a different material preset (e.g., PETG).
4. Every other material setting updates (temps, cooling, retraction), but Flow Rate stays at 1.02 and a toast confirms "Kept locked: Flow Rate".
5. Unlock the icon anytime to let the next preset write through again.

File Locations (Desktop App)

All user files are stored in the application data folder:

Folder structure:
- Design Presets: presets/*.3dsynth
- Material Presets: material-presets/*.json
- Printer Presets: printer-presets/*.json
- Nozzle Presets: nozzle-presets/*.json
- Machine Profiles: machine-profiles/*.json