Gone are the days of obvious stair-stepping ruining a resin print. With a little knowledge, you can turn an average-looking part into a clean, professional surface. This guide covers anti-aliasing, layer height and post-processing — the three levers that most affect surface quality.
1. Anti-Aliasing: The Free Win
Almost every modern slicer includes an anti-aliasing (AA) option. AA softens jagged diagonal edges by partially exposing edge pixels, making curves look noticeably smoother:
- Enable AA on any print with curved or angled surfaces.
- Start with the medium setting — high values reintroduce detail loss.
- AA costs almost no print time; it mainly affects file size and slice time.
2. Layer Height: The Fundamental Trade-Off
| Layer Height | Speed | Surface Finish |
|---|---|---|
| 0.05 mm | Slow | Near-invisible layers |
| 0.10 mm | Balanced | Smooth, recommended default |
| 0.05 + low normal light | Slow | Low layer lines / fine detail |
A 0.05 mm layer height minimises visible stepping, while exposure time should stay within your resin's recommended range to avoid over-cure and brittleness.
Exposure Tuning Matters More Than You Think
Under-exposure leaves soft, sticky surfaces; over-exposure bloats fine detail. Perform a simple exposure matrix print with your resin to find the sweet spot before running production parts.
3. Post-Smoothing: From Rough to Finished
- Wash promptly in isopropyl alcohol or an appropriate detergent; residual resin makes surfaces cloudy.
- Post-cure according to the resin's spec for maximum hardness.
- Wet-sand with fine grit (800–2000) to remove any remaining layer lines.
- For shiny parts, clear coat or a microfiber polish brightens the surface.
Start With a Reliable Standard Resin
Consistently smooth results begin with predictable resin. A dependable everyday option is ANTINSKY Standard Lite Resin — formulated for fast, detailed LCD printing with a matte grey finish that photographs well and sands easily.
Remember: surface quality = good resin + correct exposure + clean post-processing. Get all three right and your prints will look factory-made.