Change print color in Orca Slicer by selecting a filament color in the Filament panel before slicing, or by using the color picker tool to assign different colors to different parts of your model
Orca Slicer is the slicing software that converts your 3D model into instructions your printer understands. It lets you set the filament color that will print, which is useful when you want to preview how your finished object will look or when you're using a multi-color printer. The color you choose in Orca Slicer doesn't change what actually prints — your printer will use whatever filament is loaded — but it changes how the software displays your model and helps you plan color changes if you're doing multi-material prints.
The simplest way to change print color is to pick a filament from the material library before you slice. If you want different colors in different parts of the same print, you'll use the color picker tool to assign colors to specific sections of your model. Both methods take less than a minute once you know where to look.
Key Takeaways
- The filament color selector in the Filament panel on the right side of Orca Slicer changes how your model appears on screen and what color the printer will use if you have that filament loaded.
- Click the colored circle next to your filament name to open a color picker and choose from preset colors or create a custom color.
- To assign different colors to different parts of a single print, use the color picker tool in the left toolbar to paint sections of your model.
- Changing the color in Orca Slicer is a preview and planning tool — it does not automatically change the filament in your printer.
Finding the filament color selector
Open Orca Slicer and load your 3D model. On the right side of the screen, you'll see the Filament panel. This panel shows the material currently assigned to your print — usually it says something like "Generic PLA" or the name of a specific brand filament you've added to your library.
Next to the filament name, you'll see a colored circle or square. This is the color selector. Click on it to open the color picker. The color shown here is what Orca Slicer will display when rendering your model on screen, and it's also the color that will print if your printer has that exact filament loaded.
If you don't see the Filament panel, go to the top menu and click View, then make sure Filament is checked. The panel should appear on the right side of your workspace.
Choosing a color from the preset library
When you click the colored circle, a color picker window opens. At the top, you'll usually see a row of preset colors — common filament colors like black, white, red, blue, yellow, and natural. Click any of these to explore that color when ready to your model preview.
Preset colors are the fastest option if you're using a standard filament color. The colors in the presets are designed to match real filament colors you can actually buy, so what you see on screen is close to what will print.
If none of the presets match your filament, you can scroll through the full color library or create a custom color. Many users keep their most-used colors pinned to the preset row so they don't have to dig through the library every time.
Creating a custom color
If your filament is a shade that isn't in the presets, click the color picker icon (usually a circle with a crosshair or a palette icon) to open the full color selector. You can then click anywhere in the color gradient to pick an exact shade, or type in RGB values if you know them.
RGB values are three numbers between 0 and 255 that describe how much red, green, and blue light make up a color. For example, pure red is 255, 0, 0. If you have the exact RGB values for your filament color, typing them in is faster than clicking around the gradient.
Once you've created a custom color you like, you can save it to your library so you don't have to recreate it next time. Look for a Save or Add to Library button in the color picker window.
Assigning different colors to different parts of your model
If you want to print different sections of your model in different colors, you'll use the color picker tool in the left toolbar. This is different from the filament color selector — it lets you paint individual parts of your model with different colors for preview purposes.
Click the color picker tool (it looks like a paintbrush or eyedropper) in the left toolbar. Then click on the part of your model you want to color. A color picker window will open. Choose your color and click explore. That section of your model will now display in the new color.
This tool is mainly for visualization — it helps you see what your print will look like if you plan to pause and change filament mid-print. The actual color that prints still depends on what filament is loaded in your printer at each pause point. Orca Slicer will generate the pause commands in your print file, but you have to physically change the filament yourself when the printer pauses.
Understanding the difference between preview color and actual print color
The color you set in Orca Slicer is a preview. It shows you what your model will look like on screen, and it helps you plan your print. But the actual color that comes out of your printer depends entirely on what filament you have loaded.
If you set your model to display as red in Orca Slicer but you have blue filament in your printer, your print will be blue. The software can't control your printer's filament — it can only tell the printer where to move and how fast. You have to load the right filament yourself.
This is why the color preview is useful for planning. If you're doing a multi-color print, you can set different colors in Orca Slicer, see where the color changes will happen, and then load the right filament at each pause point.
Saving your color choices for future prints
Once you've chosen a filament color and set up any custom colors, Orca Slicer remembers your choices. The next time you load a model, the software will use the same filament and color settings unless you change them.
If you want to save a specific color setup as a preset for a particular type of print, you can save your project file. Go to File and click Save Project. This saves your model, your color choices, and all your print settings in one file. When you open that project again, everything will be exactly as you left it.
You can also save just the filament settings without the model. In the Filament panel, look for an option to export or save your filament profile. This lets you reuse the same color and material settings across different prints without having to set them up again.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does changing the color in Orca Slicer change what color prints?
No. Changing the color in Orca Slicer only changes how the model looks on your screen. What actually prints depends on what filament is physically loaded in your printer. If you want a different color to print, you need to load different filament into your printer.
Can I make Orca Slicer automatically pause and tell me to change filament?
Yes. When you assign different colors to different parts of your model using the color picker tool, Orca Slicer can generate pause commands in your print file. Your printer will pause at those points, and you manually change the filament. The printer then resumes printing with the new color.
What if I don't see a color that matches my filament?
Use the custom color picker to create your own. Click the color picker icon in the color selector window and click on the color gradient until you get a shade that matches. You can also type in RGB values if you have them. Save the custom color to your library so you can use it again.
Where is the filament color selector if I can't find it?
The Filament panel is on the right side of Orca Slicer. If you don't see it, go to the top menu, click View, and check that Filament is checked. The panel should appear on the right side of your screen.
Can I change the color of just one part of my model without affecting the rest?
Yes, use the color picker tool in the left toolbar. Click the tool, then click on the specific part of your model you want to color. That section will change color while the rest of your model keeps its original color. This is useful for planning multi-color prints.