What Is Vase Mode in 3D Printing? A Beginner’s Guide to Seamless Prints

When You Should and Not Use Vase Mode 3D Printing

• You want a smooth, decorative surface
• The model has a simple, continuous shape
• Strength is not the top priority
• You want fast prints with low material usage

• The part needs to handle load or stress
• The model has internal structures or multiple walls
• You need a solid top surface
• The object must be airtight or fully sealed

How Vase Mode 3D Printing Works

Imagine a standard print as a stack of pancakes. Each pancake is a separate layer. Vase mode is more like a Slinky. The printer starts at the bottom and just keeps winding upward.

This creates a constant flow. Because the Z-axis is moving up at the same time the X and Y axes are moving horizontally, the plastic is laid down in a smooth, uninterrupted ribbon. This is why vase mode prints often look shinier than regular prints. The plastic isn’t being constantly retracted and restarted, which keeps the texture incredibly consistent.

This continuous motion has a few important effects:

• Seams disappear because there are no layer starts
• Retraction is unnecessary
• Print time often decreases
• Material usage drops significantly

The tradeoff is strength. A single wall, even a thick one, will never be as strong as a multi-wall print with infill. Vase mode prioritizes surface quality over internal structure, which is why it works beautifully for decorative parts but poorly for load-bearing ones.

How to Enable Vase Mode in Popular Slicers

Every slicer likes to hide this setting under a different name, which can be annoying if you’re switching between machines. Let's take a closer look at how to switch on the vase mode:

What Is Vase Mode in Orca Slicer

Orca Slicer is the new favorite for many (especially Bambu Lab and Klipper users). In Orca Slicer, vase mode is usually called Spiral vase and can be enabled in the print settings.

 

 

Step 1: Go to the "Prepare" tab and then navigate to "Process";

Step 2: Under the "Others" tab, look for the "Special mode". Then check the box for "Spiral vase".

Once turned on, Orca handles many adjustments for you, but there are still a few things you should check manually:

Does Creality Print Have a Vase Mode?

Yes, it does. Creality Print includes a spiral-style vase mode option, and it works similar to other slicers.

Step 1: Launch the program;

Step 2: In the "Process" tab, go for "Spiral vase" under the "Special mode";

Step 3: Always hit the "Yes" button when the pop-up window appears.

 

 

Note: Spiral mode is accessible only when the wall loop is 1, support in enables, top shell layer is 0, sparse infill density is 0, and the timelapse type is traditional.

Recommended Print Settings for Vase Mode

This is where most people mess up. If you use your default 0.4mm nozzle settings, your vase will be as fragile as an eggshell. However, vase mode settings are simpler than standard prints, but they matter more. Here's some general guidelines you can refer to

Setting	Value	Reasons
Line Width	0.6mm to 0.8mm	Wider lines create a thicker single wall, which noticeably improves strength even with a standard nozzle.
Layer Height	0.2mm to 0.25mm	Slightly taller layers bond better in a continuous spiral and reduce weak spots.
Bottom Shells	5 Layers	A thicker base adds stability and prevents the print from feeling flimsy.
Print Speed	40mm/s	Slower, steady motion keeps extrusion consistent throughout the spiral.
Flow Rate	105% - 110%	A small flow boost helps close tiny gaps in the wall and improves layer bonding.

Model Requirements for Vase Mode Printing

Not every model can be printed in vase mode, even if it looks simple. A common mistake is trying to print a "hollow" vase model. If you download an STL that already has an inside and an outside wall, the slicer will try to print both. This ruins the spiral. You want a solid model. The slicer’s "Vase Mode" logic will ignore the solid "meat" of the object and only trace the very outer skin.

A good vase model:

• Has a single continuous outer surface
• Contains no internal walls or floating features
• Has no flat horizontal tops
• Maintains consistent wall thickness

Before printing, switch to the slicer preview and confirm that the toolpath is one continuous spiral.

Best Vase Mode Prints You Can Try Today

If you need a shorter answer of how vase mode is applied in 3D printing, let's start simple:

• Basic vases
• Cylindrical containers
• Pencil holders
• Planters with smooth curves

More advanced vase mode prints often use twisting geometry or subtle surface texture, but the core shape is still one continuous shell.

Filament Choice and Material Tips When Using Vase Mode

Material choice matters more in vase mode than in standard prints. Generally,

When you turn on vase mode, ensure your materials are with stable flow and predictable cooling or bond well between layers, the following are good practices:

PLA: The gold standard. Specifically, Silk PLA hides the tiny spiral lines so well it looks like ceramic or metal.

PETG: If you want it to hold water, use PETG. It has better "layer bridges," meaning it's less likely to leak between the spirals.

Translucents: Any "Clear" or "Transparent" filament works best in Vase Mode because there is no internal infill to create shadows.

FAQs

Q: How do you make a vase mode stronger?

A: There are several ways to improve strength without abandoning vase mode:

• Increase line width
• Use a larger nozzle
• Slightly raise the extrusion temperature
• Choose tougher filament materials

Some users also simulate vase mode with thicker walls instead of a true single-wall spiral, trading surface purity for strength.

Wrapping Up

Vase mode in 3D printing is simple in concept but surprisingly nuanced in practice. When used with the right models and settings, it delivers some of the cleanest prints an FDM printer can produce.