How to print giant Christmas decorations
A nutcracker taller than your kids, ornaments the size of beach balls, a reindeer for the porch. Big Christmas decorations print fine on a normal printer once you split them into pieces.
Good things to print big
- Nutcrackers and toy soldiers. Tall and simple, with flat colors that are easy to paint.
- Giant ornaments. Hollow spheres, stars and baubles for the porch or the tree in the yard.
- Santa, snowmen, reindeer and gingerbread figures.
- Lanterns and light-up pieces. Thin, light-colored walls glow with lights inside.
- Lettering and signs, like a big NOEL or your family name.
Indoors or outdoors?
- Indoors: PLA is fine and the easiest to print and paint.
- Outdoors: PETG handles cold and wet better than PLA, and ASA handles sun best. Whatever you use, prime, paint and clear-coat everything, seal the seams, and leave a small drain hole in the bottom so water doesn't collect inside.
- Wind: big hollow decorations are light. Add weight in the base, or stake them down.
Split it into pieces
Scale the model to the size you want, then cut it into pieces that fit your bed. Hide seams where they'll disappear: a nutcracker's belt, the edge of a coat, the band around an ornament. Fewer, bigger pieces are faster to finish.
Scale & Cut 3D does this in one go: enter the height, and it cuts the model to fit your printer, adds pegs on every seam, numbers the pieces and lays them out on plates. It can also hollow the model, which saves a lot of filament on big decorations and makes room for lights.
Light it from inside
- Print the shell in white or natural filament, about two walls thick, so light shows through.
- Use LED string lights or a puck light. They stay cool, unlike old bulbs.
- Leave an opening in the base for the cord and to reach the switch.
Plan for storage
Giant decorations take up space the other eleven months. If you'll pack it away, consider gluing it into a few big sections instead of one piece, and fastening those together with bolts or magnets so it comes apart again.
Start early. A big decoration can take a few weeks of printing. Starting in early November leaves time to print, paint and fix the odd failed piece before the holidays.
Want an app to do the cutting?
Scale & Cut 3D cuts your model into pieces that fit your printer, adds pegs and part numbers, and lays them out on plates for Bambu Studio or OrcaSlicer. Windows and Mac, $20.
Check it outQuestions
What filament is best for outdoor Christmas decorations?
PETG or ASA. PETG handles cold and moisture better than PLA, and ASA handles sunlight best. Seal and paint it either way.
Can I put lights inside a 3D printed decoration?
Yes. Print it in white or natural filament with thin walls, use cool LED lights, and leave an opening in the base for the cord.
How do I make a big decoration easy to store?
Assemble it into a few large sections and join those with bolts or magnets instead of glue, so it comes apart for storage.