Which Material to choose for Terrain?
For the purpose of this article, we'll group PLA and PLA+ together. "PLA+" is not a technical standard; it's a marketing term, and its properties vary wildly between manufacturers.
PLA is the default for most FDM printing. It's inexpensive and produces good-quality prints with sharp details. However, it has two major drawbacks for terrain:
- Brittleness: PLA is rigid and tends to snap when dropped or stressed.
- Low Heat Resistance: This is the critical flaw. PLA will warp and deform if left in a hot car—a common scenario for gamers traveling to an event.
Our Recommendation: PETG
At Stacked Prints, we personally use and recommend PETG for our own terrain projects.
PETG is a durable workhorse. It's more flexible than PLA, meaning it's far more likely to bend or bounce rather than snap when it's (inevitably) dropped or transported roughly.
Its most important feature, however, is heat resistance. You can leave a box of PETG terrain in your car on a hot day and not worry about it warping.
This durability comes with a trade-off:
- Cost: PETG is typically a little more expensive than basic PLA.
- Post-Processing: It is prone to "stringing" (fine, hair-like plastic strands). This is easily fixed by passing a butane torch over the model to melt the strings, but it's an extra labor step that adds to the final cost.
A final note on aesthetics: PETG is usually glossy. While matte PETG exists, it's more expensive and offers no functional benefit. This finish is irrelevant, as YOU SHOULD PAINT YOUR TERRAIN!
The Premium Detail: Resin
We are very limited in printing terrain in resin. While we have done it, the cost is prohibitive for most people and most projects.
The detail from our 16K resin printers is unmatched, but the economics don't make sense for large walls, floors, or buildings. To be honest, we don't think it's worth it except for high-detail centerpiece items like statues, objective markers, or intricate doors where that fine detail is the main focus.
The Specialist Materials
ASA
We can print in ASA (Acrylonitrile Styrene Acrylate) on special request. This material has unique advantages:
- Vapor Smoothing: You can vapor-smooth it yourself at home to completely remove layer lines.
- Workability: It's easy to sand and can be drilled without cracking.
However, ASA is more than double the price of PETG for the material alone. It's also more difficult to print and emits dangerous vapors during the process, which further increases the price. It is an excellent material, but only for specific applications where its unique properties are required.
Composites (CF & GF)
Filaments with additives like Carbon Fiber (CF) or Glass Fiber (GF) are not great options for terrain, in our opinion.
While these additives make the material much more durable and stiff, they also make it more brittle. Terrain is usually transported roughly, and a brittle piece is more likely to shatter on impact, even if it's "stronger." We will happily print in PLA-CF and PETG-CF upon request, but we do not recommend it for this use case.
