SUNLU tri-color silk PLA: our vase print review

One vase, three very different views. We printed SUNLU’s Blue Green Purple Silk PLA+ on a Snapmaker 2.0 A350T and photographed the result from four angles.

Firsthand print notes · Updated October 17, 2026. The site’s operator purchased this 1 kg roll. This is one decorative print, not a controlled comparison or a test of every SUNLU silk formulation.

Our SUNLU tri-color Double Twisted Vase showing blue and green silk highlights on the printer bed — The actual print on its build plate. Original photography, resized and compressed for the web; no AI retouching or background removal.

What we printed

The model is Double Twisted Vase by FabLabMaastricht on Thingiverse. Its crossing ridges and recessed diamond shapes give us many surfaces to photograph. It was printed using Cura’s Spiralize Outer Contour (vase mode), and took approximately four hours according to the operator.

The color changes with the view

Across these photographs, the same vase appears predominantly purple/pink, green, or blue. The rims and raised ridges catch bright reflections while the recesses remain darker. These are different views of one print, not separate spools. Lighting, viewing angle, and the printed geometry all influence what the camera records.

SUNLU tri-color vase: Purple and pink dominate this view. — Purple and pink dominate this view.

SUNLU tri-color vase: Green highlights across the diamond pattern. — Green highlights across the diamond pattern.

SUNLU tri-color vase: Blue face with green along the side. — Blue face with green along the side.

SUNLU tri-color vase: Mixed pink and green reflections. — Mixed pink and green reflections.

Select any gallery photo to open the larger image. Photos retain the print’s visible wisps and surface texture.

Our saved Cura settings

We inspected the saved Cura 3MF project supplied by the operator. These values document this print; they are not a universal preset. The physical printer is a Snapmaker 2.0 A350T; the saved Cura machine profile is named “Snapmaker 2 A350.”

Setting	Saved value / operator report
Cura version / quality	5.11.0 / Normal
Mode	Spiralize Outer Contour enabled (vase mode)
Configured nozzle diameter	0.4 mm
Layer height / first layer	0.16 mm / 0.20 mm
Nozzle / bed	220°C / 60°C
General print speed	50 mm/s
Outer-wall speed	15 mm/s
First-layer print speed	18 mm/s
Print time	Approximately 4 hours (operator report)

The distinction between general speed and outer-wall speed matters: this profile does not mean the entire vase printed at 50 mm/s. The values above are saved slicer settings, not measured motion speeds or a reconstruction of every command sent to the printer.

What the spool label recommends

The label identifies Silk PLA+ Tri-Color, Blue Green Purple, 1.75 mm, 1 kg. It separates nozzle recommendations by speed:

Label print-speed range	Label nozzle range
50–100 mm/s	205–215°C
100–200 mm/s	215–230°C

The label specifies a 50–60°C bed. Our print used 220°C, based on an initial general recommendation before the label was inspected. That is above the label’s 205–215°C band for 50–100 mm/s; the saved outer-wall speed is also below its listed speed bands. We report what was used rather than presenting 220°C as the manufacturer’s recommendation for this slow vase print. For a new setup, start from the exact spool’s guidance and calibrate on a small sample.

The unopened roll viewed from its green side.

The opposite side shows blue and purple.

The actual spool label and speed-dependent temperature ranges.

SUNLU box label identifying Blue Green Purple, 1 kg.

Finish, imperfections, and handling

The photographs show a strong glossy finish and a clearly defined diamond pattern. Fine wisps and some rough patches are visible in several recesses. We have not isolated their cause, so we cannot attribute them specifically to temperature, moisture, or the filament itself.

The operator describes the finished vase as thin and flimsy. This was a vase-mode print, so that observation should not be treated as a general strength verdict on SUNLU PLA+. We have not measured wall thickness, tested load-bearing strength, or checked whether it holds water.

How it compares with our OVV3D example

Our OVV3D dual-color gallery includes an earlier print of this vase design. The new SUNLU photographs add a green-facing view to the blue and purple/pink appearances. The earlier print’s settings and the lighting were not controlled to match, so these galleries illustrate appearance rather than prove that either brand prints better.

Our take after this print

This roll produced a glossy decorative vase with distinct color appearances from different viewpoints in about four hours. The photos also show small surface imperfections, and the lightweight wall construction limits how sturdy this particular object feels. It is a useful first result, not enough evidence to rank the brand or promise the same outcome on another machine.

Shopping for this effect

Look for SUNLU Silk PLA+ Tri-Color in Blue Green Purple, 1.75 mm, 1 kg. The Amazon link below opens our broader SUNLU silk selection; select and verify the exact variant, seller, and spool size before purchasing.

Browse SUNLU silk filament on Amazon Amazon affiliate link · We may earn a commission.

For other SUNLU options, distinguish single-color silk, coextruded multicolor silk, and rainbow filament rather than assuming they behave identically. Read our color-effects guide and calibration workflow before choosing settings.

Evidence & further reading

Operator-provided print and packaging photographs, October 2026.
Operator-provided VaseDoubleTwist.3mf, saved in Cura 5.11.0; settings inspected October 17, 2026.
Double Twisted Vase — FabLabMaastricht, Thingiverse. Model design belongs to its creator; download and license details are on the original listing.
SUNLU Silk PLA+ Tri-Color product guidance. Consult your spool label when recommendations differ.