Prusament color values: what the published TD scale means

What actually changes from one color to the next

A color reference combines a polymer name, product line and color designation. The pages reviewed do not provide the detailed pigment composition of each color, so do not infer a pigment, filler or additive type or quantity from the name alone. For the listed Prusament references, the table provides HueForge TD values and hex codes, but does not connect those values to a chemical recipe.

Prusa says its HueForge TD values and HexCodes are measured for its Prusament materials and colors. The page gives a scale from 0.1 to 100, from the least to the most transparent value. TD means Transmission Distance, and the page describes the number as an indication of how much light the filament lets through. This is a TD scale, not a percentage of optical transmission.

The page presents these values for HueForge and similar applications, where transparent filaments may create color combinations when printed in mixed layers. It does not say that TD values require different temperatures or profiles. Use the values in their optical context and consult the published settings for the exact reference; a TD value alone cannot select a thermal profile.

What the Prusa transparency table shows

Prusa’s table has a HueForge TD column and a HexCode column. Among the visible PETG entries, Clear shows 100, while Jet Black and Matte Black show 0.3. Prusa Orange shows 6.2 and Prusa Orange Transparent shows 44.2. These values document entries on the TD scale; 100 is not presented as a guaranteed 100% light transmission.

The PLA entries show 0.2 for Prusa Galaxy Black and 7.6 for Pineapple Yellow. The table also pairs PVB names containing “Transparent” with different TD values, including 7.6 and 100 for the two cited references. Compare the displayed numbers as HueForge values without turning a product name or number into a guaranteed appearance for a printed part.

Some consulted rows have an empty TD cell, such as PLA Anthracite Grey or TPU 95A Natural. This means only that no TD figure is displayed in that row of the consulted table. The blank establishes neither that no measurement exists nor equivalence with another color; check the exact reference and available data before drawing a conclusion.

Read the sheet for the color, not for the product line

The table places the note “Inconsistent color” next to several recycled references, including PLA Recycled, PETG Recycled and rPLA Risotto, Algae, Wine and Corn. The page does not define this note as a causal analysis or the history of a particular batch. Record the wording as shown and ask the maker what it means for the exact reference rather than inferring a recipe or the shade of a specific spool.

The reliable approach is to start from the sheet for the exact color in your hand. Note the full reference, including the spool weight that appears in the product name, because the Prusa table distinguishes, for example, PLA Blend spools listed at 970 g from standard PLA spools listed at 1 kg. Then compare what is published for that color with what you had for the color you used before.

If a color sheet gives no specific setting guidance, do not infer a need for a temperature change from TD or the shade name. Use the maker’s recommendations for the exact reference and machine, where available, and check support on the printer and firmware. A product page does not guarantee a profile for every color or grade with a similar name.

Preview color and a filament-change command: two actions

The PrusaSlicer page describes two distinct actions. Changing the displayed preview color changes a visual indicator and, according to the documentation, does not affect generated G-code. Adding a filament change at a layer creates a change command in the G-code, identified by the documentation as M600. Do not confuse a preview color sample with an actual command.

The documentation used is listed under PrusaSlicer 2.9 (Legacy). It describes that interface version; check the documentation and available commands for your actual version before following the steps. Preview color is separate from the physical spool color, but it does not describe composition or print settings.

The page says PrusaSlicer may automatically suggest color changes at relevant heights when it recognizes a model that looks like a logo or sign. This is slicer placement assistance, not pigment detection or a compatibility check. Verify the G-code and whether your printer and firmware support the command.

Mixing colors in one print: the same-material rule

The PrusaSlicer page documents a filament change at a layer and identifies it as an M600 command in G-code; it describes the printer pausing when it reads that command. Check that your printer model and firmware support the expected behavior before relying on the feature. The page recommends using filaments of the same type, such as PLA with PLA, and warns that different types adhere poorly and may lead to a failed print.

The same-type instruction is a recommendation in the context of pause-based color changes; it does not prove that every color, formulation or grade within one family is compatible. Do not infer shade compatibility from the base polymer or product-line name alone. For a multicolor assembly, check each reference and its maker’s instructions.

Prusa says transparent materials may create particular color combinations when layered, which explains the use of TD values in HueForge. The PrusaSlicer page also states that color change does not work with sequential printing. The visual result depends on the part and design method; the sources do not guarantee a model’s appearance or the same effect for every color pair.

A practical routine before you change spools

Record the exact reference and TD value if it appears in the table. Prusa presents TD data for HueForge and similar applications; they may inform a design that uses light, but they are not a percentage-transmission measurement or print-temperature settings. A missing value remains unknown in the consulted table.

For a spool change, follow published settings for the exact reference and record the profile actually used. If two prints look different, that alone does not identify the cause or batch history. Compare the references and documented settings; verify your printer and firmware before relying on an M600 change.

A workshop record can record reference, color, TD value, profile, slicer version and firmware. It documents your configuration, not a universal color property or compatibility guarantee. The two sources reviewed cover the Prusament table and PrusaSlicer color-change feature; they do not support generalization to every brand or printer.

Sources and limits

• Prusa — HueForge Transmission Distance and HexCode table for Prusament references
• Prusa — color-change feature, PrusaSlicer 2.9 (Legacy) documentation

We organize manufacturer and community documentation; we have not measured these products ourselves. The manual for your exact model takes precedence over general guidance.