7 Best Fonts for 3D Printing Text – Free Fonts
Reading Time: 6 minutes There are a lot of font options around the internet and it is hard for users to know what will work well when being 3D printed. That’s why I wrote this article to show you the best fonts for 3D printing.
The best fonts for 3D printing are sans serif fonts, which are simpler fonts that don’t have any decorative lines. Helvetica, Arial, Comic Sans, Orbitron and Candara are all great options. There are also display fonts that can be successfully 3D printed such as Impact. Stencil fonts are also highly recommended.
This is the basic answer, keep reading to find out more information about the best fonts for 3D printing.
How to 3D Print a Font
To 3D print a font, you can drag and drop an image that contains the written text directly into Cura.
You can create a simple image using image editing software such as Paint or Paint.Net, which is available to be downloaded for free.
To do that, just open Paint and write the text you want by using the text tool with the fonts that are available on your computer.
After that, just go into “File” and save as a JPG file and then drag and drop it into Cura, change the base value to 0 and it will generate a 3D printable version.
Best Fonts for 3D Printing
There are several types of fonts that can be 3D printed and the most popular are sans serif fonts.
A sans serif font is a type of font that does not have small decorative lines or strokes at the end of the main strokes of the letters.
The term “sans” is derived from the French word meaning “without.” This type of font is commonly used for digital and screen-based media, such as websites, mobile apps, and presentations.
Here are a few popular fonts for 3D printing:
- Helvetica
- Arial
- Comic Sans
- Orbitron
- Candara
- Impact
- Stencil fonts
Helvetica
One of the most popular font options for 3D printing is Helvetica, which is a classic font known for its versatility and clean lines.
Its uniform stroke width and balanced proportions make it a safe bet for 3D printing projects of different types.
One user suggests printing with a black version of Helvetica bold so that the font will come out nice in the 3D print.
Check out the video below for more information about 3D printing typography.
Arial
Arial is a geometric sans serif font that is very popular for multiple uses.
Its bold and simple letterforms work exceptionally well for 3D printing, creating nice-looking and easily readable text.
One user stated that Arial Black is the best font to be 3D printed. He said that any sans serif font should work pretty well.
Another user recommends using Arial and staying away from fonts that have serifs, which can look bad at the edges.
Comic Sans
Another popular font for 3D printing is Comic Sans, which is a classic font designed to have great legibility in different sizes.
With its clean lines and consistent stroke widths, it is an excellent choice for 3D printed text, particularly for fun designs.
One user stated that Comic Sans prints really well as the letters are really bold and spaced cleanly, making it easy to distinguish.
Another user suggests using any font without serifs and recommends Comic Sans as a great option to be 3D printed.
He also said the wider the font, the better it will print.
Orbitron
Orbitron is a sans serif font known for its legibility and cool visuals. The Orbitron font is freely available for download.
It gives a lot of elegance to 3D printed text, making it ideal for projects that require a sophisticated touch.
One user suggests using the font Orbitron when looking for a font to 3D print. He used it to print more than 80 figurines, each one with a customized name and had no issues.
He stated that the font is easy to read and he printed down to 5mm high, and the results were great.
It is also recommended to try to print with the text being vertical as that generates a higher quality print that way.
Impact
Another option for a great font to be 3D printed is Impact.
It is a display font, which is designed specifically for headlines, titles, logos, or other large-sized text and is more decorative, expressive, and unique compared to serif or sans serif fonts.
Impact is a bold and attention-grabbing font that works well for 3D printing projects that require impactful text.
It is commonly used for signage or text that needs to be easily visible from a distance. One user suggests using Impact as he had a lot of luck when 3D printing with it.
Another user recommends using Impact to 3D print as there aren’t many thin lines and that helps to achieve a nicer result.
Candara
Candara is a clean and modern sans serif font with strong, geometric letterforms.
Its bold and eye-catching design makes it suitable for 3D printed objects that demand a strong visual presence.
One user recommends 3D printing with Candara but stated that he likes to add a block to make the top curve of the C slant upward.
Check out the video below for information on how to convert text to STL files.
Stencil Fonts
Another great option for font type to be 3D printed are Stencil fonts.
They are characterized by their breaks or gaps in the letterforms, creating the illusion of stenciled letters.
You can find different versions of popular fonts in stencil type, such as:
- Stencil
- Army Stencil
- Bebas Stencil
- Impact Stencil
- Street Stencil
- Military Stencil
The gaps in the font design allow for easy readability and reproduction, making stencil fonts an ideal choice when precision and legibility are essential.
One user recommends looking for any font that has “stencil” in its name as they are usually the best fonts to be 3D printed.
Check out the video below for more information on how to 3D print text.
Thank you, this site seems like a good site and a good subscribe.
I am trying to print names on a flat surface as a cutout (holes).
I cannot seem to find a font that does not require me to chase the little pieces and glue them. Lie the letters e & d.
Any recommendations appreciated.
Thanks.
Sure, so I’d look into using stencil fonts which have breaks in the letters to keep the inside parts connected to the main letter. You can go with Stencil, Army Stencil or Capture It.
Another type is outlined fonts where the letters are just outlines, this means there aren’t floating parts inside. Something like Blokletters, viltstift and courier new should work.
You can also do single line fonts like harlow solid, magneto and soft sugar. Or you can modify the font yourself in a software like Fusion 360 to manually add small connects to attach the inner part of the letter to the outer part.
Hope that helps!