These 12 NEW 3D Printing Apps Will BLOW Your Mind!

I spent a month testing the latest 3D printing software, plugins, and slicers to find the 12 3D printing tools you should actually try. Brought to you by the Snapmaker U1: https://jle.vi/snapmakerU1

2026 has been an insane year for 3D printing software, and honestly, keeping up with it all has become a full-time job. We’ve seen an explosion in CMYK color mixing, filament management systems, ways to paint 3d prints in software, and more… It’s been a LOT!

So I tested as many as I could, from 3d printing business suites to firmware 3d printer upgrades and even 3d printer calibration utilities to see which ones are worth trying out. We’ll also look at PrusaSlicer 3.0, a new filament management system, tools for previewing 3MF and STEP files, and an easier way to remix STL files when the original designer didn’t share the source files.

Some of these 3D printing apps are clever little quality-of-life improvements. One is the best print farm software I’ve ever seen. And another could completely change what open-source 3D printing software and slicers are capable of. I even found one that will help you remix STL in fusion 360! Then, I narrowed it down to only the 12 you ACTUALLY should try out.

🤫 Get my custom filament and printer profiles, buyers guides, and much, much more on Patreon: https://patreon.com/thenextlayer

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🎥 IN THIS VIDEO: 🎥
00:00 Introduction
00:53 PaintPort
04:32 OrcaSlicer Image Map
05:37 CMYKForge
07:07 CN3D Docs
09:39 Watchtower
12:08 Spoolio
15:38 BeSpok3D
17:54 PrusaSlicer 3.0
22:06 Mesh2Step
23:19 QuickLookStep
24:02 ThumbHost3MF
24:55 LayersPeek
25:30 Conclusion

🔗 LINKS MENTIONED IN THE VIDEO: 🔗
👉 Onshape – my CAD software of choice: https://jle.vi/onshape
👉 PaintPort: https://perspektive3d.github.io/paintport/
👉 Subscribe to Perspektive3D: https://www.youtube.com/@perspektive3D
👉 OrcaSlicer Image Map: https://github.com/sentientstardust-dev/OrcaSlicer-ImageMap
👉 Taylor from YGK3D’s deep-dive video explaining the multicolor method used by OrcaSlicer Image Map: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=B5cvfSPWjlU
👉 CMYKForge: https://cmykforge.org/
👉 CN3D Docs: https://docs.cn3d.eu/en/start
👉 Support Nadir of CN3D: https://buymeacoffee.com/cn3dp
👉 Watchtower: https://watchtower3d.com/
👉 Support YGK3D: https://www.patreon.com/u80746241
👉 Spoolio: https://spoolio.net/
👉 BeSpok3D: https://bespok3d.app/
👉 PrusaSlicer 3.0: https://www.prusa3d.com/p/prusaslicer/
👉 Mesh2Step: https://github.com/tommasobbianchi/mesh2step
👉 QuickLookStep: https://github.com/johnboiles/quick-look-step
👉 ThumbHost3MF: https://github.com/DavidPhillipOster/ThumbHost3mf
👉 LayersPeek: https://layerspeek.com/
👉 Support PixelForgeLab: https://www.patreon.com/cw/PixelForgeLab
👉 My previous video covering Prime3D and CMYK 3D Printing: https://youtu.be/K3Fmc98ug2I

🛒 RECOMMENDED GEAR: 🛒
📍PLEASE CONSIDER SUPPORTING THE CHANNEL BY SHOPPING USING MY LINKS! FULL LIST CAN BE FOUND AT: https://jle.vi/links
📍My favorite thing to 3D print: https://jle.vi/multiboard
📍My favorite 3D printing “accessory”: https://jle.vi/magigoo
📍My recommended 3D printing filament: https://jle.vi/sunlu
📍My CAD software of choice: https://jle.vi/onshape
📍Check out the official TNL merch: https://shop.thenextlayer.com/

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