Getting Started

🚀 Getting Started & First Print Guide

This guide walks you through setting up TailWag Studio, preparing your printer, and completing your first 4-color filament painting from photo to sliced build plate.

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💻 1. Installation

TailWag Studio is available as a standalone desktop application for Windows and macOS.

Windows Installation

• Standard Installer: Download and run TailWag-Setup-1.2.0.exe from GitHub Releases.

  SmartScreen prompt? Click More info -> Run anyway. This is standard for new open-source software without an expensive commercial code-signing certificate.

• Portable: Download TailWag-Portable-1.2.0.exe (runs directly with no installer).
• Windows Package Manager (WinGet):

  winget install everyday3d.TailWagStudio

macOS Installation

• Apple Silicon (M1/M2/M3/M4): Download TailWag-Setup-1.2.0-mac-arm64.dmg.
• Intel Macs: Download TailWag-Setup-1.2.0-mac-x64.dmg.
• Open the .dmg image and drag TailWag Studio.app to /Applications.

Important

First Launch on macOS (Gatekeeper): Unsigned macOS apps are blocked on standard double-click. On first launch:

1. Right-click (or Control-click) TailWag Studio.app in /Applications.
2. Select Open from the context menu.
3. Click Open in the dialog prompt. Alternatively, open Terminal and run: xattr -cr /Applications/TailWag\ Studio.app.

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🛠️ 2. Recommended 3D Printing Hardware

Printers

• Bambu Lab (A1, A1 Mini, P1P, P1S, X1-Carbon) with AMS or AMS Lite for automated filament swapping.
• Any FDM 3D Printer (Prusa MK3/MK4, Creality Ender/K1, Voron, Elegoo Neptune, Anycubic) using manual pauses (M600 filament runout or layer pause).

Nozzle Sizes

• 0.4 mm Nozzle (Standard): Recommended starting point. Prints cleanly with 0.08 mm layer height and rapid print times.
• 0.2 mm Nozzle (High Detail): Delivers razor-sharp XY resolution for small portraits, miniature art, or text badges.

Recommended Starter Filament Palette

The classic 4-color photographic palette:

1. Black (Base layer — absorbs all light, defines deep shadows)
2. Medium Gray / Blue / Red / Earth Tone (Mid-tone layer)
3. Light Gray / Amber / Yellow (Highlight layer)
4. White / Jade White (Top highlight layer — diffuse scattering)

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⚡ 3. Your First Print in 5 Minutes

[Drop Photo] ➔ [Select Colors] ➔ [Inspect 3D Preview] ➔ [Export 3MF] ➔ [Slice & Print]

Step 1: Import Your Subject Photo

1. Drag and drop any JPG, PNG, or WebP photo into the studio window.
2. In the pre-press adjustments panel:
   • Adjust Contrast to emphasize subject details.
   • Adjust Brightness so dark areas reach deep blacks without crushing details.
   • Use Smoothing if your photo contains digital noise or camera grain.

Step 2: Choose Your Palette & Color Mode

• Faithful Mode (Default): Automatically searches all available filament spools in your library and calculates the optimal combination that minimizes color error ($\Delta E_{00}$) compared to the original image.
• Vivid Mode: Maximizes perceptual separation between colors for bold, vibrant illustrations or posters.
• Archival Monochrome: Optimizes transitions between blacks, charcoal, grays, and whites for vintage portraits and monochrome photography.

Step 3: Inspect the 3D Optical Viewport

• Rotate / Pan / Zoom: Click and drag in the 3D viewport to inspect the surface relief contours.
• X-Ray Layer Scrubber: Drag the layer slider to inspect the exact internal color boundary steps beneath the surface.
• Split-Screen Source Wipe: Toggle the split compare slider to verify predicted blended colors against the original photo side-by-side.

Step 4: Add Shapes and Frames (Optional)

• Switch silhouette shape from Rectangle to Rounded Plaque, Circle, Hexagon, or Crest Shield.
• Add a 3D raised border (Beveled, Modern Lip, or Stepped).
• Optional: Enable rear magnet pockets or keychain holes if making gifts or badges.

Step 5: Export Native .3MF Project

1. Click Export 3MF.
2. Review the Fidelity Report displaying average $\Delta E$ color deviation and layer swap heights.
3. Save the .3mf project package. TailWag writes both the watertight mesh model and an accompanying _Swap_Playbook.txt.

Step 6: Slice & Print in Bambu Studio / OrcaSlicer

1. Open the .3mf file directly in Bambu Studio or OrcaSlicer.
2. The print project will already be configured with:
   • 100% infill density
   • Aligned Rectilinear infill pattern
   • Layer heights (0.16mm or 0.20mm base, 0.08mm layers)
   • Color filament assignments and height modifiers
3. Click Slice plate and send to your printer!