Skirt

A skirt is an outline printed around (but not touching) the model before the actual print begins. It primes the nozzle and lets you verify first layer settings.

Purpose

1. Primes the extruder - Starts filament flowing
2. Verifies bed leveling - Watch for consistent extrusion
3. Checks first layer - Time to abort if issues
4. Burns off old filament - Gets fresh material flowing

Settings

• Skirt Distance: Gap from model (3-5mm typical)
• Skirt Lines: Number of outlines (2-3 typical)
• Skirt Height: Layers high (usually 1)

What to Watch For

Good Skirt

• Even, consistent lines
• Proper squish to bed
• No gaps or blobs

Problem Signs

• Lines not sticking → Bed too far
• Lines too thin/transparent → Bed too far
• Lines too squished/wide → Bed too close
• Gaps in lines → Under-extrusion or clog

Pro Tip

If the skirt looks wrong, you can often adjust Z-offset on the fly or abort before the actual print begins—saving time and filament.