Printlaag

Printlaag is a Dutch term that refers to a deposited material layer in a printing or manufacturing process. It denotes a single pass or layer that, when repeated, builds up the final image or object. In conventional 2D printing, a printlaag is an ink or toner layer applied to the substrate; multiple layers are often used to achieve color density, opacity, and tonal range. In additive manufacturing, a printlaag corresponds to the thin cross-section that is laid down or cured before the next layer is added, so that a stacked sequence of layers forms the completed part.

The thickness of a printlaag is determined by technology and settings. In 3D printing, layer height commonly ranges from about 0.05 to 0.5 millimeters depending on the process (for example, laser-based processes and resin printers can achieve smaller heights, while fused deposition modeling tends toward larger heights). In 2D printing, the analogous concept relates to the thickness and optical density of the ink or toner layer.

Quality and process control of print layers affect surface finish, dimensional accuracy, and mechanical properties. Key factors include layer adhesion between successive layers, substrate surface preparation, temperature, deposition rate, and curing or drying conditions. Calibration of hardware and software, such as nozzle diameter, bed leveling, and flow rate, helps ensure consistent layer thickness.

Various technologies use the term printlaag, with the concept underlying many printing and manufacturing workflows. In Dutch-language literature, it is used alongside terms like laagdikte (layer thickness) and printproces, and is understood as the fundamental unit of build or print in the sequence.