Articles on: Files & models

Sizes, colors and variants in a project: options, variants, sets and SKUs

Projects in SimplyPrint lets you describe what changes between the versions of one thing you make, such as Size and Color, and SimplyPrint works out the variants and what each one prints. This guide covers options, variants, sizes, colors, sets and SKUs.


Projects is included in the Print Farm and Enterprise plans.


A planter in three sizes and four colors is twelve things to print, but it shouldn't be twelve sets of files. This guide is part of the Projects documentation.


Table of contents


Options, values and variants

  • An option "is what changes between variants, like Size or Color. Each value takes every part, or only the parts you pick."
  • A value is one choice of an option, such as Small, Medium or Large.
  • A variant "is one thing you can print: one value of each option, with the parts those values take."


So a Size option with 3 values and a Color option with 4 values make 12 variants. Each option's card says how many variants it makes, such as "Makes 12 variants".


A project's Options list: a Size option with Small 70%, Medium 85% and Large 100%, and a Colour option with Terracotta, Sage, Bone and Charcoal


Adding an option

Use Add > Size, Color or Variant, or the project's Variants explainer: "Does it come in variants, sizes or colors?" with Sizes, Colors, Other option, Sets and Suggest from my files. You can also add options while you create a project.


When you add an option you choose what its values do:


  • "Its values are sizes: each can scale the parts."
  • "Its values are colors: each recolors the filaments."
  • "Its values are names: the parts print as they are."


Change what its values do changes this later.


Sizes

A size is a name, such as Small or 12 inch, with an optional scale. In New size you choose how it is Set by:


  • Percentage: a percentage of each file.
  • By measuring a part: pick the part and the side, and give The length it should be, in mm or inches.
  • Of another size: a number of times another size, such as 2 × Small.


Give a part its own size sets one part differently, for example feet that stay the same size on every planter. A size can also use different files: "Uses the original files. Drop files on it to use different ones at this size."


A scaled size gets its own plates. If something is too big for every printer at that size, SimplyPrint names it. Whether it fits one particular printer shows when that plate is sliced.


Colors

Values of a color option recolor the filaments, so each color variant prints the same parts with different filament. The setups use their own filament profile for each.


Options that pick parts

By default a value takes every part. "Click a value to choose its parts: every part, or only the ones you pick." For example, a Lid option whose "With lid" value takes the lid part and whose "Without" value doesn't.


When values are named like your parts, such as Part 1 and Part 2, the option offers Route by name: "Values named like your parts, such as Part 1 and Part 2, each take their own part in one click."


Suggest from my files "reads sizes, colors and numbered parts in your file names, and asks before it adds anything."


Sets

"A set prints variants and parts together, each with a count, like a starter kit." It can also hold parts only, such as 4 feet. Add one with Add > Set.


SKUs for every variant

SKUs for every variant gives each variant a SKU from one pattern, for example "CALI-75-RED". Set a SKU prefix and a Pattern, or use Edit SKU… on one variant. SKUs are what a Shop product's variants can match.


See: Projects and the Shop: making a Shop product from a project or variant


Printing a variant

When you add a project to the print queue or start it, you choose how many of each variant to print. Each variant prints from the plates and print files for its values.


A variant's plates are sliced like any other, so adding a size or color can add plates to slice. The header shows what is left, such as "4 plates to slice".


Projects


Selling variants in the Shop

Updated on: 06/11/2026

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