> ## Knowledge Base Index > Fetch the complete knowledge base index at: https://help.simplyprint.io/sitemap.xml > Use this file to discover available pages before exploring further. > Pure-Markdown content can be obtained by appending a '.md' suffix to the content URLs listed in the sitemap (without the trailing slash). # Variable layer height in the Cloud Slicer # Variable layer height in the Cloud Slicer Variable layer height (also called adaptive layer height) lets you print thinner layers where a model needs detail, like curved tops and shallow slopes, and thicker layers where it doesn't, like straight walls. You can draw the layer heights by hand or let the Cloud Slicer work them out for you. It was added in the [22 October 2026 web update](https://suggestions.simplyprint.io/log/simplyprint-web-update-2026-10-22-ode8a). || Variable layer height works with the BambuStudio, OrcaSlicer, CrealityPrint and ElegooSlicer engines. It isn't available with PrusaSlicer, Cura or Kiri:Moto, and the button doesn't show when one of those is selected. See [How to choose a slicer engine and version](https://help.simplyprint.io/en/article/how-to-choose-a-slicer-engine-and-version-1q3vmju/). ## Open the variable layer height tool 1. Open a model in the Cloud Slicer and select **one** object. 2. Click the **Variable layer height** button in the top bar. You can also right-click the object and choose **Variable layer height**. 3. A height bar appears on the right edge of the canvas, with the **Variable layer height** panel next to it. The object is coloured by layer thickness while the tool is open. The panel shows the number of **Layers**, the object's **Height** and the height under your **Pointer**. | The button is greyed out when no object is selected, when several objects are selected, or when the object is locked. ## Let the slicer work out the layers (adaptive) 1. Under **Adaptive**, move the slider between **Detail** and **Speed**. Towards Detail gives thinner layers, towards Speed gives fewer, thicker ones. 2. Click **Apply**. Adaptive layer heights follow the slope of the model: fine where the surface is shallow, coarse on steep walls. ## Change the layers by hand Hold a mouse button on the height bar at the height you want to change: | Action | How | | ------ | --- | | Thinner layers | Left button | | Thicker layers | Right button | | Back to the layer height | Shift + left button | | Smooth here | Shift + right button | | Brush width | Scroll over the height bar | You can also set the brush size with the **Width** slider under **Brush**. ## Smooth the curve 1. Under **Smooth**, set the **Radius** (1 to 10). 2. Tick **Keep the thinnest layers** if you don't want smoothing to thicken your finest layers. 3. Click **Apply**. ## Finish, reset or undo - Click **Done** to close the tool. Your layer heights stay on the object. - Click **Reset** to go back to the object's normal layer height (from your print profile, or the object's own layer height setting), plus any height range modifiers on the object. - Undo and redo work for every change you make in the tool. An object with its own layer heights gets a small layer icon in the **Objects** list. Click it to open the tool on that object again. ## Check the result in the G-code preview After slicing, open the preview and set **Color by:** to **Layer height** to see how thick each layer came out. ## Limits and warnings Layer heights always stay within the minimum and maximum layer height of your machine profile. The panel warns you about two settings that make slicing fail: - **Organic tree supports** can't print a variable layer height. Pick another support style. - A **prime tower** needs every object on the plate to have the same layer heights. Give them the same layer heights, or turn the prime tower off. If you scale the object, the layer heights stretch with it. If you rotate it onto another side, the old layer heights no longer fit. The panel tells you so, and the object slices with uniform layers until you set new ones. You also get a warning when you slice if an object's variable layer height can't be used and it will print with uniform layers. Some files can't hold a variable layer height. If you save changes back to such a file, the slicer tells you, and you can undo the layer height change to save your other changes. ## Who can use it Variable layer height is a role permission (**Variable layer height**, under **In-slicer features**). Roles that could change slicer print profile settings got it when the tool launched. If you see "Variable layer height is disabled by your organization", ask an admin on your account to turn it on for your role. Without it, the tool's button is hidden, but you can still see which objects have their own layer heights. See [Cloud Slicer permissions and role controls](https://help.simplyprint.io/en/article/cloud-slicer-permissions-and-role-controls-5v6yo/). ## Related articles - [Object settings and part settings explained](https://help.simplyprint.io/en/article/object-settings-and-part-settings-explained-hao1z9/) - [How to choose a slicer engine and version](https://help.simplyprint.io/en/article/how-to-choose-a-slicer-engine-and-version-1q3vmju/) - [How G-code preview works after slicing](https://help.simplyprint.io/en/article/how-g-code-preview-works-after-slicing-12xb8kv/)