SUNLU Silk Dual Color PLA Filament 1.75mm, Shiny Silk Texture, 1KG, Black Blue Review (2026)

What this filament is

This is SUNLU's Silk PLA+ Dual Color in black and blue, a 1.75mm filament on a 1KG spool with a shiny silk finish rather than the flat matte look of standard PLA. It is built around SUNLU's PLA+ formula, which the brand markets as tougher than regular PLA, combined with a dual-color strand so a single spool prints two colors depending on how light hits the surface and how the model is oriented on the plate. That makes it a filament aimed squarely at display pieces, art prints and gifts rather than purely functional parts, since the visual effect is the main selling point. Buyers wanting a single flat color for a functional bracket or enclosure are better served by a standard matte PLA or PETG spool.

The dual color, silk-shift effect

SUNLU describes the effect as a 360-degree rotation that unveils varied colors as the print or the viewer turns, so a vase or figurine can look mostly black from one side and shift toward blue from another. This works because the strand itself carries both colors, and how much of each shows up in a given layer depends on the print's geometry, wall count and orientation on the bed. Tall, curved or faceted shapes with distinct planes tend to show the two-tone shift more clearly than a flat plaque or a mostly cubic model. Anyone chasing a specific color pattern should expect some trial and error with orientation, since the result is not fully predictable the way a single solid color would be.

Toughness and print quality

Because this is a PLA+ formulation rather than plain PLA, SUNLU markets it as significantly tougher than standard PLA, with better resistance to snapping under flex or impact. That extra toughness is a genuine advantage for larger prints or thin features like dragon wings or vase rims that would otherwise be prone to cracking. The filament ships on a machine-wound spool that SUNLU describes as tangle-free, which matters for a silk-finish filament since these formulas can sometimes be more prone to stringing and oozing than matte PLA. Print quality on silk filaments generally rewards slightly slower speeds and good cooling to keep the glossy surface smooth rather than textured.

Dimensional accuracy and compatibility

SUNLU lists a diameter tolerance of plus or minus 0.02mm on the 1.75mm strand, which is a tight spec that should feed reliably through most direct-drive and Bowden extruders without frequent jams. The 1KG spool is sized to fit almost all consumer FDM printers built around 1.75mm filament, and SUNLU's own description calls it suitable for essentially any 1.75mm FDM machine rather than a specific brand. As with most silk filaments, expect a glossier, less matte surface than standard PLA, which can make fingerprints and dust more visible on finished prints, so display pieces may benefit from a light dusting or display case if they will sit out for a long time.

Where it fits versus repairs and patch prints

The dual-color strand is a strength for a finished piece, but it becomes a minor annoyance if a print fails partway through and needs a patch or a re-print of one section, since matching the exact color transition point on a second attempt is close to impossible. That is a reasonable trade-off for most users buying this filament specifically for its two-tone look, but it is worth knowing before starting a long, detail-heavy print where a partial failure is likely. For shorter prints or pieces where any mismatch would be hidden, this is a small concern; for large single-piece display prints, printing with reliable bed adhesion and calibrated retraction reduces the odds of needing a mid-print fix.

Frequently asked questions