The filament a piece is printed in decides how it looks, how it holds up and where it can live. This guide compares PLA, PETG and ABS on detail, strength, heat, safety and aging, for anyone choosing a collectible or wondering what ours are made of.
PLA holds the most detail and comes in the most colors
PLA (polylactic acid) is the most popular filament for detailed decorative pieces and collectibles. It is a plant-based plastic made from corn starch or sugarcane, and it is easy to print well.
Why PLA suits display pieces:
- It captures fine scales, textures and edges
- It barely warps, so prints come out dimensionally accurate
- It gives off little odor while printing
- It comes in the widest range of colors and specialty finishes
- It is biodegradable, unlike petroleum-based plastics
Specialty PLA finishes:
Silk PLA adds a shimmer and depth that photographs well and makes dragons and display pieces look polished.
Metallic PLA contains real metal particles for bronze, copper, silver or gold.
Color-changing PLA shifts hue with temperature, so a dragon changes color in your hand.
Glow-in-the-dark PLA charges in light and glows at night.
Wood-filled PLA contains wood fibers, prints with a grain, and can be sanded and stained.
PLA is the right choice for dragons, display models and anything that will stay out of extreme heat and the outdoors. Because it prints so cleanly, it captures the fine detail that makes a collectible impressive.
PETG is tougher and handles heat better
PETG (polyethylene terephthalate glycol) sits between PLA's ease and ABS's toughness. It is the same family of plastic as water bottles, known for durability and chemical resistance.
Impact resistance means an articulated toy survives drops and rough handling without cracking.
Heat resistance keeps it from softening in a warm car or a sunny window where PLA would deform.
A little flex prevents stress fractures in joints and moving parts under repeated movement.
A glossy surface straight off the printer makes colors look bright and saturated with no finishing.
Chemical resistance means cleaning products and hand oils do not degrade it over time.
Layer adhesion is exceptional. PETG prints usually fail through the material before they split between layers.
For a toy that has to be both good-looking and tough, PETG is a strong choice.
ABS is the strongest and the hardest to print
ABS (acrylonitrile butadiene styrene) has the highest durability and heat resistance of the three. It is the plastic LEGO bricks are made of.
Impact resistance is the highest of any common filament. It takes real force without cracking.
Heat resistance keeps its shape at temperatures that would deform PLA or PETG, so it suits items near heat or in hot places.
It does not go brittle with age the way some plastics do.
Acetone vapor smoothing gives ABS a glass-smooth surface with no layer lines, which no other common filament allows.
Printing ABS is demanding:
- It gives off a strong odor and needs ventilation
- It warps unless the bed is heated and usually enclosed
- It needs precise temperature calibration
- Layer adhesion has to be dialed in to prevent splitting
ABS makes sense for:
- Functional parts under mechanical stress
- Items exposed to heat or weather
- Pieces that will be acetone smoothed
- Projects where durability justifies the extra work
For decorative pieces, PLA and PETG give excellent results with fewer complications.
The three compared
Ease of printing
PLA: easiest, with minimal warping and a forgiving temperature range.
PETG: moderate, needing good temperature control and prone to some stringing.
ABS: hard, needing an enclosure, precise temperatures and ventilation.
Detail
PLA: excellent, with the sharpest corners and least oozing.
PETG: good, with slightly more stringing.
ABS: good, and excellent with the right settings.
Strength
PLA: moderate, fine for display pieces, and can go brittle over time.
PETG: high, with impact resistance and flex.
ABS: highest.
Heat resistance
PLA: low, softening around 50 to 60°C (122 to 140°F).
PETG: moderate, softening around 80°C (176°F).
ABS: high, softening around 105°C (221°F).
Surface
PLA: matte to semi-gloss depending on the type.
PETG: naturally glossy.
ABS: matte, and can be smoothed to a glass finish.
Environmental impact
PLA: biodegradable and made from renewable crops.
PETG: recyclable but petroleum-based.
ABS: petroleum-based and not biodegradable.
Which filament for which job
Display collectibles and dragons: PLA
Detail and the range of specialty finishes make PLA right for pieces that mainly need to look impressive, like dragons with fine scales.
Articulated toys and flexi animals: PETG
Smooth joint movement, impact resistance and gloss suit toys that get played with, without the difficulty of ABS.
Outdoor decorations: PETG or ABS
Sun, heat and weather call for heat resistance and UV stability. PETG handles most outdoor use, and ABS handles the extremes.
Functional parts and tools: ABS or PETG
Strength and heat resistance matter more than finish.
Kids' toys for rough play: PETG
PETG is tough enough for hard use and avoids the odor and printing difficulty of ABS.
All three are safe to handle once printed
PLA is food-safe with a suitable nozzle, non-toxic, and gives off minimal fumes while printing. Its plant origin makes it the safest choice for children's items.
PETG is the plastic used in food containers and water bottles. It prints with little odor and no harmful fumes given ventilation.
ABS releases styrene while printing, so it needs good ventilation. The finished part is safe to handle.
Every print we ship is handled and fully cured first, so it is safe for its intended use whatever the material.
How each filament ages
PLA lasts well away from heat and UV. It can get slightly more brittle over years, but a good print stays intact for decades indoors.
PETG barely ages. It keeps its flexibility and strength almost indefinitely.
ABS lasts generations. LEGO bricks from the 1960s still work.
Keeping any print out of direct sun and heat extends its life.
How we choose a filament
Design complexity: highly detailed pieces benefit from PLA's precision.
Intended use and handling: how often a piece will be touched and played with.
Display environment: temperature and sun exposure.
Your preference: we accommodate specific material requests where the design allows.
Our flexi toys are printed to order in premium PLA in Como, Texas, because it holds the detail in scales and joints. Matching the filament to the job is why our pieces look right and last.
PLA for detail, PETG for toughness, ABS for extremes
PLA gives the finest detail and the most finishes. PETG balances looks with toughness. ABS gives maximum durability when the printing difficulty can be managed.
Keep exploring
All of our flexi toys are printed in premium PLA, which is why they hold detail so well. See it in the flexi keychains that get daily wear, and read how to care for PLA prints so they last for years.