📚 Help & Documentation
Learn how to create customizers and manage orders
Getting Started
Configura helps you create interactive 3D customizers for your products. Here's the basic workflow:
Orienting Your Model
Properly orienting your 3D model is crucial for a great customer experience. The orientation you set in the generator becomes the default view for your buyers.
Why Orientation Matters
When customers open your customizer, they should immediately see your product from its most recognizable angle. A figurine should stand upright, a mug should show its front design, and a phone case should display as if lying on a table.
Understanding the Coordinate System
Configura uses a standard 3D coordinate system:
- Y-axis (Green) — Points UP toward the sky
- X-axis (Red) — Points RIGHT
- Z-axis (Blue) — Points toward the CAMERA (front)
How to Orient Your Model
Region Identifier Tool
The Region Identifier lets you mark which parts of your model customers can customize. Each region can have its own name and color options.
How It Works
Region Order Matters!
The order of regions in your list (top to bottom) becomes the order customers see in the customizer. This is important for creating a logical flow for your buyers.
Drag to reorder: You can click and drag region boxes to quickly change their order. The order from top to bottom in the generator will match exactly what buyers see in the customizer.
Accent 2, Back, Name, Accent 3...
Back → Face → Name Plate → Name → Accent
Add Text & Text Border
The Add Text feature lets your customers personalize products with custom text directly on the 3D model. This is perfect for name tags, keychains, signs, and any product that benefits from personalization.
Enabling Text Customization
In the Generator, click the "Add Text" toggle to enable text customization for your product. Once enabled, you'll see options to configure how text appears on your model.
- Click a surface — Select where on the model the text should appear
- Default text — Set placeholder text customers will see initially
- Font selection — Choose from system fonts or upload custom fonts in your Font Library
- Text size — Adjust how large the text appears on the surface
- Extrusion depth — Control how far the text "pops out" from the surface
Text Border (Outline)
Text Border adds a contrasting outline around your text, making it more visible and giving it a professional, polished look. This is especially useful for decorative fonts or when the text needs to stand out against the model.
- Border width — Adjust the thickness of the outline (0.5mm to 3mm)
- Border color — Customers can choose a separate color for the border
- Border depth — Control the extrusion depth of the border layer
Font Library
Upload custom fonts (TTF or OTF files) to your Font Library to give customers more personalization options. Access your Font Library from the dashboard under Library → Font Library.
- Upload fonts — Drag & drop TTF/OTF files or click to browse
- Preview fonts — See how each font looks before using it
- Use in customizers — Select uploaded fonts in the Generator
• Avoid very thin or script fonts that may not print well
• Test your text settings with a sample print before listing
• Consider offering 2-3 font options rather than overwhelming customers
Seller Notes
Seller Notes let you include helpful information that customers see after they finish customizing their product. This appears in the final confirmation popup along with their order code.
What to Include
Use this space to communicate anything customers need to know when placing their order. This is your chance to provide extra guidance or helpful reminders.
- Order instructions — How to include the code when ordering
- Processing times — "Custom orders typically ship within 3-5 business days"
- Material info — "Printed in durable PLA plastic"
- Size details — "Actual size: 2.5 inches tall"
- Care instructions — "Hand wash only, not dishwasher safe"
- Contact info — "Questions? Message us on Etsy!"
📋 Copy the code above and paste it in the 'Personalization' field when ordering on Etsy.
⏱️ Custom orders ship within 2-3 business days.
📏 Tag size: 1.5" x 1" — perfect for medium to large pets.
Questions? Send us a message anytime!"
Supported File Formats
Configura currently supports STL files for 3D models. STL is the universal standard for 3D printing and works with all CAD software and slicers.
STL File Tips
- Binary STL files load faster than ASCII STL files
- Keep file sizes under 50MB for best performance
- Ensure your model is watertight (no holes or gaps)
- Models are automatically centered and scaled in the viewer
Using with Etsy
Once you publish a customizer, you'll get a unique URL. Here's how to use it with your Etsy listings:
1. Visit our color picker: [your link]
2. Design your perfect combination
3. Copy your 6-character code
4. Paste the code in 'Notes to Seller' when ordering
We'll print your exact design!"
Order Codes
When customers finalize their design, they receive a unique 6-character code (like "XK7M2P"). This code stores their exact color selections.
For Sellers
- Enter codes in the Order Viewer to see customer selections
- Save orders to your Order Manager to track them
- Export directly to your slicer with customer colors baked in
- Mark orders as complete when fulfilled
- Export order data to CSV for record keeping
For Customers
- Codes are generated automatically when saving a design
- Customers should copy the code and include it with their order
- Codes don't expire and can be reused
Export to Slicer
Configura can export 3MF files with customer color selections baked in, ready to open directly in your slicer software. No manual color assignment needed!
Supported Slicers
- 🎋 Bambu Studio — Uses standard 3MF color groups. Colors map directly to your AMS filament slots.
- 🔶 PrusaSlicer — Uses MMU painting format. Compatible with Prusa MMU and other multi-material setups.
How to Export
Bambu Studio Setup
When you open a Configura export in Bambu Studio:
- You may see "3MF is not from Bambu Lab" — this is normal, click "Load geometry and color data"
- Colors will appear in the Object List panel
- Click "Edit" → "Flush into objects" if colors don't show immediately
- Map each color to your AMS slots in the filament panel
PrusaSlicer Setup
When you open a Configura export in PrusaSlicer:
- Ensure you have a multi-material printer profile selected
- Painted regions will appear in the extruder color panel
- Assign each extruder to your desired filament
- The MMU painting data is preserved from your original 3MF
Ad Generator
Create professional marketing images for your Etsy listings, social media, and ads. The Ad Generator lets you showcase your customizable products with beautiful backgrounds and layouts.
Getting Started
Access the Ad Generator from your dashboard under Marketing → Ad Generator. You'll need at least one published customizer to create ads.
- Select products — Choose 1-4 customizers to feature in your ad
- Pick a layout — Single product, side-by-side, or grid layouts
- Customize colors — Set the colors shown on each product
- Add text — Include headlines, taglines, and calls-to-action
Background Styles
Choose from a variety of background options to make your products stand out:
- Simple gradients — Clean, modern looks (Modern, Sunset, Ocean, Forest, etc.)
- Artistic patterns — More creative options (Geometric, Aurora, Neon, etc.)
- Custom colors — Set your own gradient colors to match your brand
Text & Branding
Add compelling text to your ads:
- Headline — Main attention-grabbing text (e.g., "Customize Your Colors!")
- Tagline — Supporting message (e.g., "Perfect for any occasion")
- Call-to-action — Prompt for action (e.g., "Shop Now →")
- Font styles — Choose fonts that match your brand
- Text colors — Customize colors for maximum contrast
Exporting Your Ad
Download your finished ad in multiple formats:
- PNG — High-quality image, best for most uses
- JPEG — Smaller file size, good for web
- Save to library — Store ads in your Saved Ads for later use
• Keep text short and punchy — less is more
• Show off color variety by featuring the same product in different colors
• Use the 4-panel layout to showcase customization options
Saved Ads
Manage your marketing creatives in one place. Saved Ads stores all the ads you've created in the Ad Generator, making it easy to reuse, edit, or download them later.
Accessing Saved Ads
Navigate to Marketing → Saved Ads from your dashboard to view all your saved creatives.
- Grid view — See thumbnails of all your ads
- List view — See ads with details and metadata
- Search — Find ads by name
- Sort — Order by date created or name
Managing Your Ads
Each saved ad can be:
- Downloaded — Export as PNG or JPEG anytime
- Renamed — Give your ads descriptive names
- Deleted — Remove ads you no longer need
- Previewed — Click to see full-size version
Troubleshooting
Model Won't Load
- Check the file format is STL or 3MF
- Ensure the file isn't corrupted (try opening in another program)
- Large files (50MB+) may take longer to load
- Try refreshing the page and uploading again
Model Appears Sideways
- Your CAD software likely uses Z-up coordinates
- Rotate X by -90° to convert to Y-up
- See the Orienting Your Model section
Order Code Not Working
- Codes are case-sensitive — enter exactly as shown
- Ensure there are no extra spaces
- Check that the code is exactly 6 characters
Colors Look Different When Printed
- Screen colors and filament colors vary — calibrate your filament library
- Use the exact hex codes shown in Order Viewer for color matching
- Consider creating swatches of your available filaments
Exported 3MF Loads Slowly in Slicer
- Upload your original model as 3MF instead of STL for best export quality
- STL files need geometry reconstruction which can increase file size
- 3MF files preserve the original vertex structure for optimal performance
Bambu Studio Shows "Not from Bambu Lab" Warning
- This is normal — click "Load geometry and color data" to continue
- Colors will be imported and can be mapped to your AMS filaments
- If colors don't appear, try Edit → Flush into objects
Frequently Asked Questions
Yes! When customers save their design, they get a code. They can bookmark the page or note the code, and their design will be there when they return.
There's no hard limit, but we recommend 8-20 colors for the best customer experience. Too many options can be overwhelming.
Yes! Click "Edit" on any customizer from your Dashboard. Changes are saved when you click Update. Existing order codes will still work.
The customizer link will stop working, but existing order codes remain valid. You can still view saved orders in your Order Manager.
Yes, order data is stored in the cloud. You need an internet connection to load order codes and view customer selections.
Yes! From the Order Viewer, you can export 3MF files with customer colors already baked in. We support Bambu Studio and PrusaSlicer. Just open the exported file in your slicer and assign filaments — no manual painting needed.
Use "Bambu Studio" export if you have a Bambu Lab printer with AMS. Use "PrusaSlicer" export for Prusa MMU or other multi-material setups. Both formats preserve your customer's exact color selections.