<p>I believe that the color is just a design choice, and doesn't have that big of an effect on the print itself. Changing the color wouldn't have an effect on the print itself. If you are looking for a solution to minimize radiation of heat going up to the build, you could either lower the heat of the bed, or you could go into the advanced print settings and change the bed temp after the first couple layers.</p>

CC BY-SA 4.0
2021-05-31T18:50:04.787Z
2021-05-31T18:50:04.787Z
alexjshepler
<p>It occurred to me after recalling cooling problems in the layers near the bed that many popular build surfaces (e.g. BuildTak clones) are black, which should radiate the most heat - onto the part being printed, which is generally undesirable. Is there a reason for this? Are there (white) build surfaces designed to minimize radiation of heat that might help avoid cooling problems in the initial layers?</p>

CC BY-SA 4.0
2021-04-08T01:32:01.740Z
I suspect the difference would be negligible, but now I want a white one, just because it would be easier to see the print for most colors (except white, obviously)
Joel Coehoorn
CC BY-SA 4.0
2021-04-08T03:23:42.150Z
I think black surfaces absorb and retain heat better but this is just knowledge from high school days.
electrophile
CC BY-SA 4.0
2021-04-09T07:47:30.003Z
My bed is blue.
Trish
<heated-bed><build-plate>
Why are so many bed surfaces black? Would white help?
R.. GitHub STOP HELPING ICE
# Why are so many bed surfaces black? Would white help?

(Asked by: username_0 on 2021-04-07)

It occurred to me after recalling cooling problems in the layers near the bed that many popular build surfaces (e.g. BuildTak clones) are black, which should radiate the most heat - onto the part being printed, which is generally undesirable. Is there a reason for this? Are there (white) build surfaces designed to minimize radiation of heat that might help avoid cooling problems in the initial layers?

**Tags:** heated-bed, build-plate

> **Comments:**
> **username_1**: I suspect the difference would be negligible, but now I want a white one, just because it would be easier to see the print for most colors (except white, obviously)  
> **username_2**: I think black surfaces absorb and retain heat better but this is just knowledge from high school days.  
> **username_3**: My bed is blue.  

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## 1 answers

### Answer by username_4 on 2021-05-31. Score: 1

I believe that the color is just a design choice, and doesn't have that big of an effect on the print itself. Changing the color wouldn't have an effect on the print itself. If you are looking for a solution to minimize radiation of heat going up to the build, you could either lower the heat of the bed, or you could go into the advanced print settings and change the bed temp after the first couple layers.


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