Text-Flips: How to Design and 3D Print Your Own

Text-flips are clever 3D printed models where one object intersects with another and the shared volume becomes the final print. In this guide, we look at how text-flips work, the two main types of text-flip models, and how to design your own using OpenSCAD.

What Is a Text-Flip?
Inspiration From a Leading Text-Flip Designer
The Two Main Types of Text-Flip Models
- Combining a Text Object With Another Text Object
- Combining a Text Object With a 3D Object
Software Used – OpenSCAD
How to Design a Text-Flip That Combines One Word With Another
- Choosing the Font
- How to design the text-flip in OpenSCAD
How to Design a Text-Flip That Combines a Word With a 3D Object
Print Settings
Final Thoughts

What Is a Text-Flip?

A text-flip combines a text object with another object where the two intersect or cross one another. The second object can be another word or a simple 3D shape. Once both objects overlap correctly, the intersecting volume is kept and exported as the final model.

OpenSCAD preview showing SMART text intersecting with another object in a text-flip design — An OpenSCAD preview illustrates the basic text-flip idea, in which one object intersects with another to create a shared printable form.

Such designs are highly customizable and, depending on the desired size and volume, can be printed quite quickly on both budget resin and FDM 3D printers.

Inspiration From a Leading Text-Flip Designer

I would like to give credit to master__printer. I was introduced to the idea of a text flip through their designs; you can download their designs on Cults3D. I learned to design my first text-flip model when someone in the comments of a Reddit post explained the process, and I have had fun creating my own text-flip models ever since. I focus on designs that are personal to me.

The Two Main Types of Text-Flip Models

There are two main approaches to text-flips. One combines a text object with another text object. The other combines a text object with a 3D object. Both follow the same general principle: create overlap first, then keep only the shared volume.

Two finished text-flip 3D prints on a wooden surface, one word-to-word and one word-to-shape — Two finished text-flip examples show how a word can intersect with either another word or a simple 3D shape.

Combining a Text Object With Another Text Object

This version uses one word intersecting with another word. It is a good starting point because the workflow is simple and easy to understand once the text alignment begins to make sense.

Finished word-to-word text-flip 3D print on a wooden surface — A finished word-to-word text-flip model where two words intersect to form one printable object.

Combining a Text Object With a 3D Object

Finished word-to-shape text-flip 3D print on a wooden surface — A finished word-to-shape text-flip model where a word intersects with a simple 3D shape.

This version uses a word and a shape, such as a map outline or silhouette. It opens the door to more personalised models and more creative combinations.

Software Used – OpenSCAD

In this article, I will explain how to design a text flip using OpenSCAD, which I use to design my text-flip models, but the process is applicable to all CAD software. This tutorial explains the process in Fusion360.

OpenSCAD software page screenshot — OpenSCAD is the main software used in this guide to build the text-flip models.

How to Design a Text-Flip That Combines One Word With Another

This example shows the process of combining two words into a single text-flip model.

Finished NEVER QUIT text-flip 3D print on a wooden surface — A completed NEVER QUIT text-flip model demonstrates the word-to-word approach.

Choosing the Font

Start by browsing Google Fonts and testing your words in uppercase. Bold and black fonts usually work best because they produce thicker letters that print more reliably. Even spacing also helps, as you will later reduce the tracking slightly in OpenSCAD so the letters overlap and become one connected shape.

The two words do not need to have the same number of letters. You can compensate by adjusting font size, extrusion height and position during the design stage.

Google Fonts preview with the word MADAGASCAR entered in uppercase — Testing words in Google Fonts helps identify bold typefaces that work well for text-flip designs.

Google Fonts download panel showing a selected font family — Download a few font options from Google Fonts and test them to find the one that prints best.

Preparing the Project Folder

Create a new folder for the project, copy the downloaded font zip into it, extract the font, and remove any unnecessary files. Keeping each text-flip in its own folder makes it easier to manage font files, the OpenSCAD file and later STL exports.

File explorer showing a new project folder for the text-flip design — Create a dedicated project folder for each text-flip so the font, STL files and OpenSCAD file stay organised.

File explorer showing the downloaded font zip copied into the project folder and extracted — After downloading the font, copy the zip into the project folder and extract it there.

How to design the text-flip in OpenSCAD

Start by downloading and installing OpenSCAD; you can download it here. Open a new OpenSCAD instance and save your new .scad file in the folder you have created, give it the same name as your text-flip.

Project folder containing the extracted font file and OpenSCAD file — Keep only the required font file in the project folder before importing it into OpenSCAD.

Importing the Font Into OpenSCAD

Open a new OpenSCAD file and save it in the same project folder. Import the font using a use statement and make sure the file name in the code matches the font file name exactly.

OpenSCAD code importing a font file with a use statement — The imported font filename in OpenSCAD must match the actual font filename exactly.

Setting Up the First Word

Begin with the first word. Set the text, font, font size, and position. A high $fn value helps keep curves smooth. Then adjust the spacing so the letters overlap slightly and form a more stable printable object.

OpenSCAD showing the first word QUIT set up as text — Set the word, font, font size and positioning for the first word in OpenSCAD.

Reduce letter spacing slightly so each letter overlaps and the text becomes more printable as one object.

Turning the Word Into a 3D Object

Once the text looks right in 2D, wrap it in a linear_extrude function to give it thickness. This turns the flat word into a 3D object. After that, temporarily comment it out so you can build the second word without visual clutter.

OpenSCAD showing the first word converted into a 3D object with linear_extrude — Use linear_extrude to turn the first word from flat text into a 3D object.

OpenSCAD code with the first word commented out — Comment out // the first word temporarily before setting up the second word.

Setting Up the Second Word

Create the second word using the same method, then rotate it 90 degrees on the x-axis so it faces forward. At this stage, you are preparing it to intersect with the first word.

OpenSCAD showing the second word NEVER set up as text — Create the second word with matching settings before adjusting its position and rotation.

OpenSCAD showing the second word rotated forward on the x-axis — Rotate the second word 90 degrees on the x-axis so it faces forward and can intersect with the first word.

Checking Overlap Between Both Words

Make the first word transparent with the percent modifier, then extrude the second word until it overlaps. Move between side, front, top, and perspective views while adjusting translate values, font size, and extrusion until both words intersect in the x, y, and z axes.

OpenSCAD showing the first word hidden with the percent modifier — Use the percent % modifier to make one object transparent while checking alignment.

OpenSCAD showing the second word extruded to overlap the hidden first word — Adjust the extrusion of the second word until it overlaps the first word.

OpenSCAD side view used to check overlap between the two words — Switch views while aligning the two words to confirm they overlap correctly.

OpenSCAD showing translate adjustments for better alignment between the words — Translate one of the words as needed until both objects intersect on all axes.

OpenSCAD top view showing overlap between two text objects — A top view helps confirm that the two words intersect correctly.

OpenSCAD front view showing overlap between two text objects — A front view helps confirm the overlap depth between both words.

OpenSCAD perspective view showing overlap between two text objects — A perspective view makes it easier to judge the overall intersection before rendering.

Creating the Final Intersection

Once the overlap is correct, remove the temporary visibility modifier and place each word inside its own module, for example, firstWord and secondWord. Then call both inside an intersection function and render the model. OpenSCAD will keep only the geometry shared by both words, which creates the final text-flip.

OpenSCAD code with firstWord and secondWord modules created — Separate each word into its own module to make the final intersection step clearer.

OpenSCAD showing the intersection of the two word modules — The intersection command keeps only the shared volume between the two words.

OpenSCAD preview of the finished word-to-word text-flip model — The finished word-to-word text-flip is ready for export as an STL file.

Exporting the STL

OpenSCAD export window for saving the text-flip as an STL file — Export the completed text-flip as an STL file for slicing and printing.

After rendering, export the finished text-flip as an STL file. If you are using an OpenSCAD nightly build, it is a good idea to type the .stl extension manually when saving.

How to Design a Text-Flip That Combines a Word With a 3D Object

This example shows the process of combining text with a simple shape. In this case, the second object is based on the outline of Madagascar.

Finished MADAGASCAR text-flip 3D print combined with a map shape on a wooden surface — A completed MADAGASCAR text-flip combines text with the outline of Madagascar as the second intersecting object.

Creating the 3D Object

A simple way to make a usable shape is to start with a black and white image. Search for a clean outline, save it, and convert it into an SVG. This creates a shape that can be brought into Tinkercad and then exported as an STL for OpenSCAD.

Google image search results for a black and white map of Madagascar — Start with a clean black and white image that can be converted into a simple SVG shape.

PicSVG conversion screen turning a Madagascar image into an SVG — PicSVG can be used to convert a black and white image into an SVG for further modelling.

Importing the SVG Into Tinkercad

Import the SVG into Tinkercad, give it a manageable size such as 140 mm in length, and export it as an STL file. The exact size is not critical because you can still scale the object later inside OpenSCAD.

Tinkercad import dialog for loading an SVG file — Import the SVG into Tinkercad to turn the flat outline into a basic 3D object.

Tinkercad import settings with the length set to 140 mm — Set a manageable size on import so the shape is easy to work with before final scaling in OpenSCAD.

Tinkercad export dialog for saving the shape as an STL file — Export the shape from Tinkercad as an STL file for use in OpenSCAD.

Importing the STL Into OpenSCAD

Create a new project folder for the shape-based text-flip, then drag the exported STL into the folder and into your OpenSCAD file. The imported object becomes the starting point for aligning the word.

OpenSCAD showing the imported Madagascar STL shape — The exported STL shape can be dragged directly into OpenSCAD for further design work.

Choosing and Setting the Font

As with the word-to-word example, choose a bold font that prints well. Set up the word in OpenSCAD, adjust the spacing so the letters overlap, and rotate the word so it faces the shape properly.

Google Fonts preview showing the word MADAGASCAR in uppercase — Previewing the target word in Google Fonts helps identify bold fonts that suit the shape-based text-flip.

OpenSCAD showing the MADAGASCAR text set up next to the imported shape — Set the word, font, font size and basic positioning for the word that will intersect with the 3D object.

OpenSCAD showing the text rotated to intersect with the imported shape — Rotate the text so it faces the imported object and can be aligned for intersection.

Aligning the Word With the Shape

Use translate, rotate, scale and linear_extrude to make the word and shape overlap as precisely as possible. In this stage, it helps to check multiple views so you can confirm that the text intersects the imported object in all relevant directions.

OpenSCAD front view of the word and imported shape aligned together — Check the front view while positioning the word against the 3D shape.

OpenSCAD side view of the word and imported shape — A side view helps judge height and overlap when combining text with a 3D object.

OpenSCAD showing the text extruded over the imported shape — Extrude the text so it intersects meaningfully with the imported 3D object.

OpenSCAD top view showing overlap between the word and the shape — Use a top view to confirm that the word overlaps the shape across its full width.

Creating the Final Word-and-Shape Intersection

Once the overlap looks right, place the shape and the word in separate modules, then call them inside an intersection function and render the result. This keeps only the shared volume and creates the final text-flip model.

OpenSCAD showing separate modules for the word and the 3D shape — Separate the word and shape into their own modules before creating the final intersection.

OpenSCAD view showing the word and shape intersection setup — The word and the imported shape should overlap before the intersection command is applied.

OpenSCAD preview of the finished MADAGASCAR text-flip model — The finished word-to-shape text-flip keeps only the volume shared by the word and the map outline.

Exporting the Shape-Based STL

Export the finished model as an STL file once the rendered result looks correct.

OpenSCAD export window for the completed MADAGASCAR text-flip STL — Export the final word-to-shape text-flip as an STL file for slicing.

Print Settings

Most text-flip models import into the slicer in a good orientation, but it is still worth checking auto orientation or manually confirming the best face on the build plate before printing.

OrcaSlicer showing a text-flip model in the slicer workspace — The model usually imports in a good orientation, but it is worth checking in the slicer before printing.

These are the settings used in this guide with good results:

Layer height: 0.2 mm
Wall loops: 3
Top shell layers: 5
Bottom shell layers: 3
Sparse infill density: 10%
Sparse infill pattern: Gyroid
Support type: Tree (auto)
On build plate only: Selected

OrcaSlicer showing print settings for the text-flip model — The final slicer setup uses a practical set of wall, shell, infill and tree support settings for reliable printing.

Final Thoughts

Text-flips are a fun way to turn typography and simple shapes into clever 3D print ideas. The process takes some trial and error, especially when aligning the objects, but once the logic clicks, it becomes a flexible method for creating names, motivational words, maps and other personalised designs.

This makes text-flips a strong candidate for maker gifts, desk pieces and creative display prints, especially for anyone who enjoys experimenting with OpenSCAD and custom text-based designs.

Feel free to try these designs by downloading on MakerWorld or Printables. Please don’t forget to share your prints.

Have questions? Feel free to ask in the comment section below.
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