Matte Gradient Filament, Up to 300mm/s, Eco Cardboard Spool, Tree Planted Per Spool

Every spool of Panchroma Gradient PLA tells a different color story. The filament transitions smoothly through a full rainbow gradient as it unwinds — so every print you make is automatically multicolor without a multi-material system, color swaps, or any extra setup. What comes off the spool is what goes in the print, and what comes off the printer is unlike anything standard single-color PLA produces.

Matte finish, PLA base, up to 300mm/s print speed, eco cardboard spool, and a tree planted for every spool sold. Formerly sold as PolyTerra™ Gradient PLA — same material, updated Panchroma branding.

How the Gradient Effect Works — Plain Language

Think of a sunset. The sky doesn't jump from orange to purple instantly — it transitions gradually through every shade in between. That's exactly what this filament does. The colors are dyed progressively along the length of the spool, so as the filament feeds into your printer, the color shifts slowly and continuously through the rainbow spectrum.

The full color cycle repeats approximately every 200g of filament on the Pastel Rainbow variant. On a 1kg spool that's roughly 5 complete rainbow cycles — which means a tall vase, a figurine, or a set of small items will each show a different section of the gradient, making every print unique even from the same spool.

No multi-material system needed — single extruder, standard PLA settings, automatic color change. The gradient is in the filament, not in your slicer.
Every print is unique — depending on where you are in the spool when you start, your print begins at a different point in the rainbow cycle. No two prints are identical.
Matte finish hides layer lines — the matte surface diffuses light instead of reflecting it, making prints look cleaner and more refined than standard glossy PLA without any sanding or post-processing.

What Makes Panchroma Different from Standard PLA

Property	Standard PLA	Polymaker Panchroma Gradient
Surface finish	Glossy or slightly shiny	✅ Matte — hides layer lines, soft visual quality
Color	Single solid color	✅ Smooth rainbow gradient, changes every ~200g
Post-processing needed	Optional	✅ None — matte finish and gradient are off-the-printer
Paintability	Moderate	✅ Easy to paint — matte surface accepts paint well
Sandability	Difficult	✅ Easier to sand than regular PLA
Support removal	Standard	✅ Easy self-support removal
Spool material	Plastic	✅ 100% recycled cardboard spool and box
Environmental contribution	None	✅ 1 tree planted per spool sold

The Eco Story — What "Bioplastic" Actually Means

Panchroma PLA uses a Fully Bio Compound (FBC) formulation — PLA combined with a biocomposite material that reduces the plastic content per spool compared to conventional PLA. The cardboard spool and cardboard box are 100% recycled. And for every spool sold, Polymaker plants a tree near the region of purchase.

⚠️ On biodegradability: Panchroma PLA degrades faster than conventional PLA, but it requires industrial composting conditions to break down — it will not degrade if discarded outdoors or in standard household waste. The environmental benefit is in the reduced plastic content, the cardboard packaging, and the tree-planting program — not in landfill degradation.

Product Specs

Spec	Detail
Material	Panchroma™ PLA (Fully Bio Compound — bioplastic base)
Formerly known as	PolyTerra™ Gradient PLA
Filament diameter	1.75mm
Net weight	1kg
Gradient cycle weight	~200g (Pastel Rainbow) — full color cycle repeats ~5× per spool
Surface finish	Matte
Max print speed	Up to 300mm/s (compatible hardware required)
Spool inner hole diameter	55 ±1mm
Spool outer diameter	200 ±1mm
Spool width	65.6 ±2mm
Spool weight	140 ±7g
Spool material	100% recycled cardboard
Packaging	Recycled cardboard box, vacuum-sealed with desiccant

Print Settings (Polymaker Official)

Setting	Range	Notes
Nozzle temperature	190–230°C	Start at 210°C. Lower for sharper detail and less stringing. Raise if you see under-extrusion or weak layer bonding.
Bed temperature	25–60°C	PLA can print without a heated bed on small prints. 55–60°C on PEI improves first layer adhesion on larger items.
Print speed	30–300mm/s	Standard printers: 40–60mm/s for best matte surface finish. High-speed machines (Bambu, Voron): up to 300mm/s. Slower speed = more uniform matte appearance.
Part cooling fan	On	Full fan after the first 2 layers. Cooling is important for maintaining the matte surface quality and overhang performance.
Retraction — Direct Drive	1mm at 20mm/s	Minimal retraction — Panchroma PLA flows cleanly and doesn't need aggressive retraction.
Retraction — Bowden	3mm at 40mm/s	Standard Bowden range. Run a retraction tower if stringing appears.
Enclosure	Not required	Open-frame printers work perfectly. PLA base means no warping concerns.
Drying (if needed)	55°C for 6 hours	Only if the filament has absorbed moisture. Sudden stringing on a dialed-in profile = dry the spool before the next session.

Tips for Getting the Best Gradient Effect

Taller prints show more gradient — a 10cm tall vase will show a fuller color progression than a flat coaster. The more filament the print uses, the more of the rainbow you see.
Note your spool position before starting — the color you see at the filament tip when you load is the color your print will start with. If you want to start at a specific color, advance a few grams of filament until you reach it.
Low infill maximizes visible gradient on the exterior — 15–20% infill with 3–4 wall loops ensures the outer perimeter shows the smooth color transition cleanly.
Enable Ironing for flat top surfaces — the matte surface gets even smoother and more uniform with a second low-flow pass from the nozzle.
Paint and sand easily — the matte surface accepts acrylic paint without a primer layer. If you want to highlight specific sections of a gradient print, selective painting on the matte base is clean and easy.

Who Is This For?

Makers who want multicolor prints without a multi-material system — one extruder, one spool, automatic rainbow gradient with zero slicer complexity. No color profiles, no purge towers, no wasted filament during color changes.
Etsy sellers and gift item producers — gradient prints photograph dramatically and stand out in listings against standard single-color PLA items. The perceived value is significantly higher than the material cost.
Cosplay makers and prop builders — rainbow and pastel gradient effects on armor accents, props, and decorative elements that would require a multi-color paint job to replicate by hand.
Eco-conscious makers — cardboard spool, cardboard box, bioplastic base, and a verified tree-planting program per spool. For operations that care about material sourcing, Panchroma is the documented choice.
Beginners wanting impressive results immediately — Panchroma prints on any FDM printer with standard PLA settings. No special hardware, no enclosure, no tuning. The gradient effect does the work — you just print.

Browse more multicolor and specialty options in our Rainbow & Multicolor Filament collection and our PLA Filament collection.