# PrintPal Timelapse: 3D printing timelapse videos straight from your slice > Turn any sliced plate into a realistic 3D printing timelapse video for YouTube, Reels or TikTok. Free, rendered on your computer. Page: https://printpal.io/integrations/orcaslicer-timelapse Updated: 2026-10-27 **PrintPal Timelapse** is a free OrcaSlicer plugin that turns the plate you just sliced into a realistic 3D printing timelapse video. Instead of filming the printer, it renders the real toolpaths from your G-code (walls, infill, supports, every layer height, line width and filament colour) as solid extrusion beads on a build plate, with a moving print head, studio lighting, shadows and an orbiting camera. Videos export as MP4 (H.264) in 16:9, 9:16 for Reels, TikTok and Shorts, or 1:1, at 720p or 1080p and 30 or 60 fps. Rendering happens on your computer, so your G-code and videos are never uploaded. A paid PrintPal plan removes the small corner watermark and unlocks 1440p and 4K. ## At a glance - **OrcaSlicer version:** 2.5.0 or newer (Python plugin system) - **Version:** 1.0.0 - **Price:** Free up to 1080p with a small watermark. Paid PrintPal plan: no watermark, 1440p and 4K. - **Output:** MP4 (H.264) and PNG stills - **Aspect ratios:** 16:9, 9:16 (Reels / TikTok / Shorts), 1:1 - **Length:** 4 to 60 seconds - **Opens:** The current slice, any .gcode, Bambu / Orca .gcode.3mf - **Uploads:** None. Rendered locally with WebGL. ## Where to get it - Direct download (printpal_timelapse.py): https://printpal.io/static/mcp/orcaslicer/printpal_timelapse.py - Web version: 3D Print Animator: https://printpal.io/tools/3d-print-animator - Orca Cloud plugin hub: coming soon - Direct download: https://printpal.io/static/mcp/orcaslicer/printpal_timelapse.py ## Features - **Your real toolpaths:** Walls, infill, top and bottom skins, supports, every layer height, line width and filament colour come straight from your slice. - **A studio look:** Rounded extrusion beads on textured PEI, smooth PEI or glass, soft, dramatic or bright lighting, matte to silk finishes and editable filament colours. - **Camera and motion:** Hero, front, side, isometric, low-angle or top-down presets, a quarter, half or full orbit, or drag the preview to frame your own shot. - **Line by line or layer by layer:** Pace the build evenly or by real print time, and hide supports or other features for a clean reveal. - **Ready for social:** 9:16 for Reels, TikTok and YouTube Shorts, 16:9 for YouTube, 1:1 for feeds. PNG stills of any frame too. - **Offered after every slice:** A once-per-session "Make timelapse" notification opens the studio with the slice already loaded. Switch it off any time. ## How to install PrintPal Timelapse 1. Download [printpal_timelapse.py](https://printpal.io/static/mcp/orcaslicer/printpal_timelapse.py). 2. In OrcaSlicer 2.5 or newer open **File → Plugins → Add local plugin** and pick the file. 3. Tick **Activate**. Allow the one-time **create a background thread** prompt when the studio first opens. 4. Slice a plate and click **Make timelapse** in the notification, or open the **Timelapse** tab (Speed Dial → Go to tab → Timelapse). 5. Press **Render video**. The MP4 is saved to your Downloads folder and **Show in Finder / Explorer** reveals it. Already using the full PrintPal plugin for OrcaSlicer? It includes this timelapse studio, so you do not need both. ## Recipes to try - 16:9, 1080p, 12 s, Hero camera, quarter orbit: a YouTube intro shot. - 9:16, layer by layer, real print time: a Reels or TikTok clip that shows how long each section takes. - Hide supports, top-down camera, line by line: a clean reveal of a lithophane or a sign. - Open a Bambu Studio .gcode.3mf, pick the plate, 1:1: a square post for your shop feed. - Drag the preview to a low angle and press PNG: a thumbnail still for your listing. ## Who it is for - **TikTok, Reels and Shorts:** Vertical print videos without a camera rig, lighting or a 10-hour recording. - **Etsy and shop listings:** Show buyers how a product is built, even before the first one is printed. - **Teaching:** Show how walls, infill and supports go down layer by layer. - **Model designers:** Add a build animation to your model page to show it prints cleanly. ## Privacy and data - Videos are rendered on your computer with WebGL and the built-in video encoder. Your G-code and videos are never uploaded. - The 3D engine (three.js) ships inside the plugin, so nothing is downloaded when the studio opens. - The only request to printpal.io is the optional plan check when you add an API key. - Your look, motion and video choices are saved in the plugin's private data folder. ## FAQ ### How do I make a 3D printing timelapse without a camera? Render it from the G-code. PrintPal Timelapse reads the toolpaths OrcaSlicer just sliced and renders them as a realistic print animation with a moving print head, lighting and an orbiting camera, then saves an MP4. You can make the video before you print, or for a print that already finished. ### Can OrcaSlicer make a timelapse video? OrcaSlicer itself only sets up camera timelapses on printers that support them. With the free PrintPal Timelapse plugin, OrcaSlicer 2.5 and newer can render a timelapse video of any sliced plate directly to your Downloads folder. ### Is PrintPal Timelapse free? Yes. Renders up to 1080p are free with a small PrintPal watermark in the corner and no account. A paid PrintPal plan removes the watermark and unlocks 1440p and 4K once you paste your API key. ### What video formats and sizes can it export? MP4 (H.264) at 16:9, 9:16 for Reels, TikTok and YouTube Shorts, or 1:1; 720p or 1080p at 30 or 60 fps on the free plan; 4 to 60 seconds long; plus PNG stills of any frame. ### Does it upload my G-code? No. Everything is rendered locally with WebGL and the three.js engine that ships inside the plugin. The only network request is the optional plan check when you add a PrintPal API key. ### Can it open Bambu Studio or PrusaSlicer files? Yes. Besides the current OrcaSlicer slice, it opens any sliced .gcode file and Bambu Studio or OrcaSlicer .gcode.3mf projects. For a browser-only option, use printpal.io/tools/3d-print-animator. ### How is this different from Octolapse or a printer camera timelapse? Camera timelapse tools such as Octolapse film the real print and need a camera, lighting and the full print time. PrintPal Timelapse renders the print from toolpaths, so it needs no hardware, works before you print, and gives a clean studio look with camera moves you choose. ## Related integrations - [PrintPal for OrcaSlicer](https://printpal.io/integrations/orcaslicer): A PrintPal tab and side panel in OrcaSlicer: model library, AI 3D, timelapse videos, CAD briefs and calculators from your presets. - [PrintPal for Cura](https://printpal.io/integrations/cura): A PRINTPAL tab in UltiMaker Cura: search 200k+ models, generate with AI, make timelapses and run calculators from your profile. - [PrintPal for Blender](https://printpal.io/integrations/blender): A free Blender add-on with a printable model library, 3MF import and export with colours, print prep and send-to-slicer. - [PrintPal 3D for ComfyUI](https://printpal.io/integrations/comfyui): Custom nodes for image-to-3D and text-to-3D up to 1536³, plus a free printable model library, in any ComfyUI workflow. ## More - All integrations: https://printpal.io/integrations - PrintPal for LLMs: https://printpal.io/llms.txt