How do you add tree supports?

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How do you add tree supports?

In OrcaSlicer, open the Support tab of the process settings, tick “Enable support” and set “Type” to “Tree (auto)”; Style then defaults to Organic. Bambu Studio uses the same tab and labels it “tree(auto)”. In PrusaSlicer, tick “Generate support material” and set “Style” to “Organic”. In UltiMaker Cura, tick “Generate Support” and set “Support Structure” to “Tree”.

The number

Slicer Turn supports on Choose tree supports Tree styles offered, and the default
OrcaSlicer 2.5.0 Process settings, Support tab: “Enable support” “Type”: Tree (auto). Built-in default Normal (auto); OrcaSlicer’s Bambu Lab profiles ship Tree (auto) “Style”: Organic, Tree Slim, Tree Strong, Tree Hybrid. “Default (Grid/Organic)” gives Organic
Bambu Studio 2.9.1 Process settings, Support tab: “Enable support” “Type”: tree(auto), which Bambu Lab’s process profiles already ship “Style”: Tree Slim, Tree Strong, Tree Hybrid, Tree Organic. “Default” gives Tree Organic, or Tree Hybrid with adaptive layer height or a soluble interface
PrusaSlicer 2.9.7 Print Settings, Support material: “Generate support material”, or the sidebar “Supports” menu “Style”: Organic, under “Options for support material and raft” Organic is the only tree style. Built-in default Grid; Prusa’s MK4S and CORE One profiles ship Snug
UltiMaker Cura 5.14.0 Print settings, Custom, Support: “Generate Support” “Support Structure”: Tree One tree style. Default Normal

Every label, menu location and default is read from the slicer’s source and bundled profiles at its latest release tag: OrcaSlicer v2.5.0, Bambu Studio v02.09.01.70 (2.9.1), PrusaSlicer version_2.9.7 and UltiMaker Cura 5.14.0. “Auto” types support every overhang the slicer detects; the “manual” types (Tree (manual), tree(manual)) support only areas you paint with support enforcers.

Why do tree supports curve around the part?

Because a tree support starts at the overhang and works down. Bambu Lab’s wiki describes the method: the slicer samples the overhang into nodes, each a circle, and carries them down to the bed. On the way, the circles can grow for strength and move away from the object to avoid colliding with the model. Cura’s setting description says the branches crawl around the model to reach the build plate wherever they can.

The part is touched only at the branch tips. Prusa’s release notes say tree branches limit contact with the model to a necessary minimum. Its knowledge base adds that organic branches grow wider toward the base.

An organic tree support rooted on the bed, its trunk curving clear of the part and splitting into thin branches that reach the overhangA tree support rises from the bed, bends around the part instead of resting on it, and touches the overhang only at the tips of its branches.2Trunk bends clear of the part1Trunk rooted on the bed3Thin tips touch the overhang
  1. Trunk rooted on the bed
  2. Trunk bends clear of the part
  3. Thin tips touch the overhang
A tree support rises from the bed, bends around the part instead of resting on it, and touches the overhang only at the tips of its branches.

The other kind, normal support, projects the overhang straight down to the bed instead; which one fits a model is covered in tree vs normal supports.

How do you set up tree supports in OrcaSlicer and Bambu Studio?

  1. Open the Support tab in the process settings.
  2. Tick “Enable support”.
  3. Set “Type” to Tree (auto), or tree(auto) in Bambu Studio. Use the manual tree type to support only the areas you paint (how to paint or block supports).
  4. To pick a style, show the advanced settings. “Style” lists only tree styles once Type is a tree type.

Does PrusaSlicer have tree supports?

Yes, since PrusaSlicer 2.6.0, under the name Organic. Before that it offered only Grid and, from 2.4.0, Snug. To add organic supports:

  1. Turn supports on: tick “Generate support material” in Print Settings, Support material, or pick “Everywhere” in the sidebar’s “Supports” menu.
  2. Switch to Advanced or Expert mode, because Style is hidden in Simple mode.
  3. Set “Style” to Organic, under “Options for support material and raft”.

Branch settings then sit in the “Organic supports” group on the same page.

Does Cura have tree supports?

Yes. UltiMaker Cura added tree support as an experimental setting in version 3.2. Cura 4.7 moved it into the normal settings as a drop-down, and Cura 5.4 replaced it with a new implementation contributed by Thomas Rahm.

To turn it on, open the print settings in Custom mode, tick “Generate Support” and set “Support Structure” to Tree. Both settings are in Cura’s Basic setting visibility.

What are organic supports in PrusaSlicer?

Organic supports are PrusaSlicer’s tree supports, added in version 2.6.0. Smooth branches rise from the bed, grow wider toward the base and touch the model only at their tips. Prusa based the algorithm on Thomas Rahm’s improved version of Cura’s tree supports. They are the alternative to the Grid and Snug styles, which build scaffolding under the overhang.

How do organic supports differ from grid and snug supports?

Prusa’s 2.6.0 release notes describe Grid and Snug as 2D scaffolding built on a regular grid. Prusa says that approach often used a lot of filament, took a long time to print, ended up in spots that are hard to clear and left visible scars. Snug saves material and reduces scarring, but Prusa calls it an upgraded version of the same approach.

Organic supports grow branches only where needed. Prusa says they are easily removable, do not scar the surface, and are fast and cheap to print. They add double walls to thick branches automatically, and they can be enforced or blocked with the paint-on supports tool like any other style. Prusa recommends keeping top interface layers on rather than raising Branch Density.

What is the difference between tree and organic supports?

Organic is one kind of tree support. In PrusaSlicer it is the only kind. Bambu Studio and OrcaSlicer offer it next to other tree styles, which their setting descriptions and Bambu Lab’s wiki define:

  • Tree Slim merges branches aggressively for a much smaller support volume and adds walls automatically to keep it strong.
  • Tree Strong merges branches conservatively. The branches stay connected and sturdier, and are sometimes hard to remove.
  • Tree Organic (Organic in OrcaSlicer) makes organic-shaped branches with aggressive merging. Bambu Studio says it also makes fewer interface layers, the layers touching the object, so it comes off more easily.

The organic style traveled between slicers. Bambu Lab’s wiki traces it from Cura to PrusaSlicer and then to Bambu Studio, which added it in 1.8.0. OrcaSlicer ported it from PrusaSlicer in 1.7.0.

What are hybrid tree supports?

Tree Hybrid is a Bambu Studio and OrcaSlicer style that builds tree supports but puts normal grid support under large flat overhangs. Bambu Studio offered it as a support type, “hybrid(auto)”, until version 1.4.1; it is now Type tree(auto) with Style Tree Hybrid. OrcaSlicer reads an old “hybrid(auto)” setting as Tree (auto). PrusaSlicer and Cura have no hybrid style.

How to check it on your own print

  1. Slice and look at the preview. Tree supports show as branches rising from the bed, not as a block of lines under the overhang.
  2. See where the trunks land. With supports allowed everywhere, some trunks rest on the model itself. To keep them on the bed, see support on build plate only.
  3. If slicing stops with “Variable layer height is not supported with Organic supports”, remove the variable or adaptive layer height. Bambu Studio and OrcaSlicer also let you switch to another tree style.
  4. If Organic is missing from the Style list, set Type to a tree type first (Bambu Studio, OrcaSlicer) or leave Simple mode (PrusaSlicer).
  5. If branches tip over or the tips are hard to pull off, see why supports fall over and support Z distance.

Sources

  1. src/libslic3r/PrintConfig.cpp at v2.5.0, OrcaSlicer on GitHub (accessed November 7, 2026)
  2. src/slic3r/GUI/Tab.cpp at v2.5.0, OrcaSlicer on GitHub (accessed November 7, 2026)
  3. src/libslic3r/Support/SupportParameters.hpp at v2.5.0, OrcaSlicer on GitHub (accessed November 7, 2026)
  4. src/libslic3r/Print.cpp at v2.5.0, OrcaSlicer on GitHub (accessed November 7, 2026)
  5. resources/profiles/BBL/process/fdm_process_common.json at v2.5.0, OrcaSlicer on GitHub (accessed November 7, 2026)
  6. Support, OrcaSlicer Wiki (accessed November 7, 2026)
  7. OrcaSlicer v1.7.0-beta release notes, OrcaSlicer on GitHub (accessed November 7, 2026)
  8. OrcaSlicer v1.7.0 release notes, OrcaSlicer on GitHub (accessed November 7, 2026)
  9. src/libslic3r/PrintConfig.cpp at v02.09.01.70, Bambu Studio on GitHub (accessed November 7, 2026)
  10. src/slic3r/GUI/Tab.cpp at v02.09.01.70, Bambu Studio on GitHub (accessed November 7, 2026)
  11. src/libslic3r/Print.cpp at v02.09.01.70, Bambu Studio on GitHub (accessed November 7, 2026)
  12. resources/profiles/BBL/process/fdm_process_common.json at v02.09.01.70, Bambu Studio on GitHub (accessed November 7, 2026)
  13. Support, Bambu Lab Wiki (accessed November 7, 2026)
  14. Bambu Studio 1.8.0 public beta release notes (v01.08.00.57), Bambu Studio on GitHub (accessed November 7, 2026)
  15. src/libslic3r/PrintConfig.cpp at version_2.9.7, PrusaSlicer on GitHub (accessed November 7, 2026)
  16. src/slic3r/GUI/Tab.cpp at version_2.9.7, PrusaSlicer on GitHub (accessed November 7, 2026)
  17. src/slic3r/GUI/FrequentlyChangedParameters.cpp at version_2.9.7, PrusaSlicer on GitHub (accessed November 7, 2026)
  18. src/libslic3r/Print.cpp at version_2.9.7, PrusaSlicer on GitHub (accessed November 7, 2026)
  19. resources/profiles/PrusaResearch.ini at version_2.9.7, PrusaSlicer on GitHub (accessed November 7, 2026)
  20. PrusaSlicer 2.6.0-alpha2 release notes, Prusa Research on GitHub (accessed November 7, 2026)
  21. PrusaSlicer 2.6.0 release notes, Prusa Research on GitHub (accessed November 7, 2026)
  22. Organic Supports, Prusa Knowledge Base (accessed November 7, 2026)
  23. resources/definitions/fdmprinter.def.json at 5.14.0, UltiMaker Cura on GitHub (accessed November 7, 2026)
  24. resources/setting_visibility/basic.cfg at 5.14.0, UltiMaker Cura on GitHub (accessed November 7, 2026)
  25. resources/texts/change_log.txt at 5.14.0, UltiMaker Cura on GitHub (accessed November 7, 2026)
  26. resources/texts/change_log.txt at 4.9.0, UltiMaker Cura on GitHub (accessed November 7, 2026)
  27. plugins/ChangeLogPlugin/ChangeLog.txt at 4.0.0, UltiMaker Cura on GitHub (accessed November 7, 2026)