PreForm: a guide for Lychee and Chitubox users
PreForm is the free software used to prepare and send prints to the Form Studio 1 and other Formlabs printers. If you're coming from Chitubox or Lychee Slicer, the goals will feel familiar: import a model, orient it, add supports, and send it to the printer. What's different is how PreForm handles print settings. Instead of tuning exposure and motion settings yourself, you select a material and PreForm applies print settings that Formlabs has already tested and validated. This guide explains those differences so you can get printing quickly.
How PreForm differs from Chitubox and Lychee
If you have used Chitubox or Lychee, three differences are worth understanding before you start.
Printer compatibility
Chitubox and Lychee are designed to prepare prints for many printer brands. PreForm prepares prints only for Formlabs printers, including the Form Studio 1. Because PreForm supports a narrower, known set of hardware, it can be more tightly coupled and optimized with the printer and resin and handle more of the setup for you.
Print settings
In Chitubox and Lychee, you set exposure time, bottom layers, and lift and retract speeds yourself, usually by running calibration prints. In PreForm, when you select a Form Studio 1 material and layer thickness, PreForm applies a validated print setting that Formlabs has set, optimized, and tested for that resin. You do not need to set exposure or motion values yourself in the standard workflow, because they are already tuned. If you want to run a third-party resin and tune settings manually, see Third-party materials: a guide for Lychee and Chitubox users.
Cost
Chitubox and Lychee offer free versions with paid tiers that unlock additional features. PreForm is completely free, with all features available and no licenses, annual fees, or installation limits.
Terminology mapping
If you are used to Chitubox or Lychee, here's how common terms translate to PreForm:
| Feature | Chitubox and Lychee | PreForm | Key Workflow Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Cure and speed settings | Manual exposure and lift settings, or from community | Validated print settings (applied automatically after selecting resin type and layer thickness) | You select the resin type and layer height; PreForm handles irradiance, exposure, motion paths, and other settings. You can also adjust these settings in the Print Settings Editor. |
| Slicer output | .ctb .cbddlp .lys |
.form (uploaded to printer) | PreForm saves projects as .form files and sends jobs directly to the printer via Wi-Fi, Ethernet, or USB. |
| Contact point | Support Tip Contact Size |
Touchpoint Size | PreForm uses smaller default touchpoints that have been tested and validated. |
| Support density | Density (%) Spacing |
Density | A relative multiplier slider (e.g., 1.00 is default) rather than exact geometric spacing. |
| Islands | Islands Unsupported Points |
Minima | PreForm highlights unsupported local low points in red on the 3D model. |
| Suction traps | Suction Cups Trapped Air |
Cups | Highlights hollow cavities that trap resin or air, shown with yellow and red warning overlays. |
| Drainage | Dig Hole Drain Hole |
Drill Hole | Adds vent holes to relieve suction and allow liquid resin to drain during printing. |
| Base support | Base Raft Skate |
Raft | PreForm uses a bevel-edged Full Raft or Mini Rafts designed for easy removal with Formlabs tools. |
| Auto placement | Auto Layout Pack |
Layout Auto-Orient |
Calculates orientation to minimize suction cups and minima while maximizing surface finish quality. |
PreForm workflow at a glance
A typical print in PreForm follows these steps:
- Import your model.
- Select your printer and material on the Job Setup screen.
- Orient the part.
- Arrange parts on the build platform.
- Generate supports.
- Check printability.
- Send the print to the Form Studio 1.
Printer onboarding
Form Studio 1 printers have an on-screen onboarding wizard. The best way to set up the printer is to follow the onboarding process. If you missed the onboarding steps or want to revisit them, tap Settings > General > Show Onboarding on the printer’s touchscreen.
One-click print
PreForm can prepare a print for you in a single action, automatically orienting the part, generating supports, and laying it out on the build platform so you can go from importing a model to printing without adjusting each step yourself.
To prepare a print automatically, import a model and click the 1-Click icon in PreForm. After PreForm orients, lays out, and supports the model, you can still adjust it before you send it to the printer to print.
Checking printability
Before you print, PreForm identifies issues such as undersupported models, minimas, or cups in the Print Validation panel on the right side of the screen. Fix any highlighted issues before printing to reduce the likelihood of print failures.
Sending a print to the Form Studio 1
PreForm allows you to connect and send jobs to a local or remote printer over a network or directly with a USB cable. When you are done setting up a print job, click the Print Now button to send it to your printer.
Print setting and open materials
The Form Studio 1 supports Formlabs and third-party materials. For validated Formlabs materials, PreForm applies tested settings automatically—you do not need to calibrate. If you want to print with a third-party resin and tune settings yourself, the way you would in Chitubox or Lychee, use the Print Settings Editor.
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