3D printing uses support materials to create complex designs that would otherwise be impossible. A 3D design file is used as a blueprint to guide extruders in a 3D printer that lay down layers of material. However, hollow spaces, grooves, and overhanging features are difficult to produce directly. Support materials fill this role by providing structure that is later removed, allowing the production of intricate geometries. The variety of available support materials, from gels to the printing material itself, enables an infinite range of complex designs that have shaken up product design.