In 3D printing, supports are easy to treat as a checkbox you tick when the slicer starts complaining. They feel temporary, and they usually end up in the trash, so it’s tempting to stop thinking about them the moment the preview looks “safe.” The problem is that supports don’t just hold plastic up; they also determine where your print will look rough, where it might warp, and where cleanup can cause damage. Once you notice that pattern, supports stop feeling like a rescue tool and start looking like part of the design.