GLOSSARY
MSLA (Masked SLA)
MSLA cures resin by shining UV light through a monochrome LCD screen that acts as a per-layer photomask. The whole layer cures at once, which makes it fast and cheap.
Definition
MSLA places a high-resolution monochrome LCD between a UV light source and the resin vat. To expose a layer, the LCD turns transparent only where solid material should form. UV passes through and cures resin in that exact pattern. Build plate lifts, peels the layer free, drops back, and the next layer is exposed.
Because the entire layer cures simultaneously, total print time depends on layer count and exposure time, not part complexity. A plate of fifty miniatures prints in roughly the same time as one. Modern MSLA printers from Anycubic, Elegoo, and Phrozen reach XY resolutions in the tens of microns at consumer prices.
Why it matters
MSLA is the default for tabletop miniature painters, jewelers, and dental labs. The combination of high detail, batch printing speed, and low printer cost has driven SLA out of the consumer market for everything except specialty applications.
Common confusion
The LCD is a wear part. Mono LCDs last thousands of hours but eventually degrade or burn pixels. Replacement is routine maintenance, like a printhead on FDM.
XY resolution is fixed by the LCD's pixel pitch. You cannot improve it by slowing down the print — you can only get sharper MSLA prints by buying a denser LCD.