The extraction of a three-dimensional (3D) object is facilitated using a printed hint, which includes an additional shape that is printed along with the 3D object in a granular-based printer bed. In example implementations, the hint is indicative of a location of the 3D object. In one example, a hint has a dimension indicative of a depth to the object in the printer bed. In another example, a position of a hint is indicative that the object is below, and a size of the hint is based on a size of the object. Some hints can also protect the object. Examples include plate and shell-shaped hints. The object is located under a plate hint or within a shell hint. Further, an appearance of the object or indications of the sturdiness of different parts of the object can be printed on the hint to facilitate a safe extraction of the object.