3D printing and would like to know how to go about creating customized paints on your printed parts.The aim of this article is to give you a basic understanding of painting techniques on 3D prints, both those made with filament printers (FDM) and those made with resin printers (SLA), with the various stages from priming, through airbrushing, to the finishing varnish. What application methods are possible? What are the different types of primers? What type of paint should I choose? What are the different types of varnish?
The aim is to bring to life, by decorating with colors, the figurines, miniatures, COSPLAY prints, but also the various parts and accessories (the list is long) that it’s possible to print with a 3D printer. Whether you’re painting tiny figurines or human-sized parts, you can use the same paints, which are available in a variety of opaque colors, but also in fluorescent, transparent, pearlescent or metallic paint ranges, some of which are even capable of changing color.
In general, the painting technique should follow the same classic stages as for furniture, objects and cars, with the application of primer, paint and, finally, the finishing varnish. The primer’s function is to prepare the surface, clinging to it and leveling it, the paint’s role is to create the color, while the varnish’s role is to create not only protection, but also gloss (or sometimes matte effect).
3D printing paint have an excellent ability to bond directly to this material. In the case of plastic printing, it is advisable to take particular care in preparing the substrate and applying an adhesion primer, if you want to guarantee good resistance over time and prevent any risk of delamination (especially when masking or using adhesive stencils).
Preparing the substrate also involves obtaining a surface ready for painting. In the case of FDM plastic pressure, there are often printing streaks, and it’s important to use filler and primer to obtain a perfectly smooth surface. The filler is first used to fill any unevenness in the substrate, and is then sanded with a fairly coarse abrasive paper grit (between 80 and 280). Secondly, solvent-based primer filler is applied with an aerosol or spray gun, to create a thick, self-levelling coat approximately 100 to 150 microns thick. Sanding is then carried out with 320 grit, then 500 grit maximum.
Sanding should be no finer than this, to enable the paint to adhere properly.
In the case of miniature prints, the aim is to preserve all the micro-details of the print. Very fine water-based primers are therefore used, applied with an airbrush.
airbrush paint on a 3D print.
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