Longsheng

End the long wait of "gray model + post-coloring"

Imagine:you have spent a lot of effort to carefully design acolorful product prototype, and each color block carries creativity; or you have created a complex anatomical model, and different organs and tissues urgently need bright colors to distinguish teaching. Send the file to the3D printer with great expectations... However, when the printing is completed, what you hold in your hand is still amonotonous, uniform gray plastic block.

I believe that many designers, engineers, educators and makers have deeply experienced the sense of gap at this moment. What does this "gray model" mean? It means that atime-consuming, tedious and uncertain "secondary processing"battle is about to begin: endless grinding, careful covering, repeated spraying, waiting for drying... Not only does it consume precious time and energy, but the final color effect and boundary accuracy are often difficult to achieve the original idea, and may even damage the fine structure of the model. Is this the only way toachieve a colorful 3D model?

What if there is a technology that can make your design "take shape" directly during the printing process? What if, when you open the printer door, you see not a gray mold waiting to be processed, but a final product with accurate color, clear details and perfect texture?

This is not science fiction, but a revolutionary change brought about by multi-material andmulti-color 3D printing technology(such as PolyJet, MJF color printing, etc.).It completely skips the traditional lengthy chain of "printing-post-processing-coloring", directly from digital files to colorful entities, freeing you from tedious post-processing and significantly improving the visual expression and professionalism of the finished product.

Core Comparison Summary of Full-Color 3D Printing Technologies

Technology name	Color quality	Material properties	Surface finish	Best suited applications
Material Jetting	Photo-quality, extremely high precision	Various (rigid/flexible/transparent resins)	Very smooth	Concept models, medical anatomical models, high-precision portrait figures
Multi-jet fusion (MJF)	Good, bright colors	Engineering-grade nylon, high strength, wear resistance	Slightly frosted	Functional color prototypes, durable mechanical parts, complex components
Binder Jetting	Good, saturated colors	Brittle (needs to be enhanced by infiltration of resin/wax post-processing)	Slightly frosted	Architectural sandboxes, art sculptures, large portrait figures

This guide will reveal how3D printers capable of printingin multiple colors work, compare mainstream full-color printing services, and use a real-life example to show you how to turn a complexcolor 3D modelinto reality. Finally, we will analyze the price structure of full-color printing.

Here’s What You’ll Learn

An efficient decision-making framework to help you identify the type of multi-color 3D printing service that best suits your project in 90 seconds.(Based on the core advantages ofmaterial jetting, MJF, and binder jetting)

Analysis of thekey differences between the three mainstream full-color technologies(material jetting/MJF/binder jetting), and how these differences directly affect the color fidelity, surface texture, mechanical strength, and cost-effectiveness of the final model.

A clear four-step process to get perfect multi-color printing results, from file preparation to professional service provider selection, to ensure that your ideas are accurately transformed into reality.

A shocking case analysis from our medical field practice, showing how to use professionalmulti-color printing servicesto solve the problem of high-fidelity surgical models.

A selection of the most critical Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)when seeking multi-color printing services, covering price, file format, model suitability, and transportation safety.

Now, let’s explore how to easily find and useprofessional full-color 3D printingservices to turn your colorful ideas into masterpieces within reach.

Why trust this guide? Color Science from the LS 3D Printing Center

Looking for multi-color 3D printing? The key is "who" can do it, not just "where"

Hi, I’m Gloria, a color engineer at LS. When customers ask “where can Ifind multi-color printing services”, I want to emphasize thatthe key lies in the “hard power” of the service provider – color science and one-shot molding capabilities.

Personal experience as proof: We once printed a transparent shell prototype for a consumer electronics customer, which needed to have a color logo embedded inside and soft glue buttons on the shell.The customer’s core demand was: a prototype that was ready to use out of the box, fully functional, and color-accurate, without post-bonding or painting.

This challenge is much more than "how many colors can be printed":

Color accuracy:The logo of the customer is a specific Pantone color. It's my duty to ensure that the color ejected out of theMimaki or PolyJet printeris still an accurate representation of the screen and color card under transparent materials. This relies on strict equipment calibration, ICC color management files, and extremely detailed knowledge of the material's light transmittance – this is our daily "color science".

Multi-material one-shot molding:Through material jetting technology, we accurately "weave" the hard clear material, color logos, and soft glue buttons into a single print. The end customer gets a smoothened finished prototype, free of all post-processing steps, which is the real value.

So,while looking for multi-color services, don't look just "where is it available":

Ask about technology:Check if you haveprofessional-level full-color machinery(e.g., Mimaki, Stratasys PolyJet), which is the hardware foundation.

Test "color science":Ask straight out: "How do you ensure color accuracy? Do you have color accuracy procedures and proofing?" At LS, color calibration and characterization are our workhorse to ensure color consistency from digital design through to physical models.

Test "one-time molding":Main concerns: "Is it possible to print hard material/soft glue/transparent/color at the same time? Do we need to assemble and paint the final product later on?" The actual capability is the direct result of fully functional multi-material color parts. We tackle the integration of color, material and structure.

See examples:Request to view exemplary cases with complex colors, inserted items, and multi-material mixes (e.g., our electronic prototype). Hands-on experience is the best evidence of technical prowess.

Where to start when looking for multi-color 3D printing is with the geography. The answer lies inlocating experts like LSwho treat color as a science, have precise calibration skills, and can do complex multi-material one-shot molding. We offer not only color models, but prototypes that can truly stand in for the design and functionality.

Next time you look for a partner, ask them one more question:"How do you ensure color accuracy? How do you achieve multi-material one-shot molding?"The answer will allow you to find a trustworthy partner. At LS, we work hard to convert your design from screen to hand, without losing color or functionality.

How do I print multiple colored 3D prints?

"Yes, there are3D printers capableof printing in colors, and not only do they exist, but the technology is already very mature. Their working mechanism is also different, and that affects the character of the end product."

Faced with the need toproduce full-color 3D models, what technology is best suited?Different technologies vary widely in color capability, material properties, strength, accuracy and cost. The next table gives a brief summary of the key points of comparison of thethree main full-color 3D printingtechnologies:

Technology name	Core material	Color capability	Surface quality	Part strength	Typical application scenarios	Cost considerations
Material jetting (PolyJet/Mimaki)	Photosensitive resin	Photo-grade, multi-material mixing	Very smooth	Medium	High-precision prototypes, color display models, medical models	Higher
Multi-jet fusion (HP MJF)	Nylon powder	Bright, good coverage	Powder sintering texture	High, near injection molding	Functional color prototypes, end-use parts	Medium
Binder jetting	Plaster/sand-based powder	Good	Rough, need post-processing	Low	Low-cost visual models, architectural models, portrait figures	Lower

We will get more into the specifics and nature of these three technologies:

1. Material jetting: the king of details and colors

(1) Working principle:Imagine a 2D inkjet printer working in three dimensions. The print head deposits small, photocurable resin drops layer by layer onto the workbench. The key is that it can spray a number of resin droplets of different colors and different properties (e.g., hardness, flexibility, transparency) at once into the same layer. It then, with ultraviolet light, instantly and accurately cures each sprayed layer. With this accurate "blending" jetting, it is able to create models which have the natural gradation of colors, very delicate details, and blending of multiple material properties. This is the real technology of service providers such asMimaki 3D printing services.

(2) Essence benefits:

• Photo-quality color reproducing capability:It has the ability to reproduce millions of colors with subtle, real colors.
• Extremely smooth surface:Display-grade surface can be obtained with minimal post-processing.
• Multi-material blending:It can mix materials of different hardness (soft glue, hard plastic) and transparency (transparent, translucent, opaque) in one model to simulate complex product effects.

(3) Best Applications:Applications requiring ultra-high accuracy and high visual fidelity, such asproduct design verification models, anatomical models for medicine, detailed art sculptures, jewelry samples, and parts requiring multi-material properties.

2. Multi-jet fusion - where strength and color unite

(1) Working principle:Powder bed fusion technology is employed. A thin layer of nylon powder will cover the working area first. Next, the precision nozzle multi-nozzle print head will perform two major injections:

Functional agent injection:"Fusing agent" will be injected where melting molding is required and "Detail agent" will be injected where details and fine edges are required (to avoid melting).

Color agent injection:A dedicated color print head accurately injects CMYK four-color color agents into the corresponding area according to the model data.
When injected, the entire powder bed is evenly heated under the irradiation of infrared lamps. The sprayed area of the melted agent absorbs energy and welds and melts nearby powder particles together. At the same time, the color agent is sintered and welded into it to form a dense colored solid component. The unmelted powder remaining serves as the supporting function.

(2) Core advantages:

High part strength:The produced parts have superb mechanical properties, close to injection molded parts, and are extremely suitable for functional testing and end-use parts.

Good coverage and bright colors:CMYK colorants are able to produce bright, highly saturated colors, and the colors penetrate through the complete cross-section of the part.

High production rate:Powder bed is heated at the same time, and multiple parts are produced together, without interim cooling, and the process is fast.

Good surface finish and detail consistency:Detailing agents preserve acute features and edges.

(3) Optimal uses:Terminal components (e.g., tool grips, enclosures), functional models, snap-together sets, small-series production components requiring both good mechanical properties and color.

3. Binder jetting - cost-saving visual model solution

(1) Working principle:The process also takes place on a bed of powder. The print head scans and sprays coloured liquid binder onto target areas of an area of gypsum-based (or other mineral-based) or sand-based powder. The binder does two things: one is to keep the powder particles bonded together to make it solid; the other is to give direct color to the area due to the color it carries. Spreading powder -> spraying colored binder -> spreading powder -> spraying colored binder. this is repeated layer after layer until the model is constructed. The printed part (known as "green body") is normally weak and needs to go through subsequent penetration strengthening treatment (e.g., cyanoacrylate glue or resin infiltration) in order to be strengthened.

(2) Core advantages:

Fast printing speed:Binder jettingitself is very rapid and layer curing waiting time is not required.

Low cost:The material (binder and powder) is inexpensive and the machine operation efficiency is high. It is one of the least expensive ways for creating full-color models.

Unsupported structure:The free powder can support the model independently, so post-processing becomes easier.

Large size capability:Relatively large models are capable of production.

(3) Best uses:Mainly used for non-bearing or non-load-bearing visual models, such as architectural models, terrain models, figurines, instructional display models, replica paintings, and moldings for sand casting (when the material is sandy).

A number of mature technical conduits have been established forfull-color 3D printing technologywith its own merits, meeting various requirements from extreme visual impact, functional strength to economy

Seeking best color fidelity and surface finish?Material jetting (PolyJet/Mimaki)stands out as the definitive winner, best suited to produce realistic multi-material models.

Desperately in need of strong and colored end-use functional parts?Multi Jet Fusion (HP MJF) provides excellent strength and color, optimally suited for engineering applications.

Have modest means and simply need cheap color visual models?Binder jetting has become the hands-down choice for creating display pieces such as architectural models and portrait statues because of its cost-cutting and time-saving qualities.

Real-world case study: Making a "high-fidelity" heart surgery simulation model for physicians

Millimeter-order life-and-death challenge

"In cardiac surgery, every millimeter matters. Physicians need to know the patient's unique and complex organ configuration prior to entering the operating room."
When one of the world's leading medical device companies tried to market a new heart valve repair device, they had one overriding problem: no training model could ever offer true anatomical precision, and hand coloring slowed global training momentum - which leads us to the point of this piece: Where is the really consistent multi-color 3D printing service?

Customer Challenge: Not Just "Coloring", but Repeatable Medical-Grade Precision

This customer needs to provide surgeons anatomical models which can be manufactured in large volumes and needs to meet three rigorous requirements:

• Multi-color identification:arteries (red), veins (blue), valves (white), and diseased tissues (yellow) need to be correctly separated;
• Soft and hard composite sensation:emulate the heart muscle and blood vessel feel contrast;
• Global consistency:eliminate color variation and construction time caused by hand coloring.

Why did the traditional solution fail?

The black-and-white model conceals the body relationship, and hand coloring not only increases the cost by 60%, but worse than that - New York and Tokyo surgeons may get a "heart" of two colors.

Solution: Why is material jetting technology the only choice?

As LS engineers,we immediately recognized the pain point: what customers truly need is not simply "printing of color", but industrial-level production of color, material and precision.

Key breakthrough: Color is not sprayed later, but penetrated layer by layer with medical-grade pigments during theprinting processto ensure that it will never fade.

Results: From "can't find the service" to a global standard training tool

Feedback from surgeons:

"Even the color of the coronary artery calcification points on the model is consistent with the CT film - this allows us to plan complex approaches in the first practice."

Quantified benefits:

• Production cycle:1 week → 24 hours (no manual coloring required)
• Global consistency:200 models color error <3% (color card detection)
• Overall cost:reduced by 60% (compared to outsourced manual coloring)

Market impact:

The customer's new equipment training efficiency increased by 70%, and the global launch cycle was shortened by 4 months.

Core revelation: Where is the professional multi-color 3D printing service?

This case reveals the three major criteria for selecting services:

1. Technical matching→ Can it processcolor + material + precision simultaneously? (In this case, only industrial-grade material jetting can meet the requirements)
2. Medical data conversion capability→ Can DICOM data be converted losslessly into a printable color model?
3. Repeatable production system→ Can the first and 1000th models be guaranteed to be completely consistent?

Engineers said frankly:

Many "multi-color printing" on the market can only achieve simple color blocks (such as FDM color mixing), andmedical-grade applications require industrial-grade equipment and service chain support. The real solution is not in the print shop, but in the hands of service providers who have a deep understanding of medical engineering, multi-material jetting technology and ISO 13485 certification.

When your project needs to go beyond "color shell" and pursue biomimetic-grade multi-color and multi-material one-piece molding, LS's answer is always clear:

"Color is the language of function, and technology is the precise translator."
Click to learn about the distribution ofLS's certified multi-color printing centersaround the world → Contact now

FAQ - Answers to your final questions about full-color 3D printing

1. What is the price of full-color 3D printing?

Theprice of full-color 3D printingis mainly calculated based on the volume of the model (cubic centimeters), printing technology (usually based on gypsum powder bonding or resin injection technology), material cost and post-processing (such as infiltration reinforcement, removal of floating powder, and protective coating); the unit price of different technologies varies greatly (gypsum powder unbonded technology is usually in the range of RMB 10-30 per cubic centimeter, and higher-precision resin injection technology may reach RMB 30-50 per cubic centimeter or even higher). In addition, the height of the model, complex structure (such as more support for suspended parts), special color effects (such as gradient, transparent materials) and order quantity will also affect the final quotation. It is recommended to provide 3D files to obtain accurate quotation sheets.

2. What format of files do I need to provide?

We accept mainstream3D file formats such as STL, OBJ, FBX, VRML/WRL, etc. For full-color printing, OBJ (with MTL material files) or VRML/WRL formats are strongly recommended because they can fully preserve the vertex color and texture map information of the model; regardless of the format, the file must be "watertight" (that is, completely closed without broken faces, no self-intersections, and the normal direction is correct), the model wall thickness must meet the minimum printing requirements (usually recommended >1.5mm), and ensure that the file unit settings are correct (such as millimeters or centimeters). Before uploading, please be sure to use modeling software or free tools (such as Meshmixer, Netfabb) to check and fix potential errors.

3. Will you also print out my custom game character figures?

Yes! We specialize in producingcustom full-color game character figurines; you have to provide a 3D printable model file (optimized STL or OBJ/VRML with color data) and make sure that you own the copyright or have permission to use the character (this is necessary to avoid intellectual property disputes); after our engineers get the file, they will check the model printability, and if necessary, perform structural optimization (e.g., reinforcing weak points, adding internal support structures to prevent collapse), part splitting (large models need to be printed in blocks and assembled afterwards) and select the most suitable corresponding full-color printing technology (e.g., selecting high-resolution resin or durable full-color powder) to represent your character. The height of the printed final product is usually recommended to be between 10-30 cm in order to have clear details.

4. How do you ship the printed parts to me?

To ship your prints (especially intricate full-color characters) safely, we use multi-layer protective packaging: wrap the parts first with anti-static pearl cotton or bubble bags tight, add customized foam card slots to the fragile parts (such as weapons and hair ends), and put them into high-strength corrugated cardboard boxes, and fill the box gaps with buffer particles or foam blocks to prevent shaking; domestic shipping is mainly collaborating with SF Express, and you can choose ordinary land shipping (3-7 days) or air express (1-3 days) according to your needs for time; international goods ship by DHL/UPS; freight is determined by actual weight and volume weight of the package and the destination, and can be asked in real time at the time of ordering; after shipping, we will send you a waybill number for your full tracking, and it's advisable to take a video when opening to solve the rare transportation damage problem.

Summary

In the search of looking "where can I find3D printing multi-color services?", the crux of the solution is to finda partner who is well-acquainted with color and can effectively render it into reality. As has been debated in this article,full-color 3D printing technologyhas long bridged monochrome constraints and has achieved an astonishing level of maturity. It is not only a model realization tool anymore, but also a brush for designers and engineers to make endless color imagination. Technology maturity is important, but how to print out color ideas in your mind and the fine details on the design drawings laboriously and vividly is the key.

Choosing a service provider is choosing the keeper of your color dream. All service providers claiming to offermulti-color printingare not equally capable of deciphering your design intention, handling complex color information, and achieving the final product highly consistent with your vision. What you really require is a professional color management partner with cutting-edge printing equipments and most importantly,as is ourLS engineer team, committed to understanding each of your color specifications and bringing it to life with professional technology to the best.

Farewell monochrome fantasy, and let shine your full-color world at LS!

No more grayed imagination! When your product design is full of vitality and requires the right expression of colors, doing color-distorted or monochrome print solutions is as good as letting creativity rust. It's time to bring your colorful and energetic creative blueprint into reality anda wonderful 3D world!

The solution is here: come to LS and experience the most advanced full-color 3D printing service!

We not only provide technology, but we provide profound understanding and precise implementation of your color intentions.As engineers at LS, we comprehend the place of color to the core of design and introduce it to you as a guide.

Act now and embark on your full-color experience:

• Upload your color 3D model:Visit our secure and simple online platform.
• Get quotes instantly:No need to wait for a long time, the system will instantly create an open 3D printing price for you.
• Get professional evaluation:Our engineers personally review your design, evaluate its printability, and provide professional feedback on how to maximize the model to achieve optimal color and detail output. We work hand in hand with you so that your designs appear in their best orientation.

Do not allow the color to be left on the screen.Click on upload and allow LS's technical knowledgeand love of color work together to make your colorful ideas into stunning reality!

📞 Phone: +86 185 6675 9667
📧 Email: info@longshengmfg.com
🌐 Website:https://lsrpf.com/

Disclaimer

The content of this page is for informational purposes only.LS SeriesNo representations or warranties of any kind, express or implied, are made as to the accuracy,completeness or validity of the information. It should not be inferred that the performance parameters, geometric tolerances, specific design features, material quality and type or workmanship that the third-party supplier or manufacturer will provide through the LS network. This is the responsibility of the buyerAsk for a quote for partsto determine the specific requirements for these parts.please Contact us Learn more information.

LS Team

LS is an industry-leading companyFocus on custom manufacturing solutions. With over 20 years of experience serving more than 5,000 customers, we focus on high precisionCNC machining,Sheet metal fabrication,3D printing,Injection molding,metal stamping,and other one-stop manufacturing services.
Our factory is equipped with more than 100 state-of-the-art 5-axis machining centers and is ISO 9001:2015 certified. We provide fast,efficient and high-quality manufacturing solutions to customers in more than 150 countries around the world. Whether it's low-volume production or mass customization,we can meet your needs with the fastest delivery within 24 hours. chooseLS TechnologyIt means choosing efficiency, quality and professionalism.
To learn more, please visit our website:www.lsrpf.com