Have you ever picked up a 3D print and had to do a double take? That’s the power of full-color 3D printing - it blends realism, brand accuracy, and tactile design into a single, seamless build.
So what exactly is the difference between color 3D printing, multi-color 3D printing, and true full-color 3D printing? Can one machine do it all? And which technology fits your application?
This article aims to answer all your questions about 3D printing in color - and show you what’s possible with industrial-standard full-color 3D printing from Stratasys.
What’s the Difference Between Multi-Color 3D Printing and Full-Color 3D Printing?
Full-color 3D printing and multi-color 3D printing are often used interchangeably, but if we’re being accurate, there is a difference.
Full-color 3D printing colors a base material as it prints (just like your CMYK 2D desktop printer), creating photo-realistic parts with subtle color gradients, textures, and branding accuracy. In fact, full-color 3D printing blends CMYKW (Cyan, Magenta, Yellow, Black, and White) materials in fine layers to produce vivid, Pantone-accurate results. It’s ideal for consumer packaging prototypes, anatomical models, and anything that needs to look realistic.
By contrast, multi-color 3D printing uses pre-colored filaments or resins to create separate zones of color. There’s no blending - just clear, distinct color areas. This makes multi-color 3D printing ideal for fixtures, functional prototypes, and safety-critical components where visual clarity matters.
Whether you choose full-color 3D printing or multi-color 3D printing, the right choice depends on how your part needs to look, feel, and function.
Read the article in full here.
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