3D printing technology has opened up limitless creative possibilities, but to make printed models truly lifelike, high-quality painting is an essential step. From simple brushes to professional airbrushes for 3D printing, there are numerous tools available for coloring 3D printing work.
Among these, airbrushes often stand out as the top choice for enthusiasts and professionals seeking precision and polished results. Below is an exploration of common coloring tools for 3D prints, their pros and cons, and why airbrushes are highly regarded.
Common Tools for Coloring 3D Prints and Their Pros & Cons
1. Hand Painting with Brushes
Advantages: Extremely low cost, easy to get started, no additional equipment required, good portability. Suitable for small areas and detailed parts coloring, it can perform fine drawing and modification, such as panel lining, wash painting, etc. Convenient color mixing and adjustment can create rich color effects.
Disadvantages: Low efficiency, not suitable for large-area rapid coloring. Easy to leave brush strokes, affecting surface smoothness, requires certain skills to avoid as much as possible. Color uniformity is difficult to control, prone to color differences, especially when coloring large areas. The drying speed of the paint is slow.
Suitable Scenarios: Small, detailed, and complex models, such as miniature models, chess pieces, etc., or situations where the coloring requirements are not high, just simple coloring. Also often used for detail touch-ups and modifications after spraying.
Tips/Techniques: Use soft brushes and apply multiple thin coats to avoid applying too thick a coat at once. Using diluted paint can reduce brush strokes.
2. Spray Can (Aerosol Spray Paint)
Advantages: Simple operation, no complex equipment required, higher efficiency than brush hand-painting, suitable for large-area rapid coloring. The spraying effect is relatively uniform, and a relatively smooth surface can be obtained. Rich color choices: there are many different colors and types of spray cans available on the market.
Disadvantages: Relatively high cost required to purchase spray cans and some protective equipment (such as masks, gloves). Difficult to control the spray amount and range; easy to cause paint waste and environmental pollution. The spraying effect on detailed parts is poor, easy to cause accumulation or blurring, even the "orange peel" effect. Poor environmental protection and spraying will produce certain odors and harmful substances, requiring a well-ventilated environment. Difficult to perform complex color mixing and gradient effects.
Suitable Scenarios: Medium-sized, relatively flat surface models, or situations requiring large-area rapid coloring, such as architectural models, vehicle models, etc. Also often used for spraying primer.
Tips/Techniques: Maintain a proper distance between the spray can and the model (usually 15-25 cm), move the spray can evenly, and avoid staying in one place for too long. Apply multiple thin coats; avoid applying too thick a coat at once.
Advantages: The spraying effect is very delicate and uniform, and a smooth, professional surface effect can be obtained, comparable to industrial spraying. Can precisely control the spraying amount and range, suitable for fine spraying and detail processing, such as gradients, shadows, highlights, etc. Can mix paints to create unlimited color effects. Can replace different types of nozzles and needles to adapt to different spraying needs, such as large-area spraying, detail drawing, special effects, etc.
Disadvantages: The cost is relatively high, requiring the purchase of equipment such as air pumps, airbrushes, connecting hoses, cleaning agents, etc. The operation is relatively complex, requiring certain skills and experience to master proficiently, including mastering the paint dilution ratio, adjusting the air pressure, and practicing spraying techniques. Cleaning and maintenance are relatively troublesome, requiring regular cleaning of the airbrush to prevent clogging; otherwise, it will affect the spraying effect and even damage the airbrush.
Suitable Scenarios: Models with high requirements for coloring effect and requiring fine spraying, such as figures, character models, Gundam models, artworks, etc. Also suitable for models requiring complex painting effects (such as weathering, battle damage, camouflage, etc.).
Tips/Techniques: Select the appropriate dilution ratio according to the paint type and spraying needs. Adjust the appropriate air pressure. Maintain a proper distance and angle between the airbrush and the model, and move the airbrush evenly. Apply multiple thin coats to avoid applying too thick a coat at once.
4. Acrylic Paint Hand Painting/Dry Brushing/Washing
Advantages: Water-based paint is environmentally friendly and non-toxic and easy to clean. Relatively inexpensive, with a wide variety of colors. Can create rich effects through different techniques (such as dry brushing, washing, panel lining, dot filtering, etc.), such as weathering, shadows, stains, metallic textures, etc., enhancing the realism of the model.
Disadvantages: Direct hand painting easily leaves brush strokes and requires certain skills to avoid. Fast drying speed, requires quick operation, not suitable for large-area uniform coloring. Relatively weak adhesion, easily peels off on smooth surfaces, requires primer treatment.
Suitable Scenarios: Various models, especially models that require weathering, shadows, stains, and other effects, such as military models, diorama models, etc. Also often used for detail depiction and effect enhancement after spraying.
Tips/Techniques: Dry brushing is to dip a dry brush in a small amount of paint and gently brush it across the model surface to highlight edges and details. Washing is to apply diluted paint to the model surface and then wipe off excess paint with a paper towel or cotton swab, leaving the paint in the recesses to create a shadow effect.
5. Markers
Advantages: Convenient and quick to use, no additional equipment required, easy to carry. Suitable for quick coloring of small areas and details, such as outlining, filling, etc. Wide variety of colors.
Disadvantages: Poor color uniformity, prone to color differences and brush strokes. Not suitable for large-area coloring. Limited color coverage may require multiple applications to achieve the desired effect. Some markers contain solvents, which may corrode certain 3D printing materials.
Suitable Scenarios: Quick and simple coloring, or for supplementing and modifying details, such as rapid prototypes, mock-ups, etc.
6. Nano Spray Plating
Advantages: Can obtain very realistic metallic textures; the effect is close to electroplating and can even achieve effects that electroplating cannot achieve. Rich color choices can achieve a variety of metallic effects, such as gold plating, silver plating, copper plating, etc. Not limited by the size and shape of the workpiece.
Disadvantages: High equipment and material costs. The operation is relatively complex, requiring professional technology and equipment, as well as a well-ventilated environment.
Suitable Scenarios: Models with extremely high requirements for appearance and requiring realistic metallic effects, such as high-end figures, artworks, jewelry, etc.
Why Choose Airbrush for 3D Printing Work?
From the above comparison, it can be seen that although various coloring tools have their own advantages, in terms of fine coloring of 3D-printed works, the airbrush has unparalleled advantages over other tools:
● Extreme Fineness/Precision: The airbrush can spray very fine lines and extremely thin paint films, which can perfectly express the details of the model, such as the facial features of characters, mechanical textures, etc.
● Excellent Uniformity: The airbrush can achieve a very uniform spraying effect, avoiding the brush strokes of hand painting and the orange peel effect of spray cans, making the model surface smoother and more delicate.
● Rich Expressiveness: The airbrush can perform various complex painting techniques, such as gradients, shadows, highlights, masking, etc., making the model more three-dimensional and realistic.
● Flexible Adaptability: By replacing different nozzles and needles, the airbrush can adapt to different spraying needs; whether it is large-area base color spraying or detail drawing, it can handle it.
Therefore, for users who pursue high-quality and high-precision coloring effects for 3D printed works, the airbrush is undoubtedly the best choice. Although the initial investment is relatively high and the learning curve is relatively steep, once you master the usage skills, it can bring a qualitative leap to your 3D printed works.
