This will ensure that scratches don’t show up in your painted model.įor FDM printers with large layer heights, sanding the entire model might be necessary prior to painting to make certain that that the layering isn’t visible. To remove the nubs, start with a coarse sandpaper of around 100 grit and work up to at least 200 grit. For SLA 3D printers, this involves removing the support structures and sanding down the support nubs. Your printed model should be smooth and devoid of artifacts prior to painting. Resin printers like Anycubic, Phrozen, and Elegoo models are best for painted parts, both because of the high resolution and the ability to use some paints directly on the printed surface.

Starting with a detailed and well-printed model will make the rest of the painting process easier and improve your final results. Navigating the various different materials and techniques can be intimidating, and in this post you’ll learn all of the steps needed to paint your parts from start to finish.

Learning to paint your 3D printed parts will enable you to create prototypes, detailed miniatures, and a variety of other visually accurate models.

3d acrylic painting