Painting is a reliable way to make your 3D prints look more professional, whether you are making a product design prototype, a decoration for your home, or a functional part. Achieving a high-quality paint job, however, takes some time and effort. Here are some of our key takeaways for painting PLA 3D prints:
Your Guide to Painting PLA 3D Prints
Painting PLA 3D prints requires some preparation, like support removal, sanding, and priming.
When it comes to painting PLA 3D prints, it’s not quite as simple as removing your part from the print bed and applying paint with a brush. Of course, you could do that, but the result would be sub-optimal and the paint might be inconsistent or chip off. For the best results painting PLA, there is a bit of prep work that needs to take place, including removing supports, smoothing the print surface, and priming. In this article, we provide a step-by-step beginner-friendly guide to painting PLA parts and explain why each post-processing step is important.
Best paints for PLA
Before getting into how to prepare your 3D print for painting, let’s first talk about what types of paint work well with thermoplastics such as PLA. Fortunately, there are different options at your disposal, both in terms of paint type and application method.
As far as thermoplastic filaments go, PLA is one of the easiest to paint. With the right preparation and priming treatment, most types of paint will adhere to the material’s surface. Acrylic paint, enamels, and lacquers can all be used to finish a PLA print. When it comes to application, you can choose to paint using brushes or using spray paint.
Despite the fact that many paints work with PLA, the most popular options for painting PLA are acrylics and enamels. Let’s take a look:
Acrylic Paint
Acrylic paint is a water-based product made up of pigment particles, acrylic polymer binder, and water. The three materials form an emulsion which can be easily applied to surfaces. When the water in the paint evaporates, the paint becomes dry and stable.[1] Acrylics are known for being easy-to-use and are quick drying. When wet, they can be cleaned easily with water, but become permanent when dry. Acrylics are also highly versatile and adhere well to a wide range of substrates, including thermoplastics like PLA. In terms of appearance, acrylic paints have a matte finish.
Acrylic paints are safe and easy to work with when painting PLA 3D prints.
Enamel paint
Enamel paint is a category of solvent-based paints (oil-based paints) characterized by their glossy finish. Enamel paints are also known for creating a thin hard and stain-resistant shell, which can give products greater durability and weather resistance.[2] Like acrylics, enamel paints are sold as liquid (to be applied by brush) or in aerosol form (to be sprayed). Enamel paints typically dry slower than acrylic and can have a stronger smell due to the solvents in them.
Step One: Support Removal
Once you’ve removed your PLA part from the 3D printer, the first step is to remove any supports. (If your 3D model doesn’t require any support structures and doesn’t need any cleanup, you can skip this step and head straight to step two.)
In the FDM 3D printing process, support structures ensure that certain design features—such as overhangs over 45 degrees or bridges—can be extruded successfully without succumbing to gravity. If supports are printed from the same material as your build (i.e. they are not soluble supports), they must be manually removed. In some cases, removal is as simple as breaking or cracking supports off by hand. This is easiest if the support structures are very low in density and are not well bonded to the surface of the PLA part.
If your part has features that are at risk of breaking, however, we recommend using tools to assist in support removal, such as a knife, a pair of needle-nose pliers, or flush cutters. The aim, ultimately, is to remove the supports and leave as little trace as possible on the part surface. Working gently is the best way to remove supports while minimizing the risk of damage to the final model. You can also heat up the blade of a knife, which will soften the PLA and make it easier to pry the support away from the part surface.
We should note that build orientation and part design can greatly influence the support removal process. If turning your 3D model on its side on the print bed will reduce the number of supports required, the removal process will be significantly faster. Similarly, if you can tweak a design to remove a particularly challenging overhang, you will cut back on the amount of supports needed in the first place. Different types of support, such as tree supports, can also be easier to remove.
Gently remove supports by hand or using tools such as a knife, pliers, or flush cutters.
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- fine art / painting >
- mediums / varnishes / gessoes / resins / solvents / pigments. > liquitex varnishes – textures
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Neutral gray Liquitex acrylic primer for priming. Creates a gray base primer coat that helps achieve greater contrast and tonal range without losing the characteristics and properties of traditional gesso.
From 15,66€
Clear, glossy, fluid medium designed for pour applications, producing uniform puddles and acrylic sheets. It does not increase the transparency of the colors. Flexible once dry.
From 15,76€
An innovative titanium white impasto gesso with the ability to maintain sculptural shape. It has all the characteristics of traditional acrylic gesso. It is ideal for thick, sculptural applications with a spatula or brush.
From 15,66€
Forms a colored base while offering all the characteristics of traditional acrylic gesso.
From 15,66€
The classic white primer and sealer for absorbent surfaces like canvas, paper or wood. Offers surface bonding, roughness and absorbency suitable for acrylic and oil paints. One layer is usually sufficient.
From 10,84€
Very transparent glue and base that keeps the work surface visible. Clear Gesso offers the ideal degree of roughness for pastels, oil pastels, graphite and charcoal, as well as an excellent base for acrylic and oil paints.
From 10,84€
Liquitex Basics gesso is a primer to prepare surfaces for acrylic and oil painting. It does not yellow, it is dense and flexible. One layer is usually sufficient.
From 14,36€
Breaks the tension of water by improving the flow, absorbency and mixing of any paint, ink or stain that contains water and minimizes brush strokes. Use with flowable paint to create very runny washes without stiff edges.
From 11,28€
This is a great choice when working in low humidity or when you want to increase the workability and mixing time of acrylic paints and mediums.
From 11,28€
Super thick gel that retains high reliefs and consistent brush and trowel marks, which are hardly flattened. This medium makes paint workable during and leaves a translucent, matte finish.
From 17,86€
It is excellent for retaining brush strokes while prolonging the drying time and adding body to the painting. Excellent for transferring printed images.
From 15,76€
Thick gel medium that prolongs wear time and increases shine and transparency.
From 17,86€
Super thick gel with high surface resistance used to give a rigid touch similar to oil. It is ideal for creating raised reliefs and sculptural applications that hold their shape when dry and hardly shrink.
From 17,86€
Thick gel that leaves a matte and translucent finish when drying. Ideal for creating collages with heavier objects. Combine with glitter gel for a tailored satin finish.
From 17,86€
Gel with large resinous solids that leaves a matte finish when dry. Maintains the opacity of the color and spreads the paint by doubling the amounts without changing the position of the color.
From 17,86€
Thick gel used to extend the use time of acrylics by more than 40% and facilitate mixing. Add up to 50% without compromising paint coat strength for excellent impasto techniques.
From 17,86€
The best performing product in the Liquitex range of mediums. The glossy varnish medium is a multipurpose medium who performs two functions. It can be used as a permanent varnish and / or liquid medium.
From 111,60€
A classic medium used to fluidize delicate brush-painted works or as a low-gloss adhesive for collage. This medium has a creamy consistency and goes great with opaque colors.
From 9,95€
Use it when maximum transparency is needed to add luminosity and depth to your paintings. This fluid medium can be used to create brilliant glazes when mixed with transparent colors.
From 9,95€
An essential medium for creating smoother edges and patterned shapes. This medium is used to extend the use time of acrylics by more than 40%.
From 9,95€
Increases the mixability, workability and adhesion of acrylic paints to paint directly on unprimed canvases or fabrics. Reduces the stiffness of dried paint. No need to fix it with heat.
From 9,95€
Ready-to-use, pre-filtered medium that easily dilutes any acrylic, watercolor or gouache to the right consistency for spray application
From 15,76€
Provides richness to acrylics, creating a metallic / pearlescent effect. It is translucent when drying and does not rust. You can add reflections or highlights to a painting, even in minute quantities.
From 15,76€
Innovative liquid acrylic resin designed to prolong the drying of colors. Spray it onto the palette or directly onto the surface of a painting. Prevents paint from forming a film on its surface.
From 17,86€
Liquitex Soluvar gloss varnish for indoor and outdoor use that contains ultraviolet light stabilizers. Can be used on oil and acrylic paints. They do not yellow and are removed with mineral spirits or turpentine.
From 30,68€
Liquitex Soluvar matt varnish for indoor and outdoor use, does not yellow, can be used on oil and acrylic paints and is removed with mineral spirits or turpentine. UV (Ultraviolet) light protection and stabilizers.
From 41,62€
For indoor and outdoor use. Excellent leveling properties. They do not yellow. Translucent when wet, transparent when drying.
From 11,28€
For indoor and outdoor use. Excellent leveling properties. They do not yellow. Translucent when wet, transparent when drying.
From 17,86€
For indoor and outdoor use. Excellent leveling properties. They do not yellow. Translucent when wet, transparent when drying.
From 11,28€
Super thick, matt and opaque preparation of marble dust and polymeric emulsion used to create thick textures on rigid surfaces. This product handles like clay and leaves a very hard surface when dry.
From 14,04€
Light and airy preparation of marble dust and polymeric emulsion specifically formulated for use in applications where weight is a factor. It can be used to add body to paint and create pastel tints.
From 14,04€
Matte and opaque preparation of marble dust and polymeric emulsion. It takes longer to dry than other modeling pastes and produces a hard, yet flexible surface.
From 14,04€
Thick, fine-textured gel. It dries to a light gray matte stucco finish and is a great absorbent base for washes, glazes .
From 17,86€
Fine texture gel that when drying gives the appearance of shimmering fine beach sand. Mix it with other gels to create individualized surfaces. It is an excellent choice for adding a bit of “roughness” to a base pattern.
From 17,86€
Medium-body gel containing clear plastic microspheres and leaves a semi-gloss, reflective surface when dry. When poured, forms a flexible, shiny coating for a wide range of applications.
From 17,86€
Heavy, thick, rough gel with coarse grains, containing white opaque flakes of irregular sizes and shapes, has an effect similar to snowflakes or coconut chips. Use preferably with translucent or transparent colors.
From 17,02€
Extends the drying time of acrylic paints and mediums by up to 40%. It is an absolutely essential additive if working in drier climates.
From 17,86€
Excellent for sculptural effects when a matte finish is desired. Offers the working characteristics of oil or encaustic paint when added to acrylic paints and mediums that contain water.
From 17,86€
Self-leveling gel with a consistency similar to that of honey. Mix with acrylic paint to achieve interesting application effects, increase color depth, and increase transparency and flow.
From 17,86€
100% acrylic polymer varnish, glossy finish. Low viscosity. Soluble in water when wet, once dry it is hard, flexible and resistant to dirt and discoloration. For indoor and outdoor applications. Not suitable for oil.
