So I've read a lot tonight on Shapeways offering colour printing, but my question is this- can they print a single design in multiple plastic colours? For example, printing a tf head so that the helmet is white and the face red?
Ah, shame it's not quite there yet. Hopefully they'll get that sort of thing going in the next year or so! They can do it in that weird sandstone-like composite, so that's a start... Guess it's a dye job til then.
They actually can print in colored details, like you are asking for. Its been available for a year now. Shapeways | Full Color Basically, the designer needs to make a texture map of the model, and it can be used to "paint" the model as printed up.
I'm surprised they don't offer full colour plastic models yet. I've seen a fair few printers operate in a range of coloured ABS.
Yes, but I asked shapeways the same question recently. They told me that their printers can't handle it, and to get an FDM machine (they said that's the cheapest full colour plastic printer) would cost so much to print in it would be unviable.
That's fair, those things are still pretty damn pricey. Maybe in a few years when the price has come down then.
Thats true. They gave me a sample key ring thing, and it was fragile compared to the regular materials. It has its novelty factors though. But for TFs, definitely better to dye or paint the part.
Damnit Venksta, they gave you a free part? Lucky... The sandstone is good for statues, but not much more, sadly.
