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Color 3D Printing

Stratasys PolyJet 3D printers offer a gamut of thousands of colors in a wide variety of materials, true full-color capability, texture mapping, and color gradients. Colored 3D printing enables prototypes that look, feel, and operate like the finished products. This leads to better communication on designs and saves on manual post-processing delays and costs.

The J series are also PANTONE Validated, making the Pantone Matching System (PMS) colors available for the first time in 3D printing and providing a universal language of color to define, communicate, and control color from inspiration to realization with a single click on GrabCAD Print. The J series can print in RGB, CMYK, Pantone, or virtually any pattern.

In this section you can find information about Color, such as: briefs, case studies, guides, GrabCAD tutorials, and more.

Click here for a comprehensive glossary on color terms.

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Interface Overview - KeyShot

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Exporting for 3D Printing - KeyShot

Featured Case Studies

Innodesign - EN PolyJet Case Study

Innodesign from Monochrome to Photorealism.
Korean Design Guru Meets the Stratasys J Series 3D Printers.

Read the case study here.

GrabCAD Tutorials

Introducing texture, bump, and displacement

Texture, bump, and displacement mapping: how to make photo-realistic models.

Texture Mapping Using Materialise Magics

Adding texture to 3D models part 2 - texture mapping in Materalise® Magics®

Texture Mapping Using Adobe Photoshop

Adding texture to 3D models part 3 - texture mapping in Adobe® Photoshop®

3D Printing in Full Color: An Introduction

To accurately print 3D parts in color, one must first have a thorough understanding of how color works.

Part 1: A Look at Color Proofing

Get some background on color proofing and what to do when the color you print doesn't match the color you chose on screen.

Part 2: Introduction to Color Proofing: Uploading the Stratasys Color Profile

Find out how to install the J750 color profile, to ensure the most accurate results during soft proofing.

Part 3: Setting Up for Soft Proofing in Adobe® Photoshop®

Learn how to use Adobe® Photoshop® to simulate how colors will print on the J750.

Part 4: Soft Proofing

Explains how to soft proof using some simple adjustment techniques within Adobe® Photoshop®.

Part 5: Hard Proofing

The process of validating critical colors is called hard proofing and here is how it is done.

Part 6: Color Swatch Generator Tutorial

Learn how to use a 3D Swatch Generator and perform color matching for 3D prints.

How to 3D Print in Full Color (Part 1)

Learn what types of files multi-color printers can accept and how to manipulate colors.

How to 3D Print in Full Color (Part 2): Repairing and Checking VRMLs

Find out how VRML files will import correctly and how to choose the resolution of VRML files.

How to 3D Print in Full Color (Part 3): Clear + Texture Together

Learn how to print semi-transparent textures wrapped around curved, transparent shapes.

How to 3D Print Textured Objects Inside Clear Plastic Blocks

Learn how to print colored STLs/VRMLs embedded inside clear blocks.

Matching Up Your Colors with the Pantone™ Color Library

Understand how to use the Pantone feature in the GrabCAD Print software.

How to Create Incredibly Complex Textured Shapes for 3D Printing, Using Bump Mapping

Learn how to use 2D images to create actual 3D depth and physical textures on your CAD parts.

Pre-printing Tips for Flexible PolyJet Materials

This tutorial will provide some tips to optimize the performance of Tango and Agilus30 families materials.

Printing Full-Color FEA Results on 3D Printers

Learn how to use SOLIDWORKS Simulation and GrabCAD Print to print full-color FEA results.

Vivid Materials Part 2- How should I use them?

Learn the technical specs and how to use them to print opaque and transparent parts.