Research on color 3D printing based on color adherence

Purpose - This paper aims to present a method of color three-dimensional (3D) printing based on color adherence. Design/methodology/approach - First, experiments of the color effects of 3D printings using different carriers and different printing methods were performed. Second, the color of a specific point could be calculated through a theory of dimension-reducing, and the color distribution of 3D model was transformed from 3D to 1D color line corresponding with 3D print sequence. At last, the color lines, which were printed on a PE film by silk-screen printing, was carried by a filament and then printed through a fused deposition modeling 3D printer. Findings - The printing ink and PE film are suitable as the pigment and carrier under this investigation, respectively. Based on an idea of reducing dimension, the method of 3D color printing through adhering color to a filament is realized. The color saturation of the sample was relatively high through the method. Research limitations/implications - It is hard to avoid that there may be some residual color in the nozzle through this method, and the purity of following color will be affected. As a result, continuous improvements should be made to perfect the method. Practical implications - An approach of 3D color printing is described in detail, and what kind of model is more applicable is discussed particularly. Originality/value - This approach is implemented to print color 3D objects with just one nozzle by means of color adherence. That is, printing the 3D objects using the filament is carried out with 1D color line, which is printed by a traditional printing method.