Standard FDM printing is single-colour by default: one filament, one colour, one part. But what if you need a two-colour logo, a sign with contrasting lettering or a bright toy for a child? This is where multicolour 3D printing comes in. In this article we look at the main ways of printing in several colours, model preparation, typical applications and the limitations of each approach.<\/p>\n
The simplest and most accessible method is to pause the print at the right layer, pull out one filament and insert another. No extra equipment is needed: an ordinary printer with a single extruder is enough.<\/p>\n
The pause command can be added to the G-code by hand or set up in the slicer<\/a> \u2014 most modern programs support inserting an M600 command (filament change) at the required height.<\/p>\n Automatic filament feeding systems are the modern standard for multicolour printing. The most popular solutions on the market:<\/p>\n The principle is the same: one extruder, but the system automatically retracts one filament and feeds another. Before printing with a new colour, the nozzle is flushed to remove traces of the previous material.<\/p>\n Printers with two independent extruders (IDEX \u2014 Independent Dual Extruder) can print with two materials at once. Each extruder has its own nozzle and its own drive.<\/p>\n The newest approach is printers with interchangeable print heads (tool changers). The printer automatically parks one head and picks up another, which allows 4 or more colours without flushing the nozzle. Waste is minimal, but such systems are still expensive.<\/p>\n To print a model in several colours, it has to be prepared properly. There are two main approaches:<\/p>\n The model is split into separate bodies in a CAD program \u2014 each body corresponds to a particular colour. Then all the parts are loaded into the slicer<\/a> as a single object with several components, and each component is assigned its own extruder or filament.<\/p>\n Modern slicers \u2014 Bambu Studio, PrusaSlicer, OrcaSlicer \u2014 have a built-in paint-on tool. You load a single solid model and mark areas in different colours with a brush right in the slicer. This is the most convenient method for simple multicolour models: lettering, logos, decorative elements.<\/p>\n If the colours change only from layer to layer (for example, a base in one colour and the top in another), it\u2019s enough to insert a filament change command at the right height. This works even with manual changes and needs no complex model preparation.<\/p>\n Multicolour printing opens up wide possibilities in many fields:<\/p>\n Multicolour printing has its nuances that are worth knowing in advance:<\/p>\n Our 3D printing studio in Lviv works with automatic multi-material systems and has experience of multicolour printing for a range of tasks \u2014 from simple signs to complex multi-part items. We\u2019ll help you choose the best printing method, prepare the model and pick the right colours.<\/p>\nAutomatic multi-material systems (Bambu AMS, Prusa MMU, Creality CFS)<\/h3>\n
\n
\n
Dual extruder (Dual Extrusion \/ IDEX)<\/h3>\n
\n
Tool changer \u2014 swapping print heads<\/h3>\n
Preparing a model for multicolour printing<\/h2>\n
Splitting the model into coloured parts<\/h3>\n
Painting in the slicer<\/h3>\n
Changing colour by height<\/h3>\n
Typical applications of multicolour printing<\/h2>\n
\n
Comparing the approaches: which to choose<\/h2>\n
\n
Limitations and practical tips<\/h2>\n
\n
Want to print a multicolour model?<\/h2>\n