Filament painting for 3D printing
Filament painting stacks colored layers so thin sections blend light into perceived hues on the front face. It is a front-lit technique—not the same as backlit lithophanes.
Slicer settings that matter
Use 100% infill for predictable blending. Fine layer heights (often 0.08–0.12 mm) on color layers improve smooth gradients.
- 100% infill
- Fine layers on color bands
- Stable extrusion multiplier
Palette selection
Limit active filaments to what your printer can change. ColorStack suggests palettes from image analysis; swap spools to match what you own.
Steps
- 1
Upload image
ColorStack mode analyzes luminance and color.
- 2
Set band count
More bands = more colors, more changes.
- 3
Assign filaments
Map palette to physical spools.
- 4
Export and slice
STL with manual changes or 3MF on Pro.
FAQ
- HueForge vs ColorStack?
- Both target layered color prints. ColorStack runs in the browser and emphasizes 3MF export with printer profiles.
- Chroma Canvas alternative?
- ColorStack offers a similar outcome for makers who want a web-based workflow.