ColorStack

Filament painting for 3D printing

ColorStack mode builds color-layer topography from your image so thin filament layers optically blend into a full-color front-lit print—no manual CAD painting.

See also: image to STL converter, multicolor 3MF export, and filament painting guide.

A practical HueForge-style workflow in the browser with STL and 3MF export.

Open ColorStack mode

Who it is for

  • Single-extruder printer owners who change filament by layer
  • HueForge and Chroma Canvas users looking for a browser alternative
  • Makers printing portraits, posters, and fan art in PLA

What you can make

  • Front-lit multicolor plaques and portraits
  • HueForge-style gradient prints with 4–8+ filaments
  • 3MF exports with color change hints (Pro)

How it works

  1. 1

    Upload artwork or photo

    ColorStack analyzes luminance and maps colors to your filament palette.

  2. 2

    Choose layer count and thickness

    More bands increase color range but add print time and filament changes.

  3. 3

    Match filaments to palette

    Pick suggested colors or assign your own spools from the library.

  4. 4

    Preview optical blending

    Review the processed canvas before exporting geometry.

  5. 5

    Export STL or 3MF

    STL for manual changes; 3MF for slicers that read multicolor project metadata.

Export formats

STL (layered mesh) · 3MF (printer-ready multicolor on Pro)

Frequently asked questions

What is filament painting?
Stacking thin layers of colored filament so light passing through blends into perceived colors on the front surface.
Do I need 100% infill?
Yes for reliable optical blending. Hollow prints scatter light unpredictably.
How is this different from LithoStack?
Filament painting is viewed from the front with ambient light. Lithophanes are backlit height reliefs.
Is ColorStack a HueForge alternative?
ColorStack targets a similar outcome—multicolor layered prints—with a browser workflow and 3MF export options.

Related resources

Multicolor 3D printing tools

ColorStack is a suite of browser tools for different multicolor workflows—layer painting, backlit lithophanes, and flat multicolor plates.

Image to STL

Turn 2D images into 3D printable STL meshes. Pick ColorStack, LithoStack, or FlatStack depending on whether you need layers, backlit relief, or a flat plate.

Multicolor 3MF export

3MF carries more than geometry—it can include materials, objects, and slicer-friendly structure. ColorStack Pro exports 3MF for supported multicolor workflows.

Lithophane generator

LithoStack in ColorStack converts photos into printable lithophane heightmaps. Upload an image, preview the relief, choose a shape, and export STL without CAD.

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.

3MF vs STL for multicolor 3D printing

STL remains universal geometry. 3MF can package multicolor structure and slicer-friendly metadata. Choose based on your printer and patience for manual setup.