Our multicolour 3D printing service prints up to 8 colours in a single print, so a logo, a sign, a figure or a model comes off the printer already in colour, without painting. Upload a 3MF file with its colours set and you get a multicolour price straight away, the same as a single-colour print.
Upload your colour 3MF for an instant price
How the instant multicolour quote works
- Upload a 3MF with the colours set. Painted models and models with a filament chosen for each part both work, as saved from Bambu Studio, OrcaSlicer or PrusaSlicer. Most multicolour models on MakerWorld and Printables download this way too; see printing MakerWorld and Printables models. New to this? Our guide to setting up a multicolour 3MF shows how.
- Choose a colour for each colour in the design. The quote reads the colours from your file and matches each one to the nearest filament we stock. Change any of them, pick standard, matte or silk PLA for each, and see your choices on the 3D preview.
- See the price, pay and we print it. The price updates as you change colours or infill. Add it to your cart, pay by card and we print and ship it.
If your file is an STL, or a 3MF without colours, the quote prices it in a single colour. For those, see other ways to get a multicolour print below.
How multicolour is priced
A multicolour price is the filament for each colour at that colour’s normal rate, plus $4 an hour of print time. Both are worked out by slicing your actual file, so the price is for your model, not an estimate.
- Purging is included. Each time the printer changes colour it pushes out a little filament to clear the old colour. That waste is counted in the filament for each colour.
- Colour changes add time. A design that changes colour on many layers takes longer than one where each colour is its own section. The quote shows how many colour changes your model needs.
- Unused colours cost nothing. If your file lists a colour that the design does not actually use, it adds nothing to the price.
- Copies share colour changes. Several copies of the same model print together on one plate, so each extra copy costs much less than the first.
For what makes a colour print cost more or less, and how to bring the price down, see how much multicolour 3D printing costs.
Prices include GST, and shipping is a flat $15 per order anywhere in Australia, free on orders of $80 or more.
What “multicolour” means here
There are two different things people mean when they search for colour 3D printing, and it is worth being clear about which one we offer.
- Multicolour printing (what we do): the print is made from several colours of filament. Each area of the model is one solid colour from our range, such as white lettering on a blue sign or a black base under a red figure. The colours are sharp-edged, like the colours in a logo.
- Full-colour or photographic printing: smooth gradients, skin tones and printed textures across the surface, like a photo wrapped onto a model. This uses different printing technology, and it is not something we offer.
If your design is made of distinct colour areas, multicolour printing suits it well. If it depends on shading or a photographic texture, the usual approach is to print it in white or grey and paint it.
What multicolour printing suits
- Logos, signs and name plates with raised or inlaid lettering. See 3D printed signs.
- Keyrings, badges and tags. See 3D printed keyrings.
- Personalised gifts such as name plaques, ornaments and cake toppers. See personalised 3D printed gifts.
- Figures and models with separate colour areas such as clothing, bases and details. See custom 3D printed figurines and 3D printed toys.
- Cosplay details such as emblems and insignia. See cosplay 3D printing.
- Tabletop terrain and game pieces, where teams or pieces need to be told apart. See 3D printed board game pieces.
- Branded merchandise such as logo keyrings, badges and desk items. See 3D printed promotional products.
- Product mock-ups that need to show branding or colour-coded parts. See prototypes and functional parts.
Colours you can choose from
Each colour in a multicolour print can be any of these PLA filaments:
- Standard PLA: black, white, grey, red, cherry red, green, dark blue, sky blue, purple, pink, yellow, orange, gold, brown and rainbow.
- Matte PLA: black, white, red and green.
- Silk PLA: white, black, silver, gold, brass, blue, purple, pink and yellow.
You can mix finishes in one print, such as a matte black base with silk gold lettering.
Size, delivery and shipping
Multicolour prints can be up to 400 x 400 x 450 mm, printed at the size in your file - the same size as our single-colour prints. For turnaround on a particular job, see delivery times for custom 3D prints.
Other ways to get colour into a print
Multicolour printing is not the only option, and sometimes it is not the cheapest.
- Separate files, one per colour. If your colours are separate STL files, email them to us with the colour for each and we will quote it. Or combine them into one 3MF in Bambu Studio or OrcaSlicer, set a filament for each part, and upload that for an instant price. The multicolour 3MF guide shows how.
- Print separate pieces in different colours and assemble them. Upload each piece to the instant quote, pick a colour for each, and glue them together. For models that come apart naturally, such as a sign with separate letters or a figure on a base, this is often the cheapest route.
- Rainbow PLA. The filament changes colour along the spool, so bands of colour run through the height of the print. It gives a bright multicoloured look, but you cannot choose which colour lands where.
- Print in white or grey and paint it. For shading, gradients and fine painted detail, painting still gives the most control. Our guide to sanding, priming and painting 3D prints covers the process.
Frequently asked questions
Can I get an instant price for a multicolour print?
Yes. Upload a 3MF file with its colours set, as saved from Bambu Studio, OrcaSlicer or PrusaSlicer, and the quote offers a multicolour option with a price straight away.
How many colours can one print have?
Up to 8 colours in a single print.
Does multicolour cost more than a single colour?
Usually, yes. A multicolour price is the filament for each colour plus $4 an hour of print time, and changing colours adds both time and purged filament. Printing separate pieces in different colours and gluing them together can be cheaper, and the instant quote shows you both prices.
Is this full-colour 3D printing?
No. Each area of the print is a solid colour from our filament range. We do not print photographic full colour, gradients or printed textures.
What files do you need?
For an instant price, a 3MF file with the colours set: either painted, or with a filament chosen for each part. STL files have no colour information, so they are priced in a single colour; email us separate STL files, one per colour, for a multicolour quote.
How big can a multicolour print be?
Up to 400 x 400 x 450 mm, printed at the size in your file.
Can I get a multicolour print anywhere in Australia?
Yes. We ship anywhere in Australia for a flat $15 per order, free on orders of $80 or more. We do not ship outside Australia.