Enamel paintĮnamel paint is a category of solvent-based paints (oil-based paints) characterized by their glossy finish. In terms of appearance, acrylic paints have a matte finish.Īcrylic paints are safe and easy to work with when painting PLA 3D prints. Acrylics are also highly versatile and adhere well to a wide range of substrates, including thermoplastics like PLA.
When wet, they can be cleaned easily with water, but become permanent when dry. Acrylics are known for being easy-to-use and are quick drying. When the water in the paint evaporates, the paint becomes dry and stable. The three materials form an emulsion which can be easily applied to surfaces. Let’s take a look: Acrylic PaintĪcrylic paint is a water-based product made up of pigment particles, acrylic polymer binder, and water. When it comes to application, you can choose to paint using brushes or using spray paint.ĭespite the fact that many paints work with PLA, the most popular options for painting PLA are acrylics and enamels. Acrylic paint, enamels, and lacquers can all be used to finish a PLA print. With the right preparation and priming treatment, most types of paint will adhere to the material’s surface.
Fortunately, there are different options at your disposal, both in terms of paint type and application method.Īs far as thermoplastic filaments go, PLA is one of the easiest to paint. Recommended reading: PLA vs ABS: Which filament should one use? Best paints for PLAīefore getting into how to prepare your 3D print for painting, let’s first talk about what types of paint work well with thermoplastics such as PLA. In this article, we provide a step-by-step beginner-friendly guide to painting PLA parts and explain why each post-processing step is important. For the best results painting PLA, there is a bit of prep work that needs to take place, including removing supports, smoothing the print surface, and priming. Of course, you could do that, but the result would be sub-optimal and the paint might be inconsistent or chip off. When it comes to painting PLA 3D prints, it’s not quite as simple as removing your part from the print bed and applying paint with a brush.
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