**Color 3D Printing: Theory, Method, and Application**

Guangxue Chen, Chen Chen, Zhaohui Yu, Hao Yin, Liuxi He and Jiangping Yuan

Additional information is available at the end of the chapter

http://dx.doi.org/10.5772/63944

#### **Abstract**

Our research team proposes a colored manufacturing technology with a layer-bylayer printing process. Using digital inkjet printing in layer-by-layer printing color graphics, a further low-cost color 3D Printing (3DP) technology can be developed. It can provide an integrated way to prototype and reproduce 3D objects, from concept to design and manufacturing. Ultimately, with fast graphics printing method, it guaran‐ tees a feasible way to further promote cultural and creative products.

**Keywords:** 3D Printing, color reproduction, historic preservation, topographic map, 3D geographical model

## **1. Introduction**

Recently, the application of personalized 3D Printing (3DP) in culture and art has been experiencing a gradual increase in demand. Beautiful lively items with exquisite appearance are in need of fabrication and reproduction, with high artistic and economic value, which is greatly expanding in the market of rapid prototyping.

However, the 3D Printing process has restrictions due to forming materials and equipment; the presence of monochrome objects makes it difficult to meet the demand of high-quality reproduction. These limit the further development and prosperity of the emerging 3D market with high value-added potential products in the field of culture and art.

This chapter presents the technique and configuration needed to develop a workflow from 3D digital model to rendering images and color 3D Printing. The chapter is divided into four parts.

The first part reviews the current situation in terms of 3D Printing and focuses on color-related research and applications.

At first, a quick discussion is presented about models, which are constructed out of vertices and polygons, and the impact of modeling techniques in terms of mapping color information into model itself. And some formats as examples are used to demonstrate the differences.

The second part shows the theory of color 3D Printing process, at first about the work of our research and focuses on the hardware and process to print the interpreted data into objects and transfer color information into the model. The related 2D printing applications as well as a series of new issues are also presented.

The third part shows the modeling data representation and data transformation with a short review of the rendering pipeline for color 3D Printing.

This part provides specific mechanics from 3D modeling to "ready to print." A graphics processor usually performs several pervertex calculations in addition to the transformation from object space to window space. This specifies how the fragment data are used to determine the final color and the final depth of each pixel.

The last part demonstrates a few instances of color objects produced with the process, showing the color reproduction and further potential applications.
