Ever finished a 3D print, only to feel like something is missing? That raw plastic look just doesn’t capture your vision. You want your creations to truly pop, to look professional, and to last. But then comes the big question: what paint should you actually use on your FDM or resin prints?
Choosing the right paint is a real headache. Some paints chip easily, others don’t stick at all, and a few can even damage your carefully crafted model. You need something that grips well, flows smoothly, and gives you that vibrant, durable finish you’re aiming for. Getting this wrong means wasted time and dull-looking projects.
This guide cuts through the confusion. We will break down the best types of paint for different 3D print materials, share essential prepping tips, and reveal the secrets to achieving a factory-quality look. By the end, you will know exactly which can of paint to grab for your next masterpiece.
Top Paint For 3D Prints Recommendations
- 【30 Vibrant Colors】Coogert acrylic pens are made with water-based ink. acrylic paint pens flow without flooding or jamming, paint pens paint markers bulk are perfect for artists, art students, teens, adults to use on arts and DIY crafts projects, paintings
- 【Dual Tip Acrylic Paint Markers】Paint pens acrylic markers include 0.5-5mm brush tip and 1mm fine tip. the acrylic brush markers works well for painting, drawing, calligraphy, lettering and sketching., suitable for filling colors and outlining. The fine tip paint pens is suitable for detailed work.
- 【Suitable For Surfaces】 Acrylic paint marker set suitable for rock painting, ceramic, wood, fabric, stone, metal, plastic, canvas, resin, shoe, egg, calligraphy, scrapbook, paper, sneaker, clothes, models, leather, porcelain, dishwasher, posters, epoxy, brush lettering, mug painting, glass paints for glass painting, Christmas ornament, Halloween pumpkin painting, enjoy creating DIY art crafts graffiti projects on a variety of surfaces.
- 【Multi-purpose Painting Supplies Kit】Support stone painting, glass painting, ceramic painting, painting pumpkins, egg painting, mug painting, rock painting kit
- 【Great Gift Idea】Acrylic paint pens can also be used as gifts for birthdays, Easter, Halloween, Christmas, Valentine's Day, Easter Day, New Year and Thanksgiving. acrylic pens are great for painting supplies and art supplies. paint pens acrylic markers become an art and craft for adults
- 🎨Safety guarantee & High quality- Made of premium paint material, conforming to ASTM D-4236 and EN71 standards,HissiCo acrylic paint set is in rich pigment, creamy, non toxic and safe for adults, teens and kids’ creative art painting time
- 🖌Nice Color Blending- Acrylic paints can blend, layer and mix well to produce an array of unlimited shades for any craft projects. Each paint has a fantastic thick consistency for art paintings, which will keep brush or spatula marks well and give brilliant texture for your art masterpieces
- 🎨Easy to Use & Store- The acrylic paint set in flip-top squeeze bottles makes it easy to control the flow while applying the paint to arts painting. Comes in a sturdy nice flip-lid cardboard box, the paint set will be easy to store and safe keeping
- 🖌Multifunctional Acrylic Paint Set- HissiCo acrylic paints are versatile in canvas art, painting, scrap booking and even nail arts, suitable for most surfaces, including stretched canvas, wood, glass, card decorating, plastic, craft foam, ceramic, decorative wallpaper, terracotta, blackboard easel, paper and tin
- 🎨36 Vibrant Colors & Rich Pigment- The premium acrylic paint set with 36 unique eye-catching vibrant acrylic colors , 12 paint brushes and 1 palette will offer you vivid colors and better selections to bring your artwork to life. Those highly pigmented colors are great to produce true, consistent shades on painting art, ideal for professional artists, young aspiring artists, painting lovers and kids
- 【Dual Tip Acrylic Paint Pens】Each acrylic marker come with a 1-5mm round nib and a 1mm fine nib. Dual tip design meets different coloring needs. The fine tip is suitable for outlining, fine line work; The round tip works well for large areas of coloring, detailing.
- 【Upgraded Cotton Nibs Version】Different from ordinary push-type acrylic pens, our acrylic markers are cotton nibs, they can be used directly and dry faster. ---Note:Please tighten the cap and put pens horizontally if you don't use them.
- 【24 Bright and Vibrant Colors】Rich color range means more mixability and fun. A perfect choice to design your scrapbook, bullet journal, planner, Christmas card, birthday gifts, greeting card, or any DIY crafts projects.
- 【Work Well on Diverse Surface】Betem acrylic markers provides smooth inking for a variety of surfaces such as paper, cardstock, metal, rock painting, wood, plastic, canvas, fabrics, ceramics, and more. High-quality opaque water-based ink with odorless and acid-free. Keep your artwork colors alive for a long time. Just express your imagination!
- 【Ideal Gift】Betem Acrylic Paint Pens will be a useful gift for your sister, brother, daughter, granddaughter, son, kids, wife, painted rock lovers for birthdays, Easter Day, Halloween, Christmas Day, Valentine's Day, Thanksgiving Day, New Year or special holidays gift. DIY unique gift, bring color into your life and create decorative products!
- 【Premium Acrylic Model Paints】 Professional-quality acrylic miniature paints designed for model kits, plastic models, miniatures, scale figures, dioramas, and other hobby projects. Formulated for brush application with a smooth, even flow and excellent surface adhesion on plastic, resin, wood, and metal. Perfect for detailing or full coverage.
- 【Complete 19-Piece Set】 Includes 18 rich colors (16 standard shades plus metallic gold & silver) and 1 acrylic paint thinner to help with advanced techniques such as blending, layering, and airbrushing (Miniatures not included). Each 20 ml dropper bottle ensures precise control, reduces waste, and keeps paint fresh for longer.
- 【Matte, Durable & Lightfast Finish】 Dries to a professional-grade matte surface with strong color opacity and UV-resistant pigments. Ideal for long-lasting display on tabletop figures, scale vehicles, architectural models, or model car paint kits without fading or chipping.
- 【Easy to Use & Highly Versatile】 Pre-thinned for brush painting straight from the bottle—no extra mixing needed. Use the included thinner to adjust consistency for fine detail work, smooth gradients or airbrushing. Suitable for modelers, miniature painters, war game hobbyists, and craft enthusiasts of all skill levels.
- 【Guided Painting Support】 Comes with a printed instruction sheet and color wheel for easy color selection, mixing, and shading ideas—making it simple to achieve realistic effects on historical models, fantasy miniatures, scenery, and diorama bases. Great for both beginners learning techniques and experienced artists refining their craft.
- 15 Miniature Paint Brushes: The miniature painting kit has 15 assorted point tips with different thickness, including Liners 4/0 3/0 2/0 0 1, Rounds 4/0 3/0 2/0 0 1, Flats 0, 1, Angular 1, Filbert 1, Angled Spot 0.
- Perfect for all sorts of detailing: Good for nail art and face painting, work great for painting miniatures, models, figurines, action figures and doll houses, rock painting, paint by Numbers.
- Easy Grip Handles: the handle is made of wood and designed easy-grip triangular shape, make you feel comfortable and secure while holding it.
- Premium Quality: Premium thin paint brushes is designed with soft synthetic nylon bristles and chrome plated copper ferrule. these miniature paint brushes come with protective tubes, which is handy to keep them in shape after using and cleaning.
- Perfect for Precise Painting: Micro detail paint brush can handle various paintings such as acrylic, watercolor, tempera, enamel, gush, oil, face paint.
- Premium Artist quality Acrylic paints with a wide range of vivid & vibrant colors that are uniquely formulated with high quality pigments to bring out the maximum brilliance and color clarity with a buttery consistency and offer great covering power for large areas and fine details. These paints dry to a beautiful gloss finish
- Our acrylic paints have a premium consistency, perfect for blending, layering, and creating texture. Along with your 24-pack of paints, you’ll also receive 3 professional brushes.
- High Quality, Rich Pigments, Certified Safe & Non-Toxic .We are not just Premium and Art Friendly but Environment friendly too; ASTM D-4236 and EN71-3 (CE) certified
- Versatile for most art and craft techniques and suitable for most painting surfaces including Canvas, Paper, Wood, Fabric, Leather, Cardboard, ceramic,MDF and Crafts.
- 【Precision and Versatility in Every Stroke】 The 30-color acrylic paint markers feature dual tips for ultimate control and flexibility. The fine tip (1mm) is perfect for sharp lines, lettering, and detailed designs, while the brush tip (1-5mm) offers bold strokes and the ability to create various textures with ease. Perfect for everything from sketches to large-scale artwork.
- 【Rich, Long-Lasting Pigments】 Our markers boast a diverse range of 30 highly-pigmented colors that are ideal for all your artistic needs. The vibrant shades offer excellent opacity and consistency, allowing your art to shine on various surfaces such as paper, canvas, wood, glass, ceramic, and more.
- 【Ideal for Various Art Techniques】 These markers are perfect for a variety of techniques, including outlining, coloring, blending, and shading. The dual tips allow you to switch between delicate details and dynamic strokes, making them suitable for everything from detailed illustrations to expressive designs.
- 【Fade-Resistant and Quick-Drying】 Designed to last, these markers feature a quick-drying formula to prevent smearing. Their fade-resistant quality ensures that your artwork remains bright and vibrant, even after long periods of time.
- 【Perfect for Art Lovers and DIY Enthusiasts】 Whether you're a budding artist or an experienced professional, these markers are great for all skill levels. The 30-color set makes an ideal gift for anyone interested in DIY projects, scrapbooking, rock painting, or any creative endeavor.
- 36 VIBRANT COLORS : Shuttle Art 36 colors acrylic paint set contains 36 unique colors highly pigmented paints, including classic metallic gold and silver colors, also comes with 12 brushes and 1 palette, when you receive this art painting kit you can paint right way
- ARTIST QUALITY & STURDY PACKAGE: Creamy acrylic paints are easy to blend, mix and layer, providing great coverage and true, consistent shades for detailing, texturing and coloring. Art projects will stay as beautiful as the day they were painted. Strengthened cardboard package protects paints well and works as an organizer, safe and convenient.
- WIDE APPLICATION & EASY TO CLEAN: Dry fast, water-proof and fade-resistant, acrylic paint is suitable for most surfaces, such as wood, rock, canvas, ceramic, fabric, glass, clay, leather, plastic and more. Water-bases paint can be easily cleaned with soap and water before completely dry, perfect for kids, students, beginner art lovers and professional artists for painting and crafting.
- NON-TOXIC & ACIDE FREE: This paint set is conformed to ASTM-D4236, non-toxic and acid-free. Safe acrylic paint set for kids, teens and adults to do art projects with the water-based paints.
- SERVICE GUARANTEE: Your satisfaction is our top priority, please rest assured to purchase our products. If you are not satisfied with our products or have any questions, please feel free to contact us at any time.
Painting Your 3D Prints: The Ultimate Buying Guide
You just finished printing an awesome model! Now, how do you make it look professional? Painting your 3D prints brings them to life. This guide helps you choose the best paint for your plastic creations.
Key Features to Look For
When shopping for paint, a few things really matter. These features will make your painting job easier and the final result better.
1. Adhesion (How Well It Sticks)
The most important feature is how well the paint sticks to the plastic. Poor adhesion means the paint flakes off easily. Look for paints specifically labeled for use on plastics or resin.
2. Finish Type
Do you want a shiny look or a flat, matte appearance? Paints come in many finishes:
- Matte: Hides small layer lines well.
- Satin/Semi-Gloss: Offers a slight sheen.
- Gloss: Very shiny, reflects a lot of light.
3. Durability and Flexibility
3D prints can sometimes bend a little. If your paint is too brittle, it might crack when the plastic moves. Flexible paints handle slight flexing better.
Important Materials: What’s in the Can?
The type of paint base affects how you use it and how it looks.
Acrylic Paints
Acrylics are the most popular choice for hobbyists. They are water-based, clean up easily with water, and dry fast. They are generally safe and have low odor. Most hobby acrylics work great on PLA and ABS prints.
Enamel Paints
Enamels are oil-based. They dry very hard and durable. However, they often require harsh thinners for cleanup and have strong fumes, so you need good ventilation when using them.
Specialty Primers
Primer is not paint, but it is essential! A good primer helps the top coat stick better, especially on tricky materials like resin prints. Always use a primer designed for plastic.
Factors That Improve or Reduce Quality
What you do before and during painting greatly affects the final quality.
Improving Quality: Preparation is Key
- Sanding: Smoothing the print surface removes visible layer lines. Smoother plastic means better paint adhesion.
- Cleaning: Always wash your print with soap and water (or isopropyl alcohol) before priming. Oils from your hands will stop the paint from sticking.
- Priming: A coat of plastic-safe primer creates a perfect surface for the color to grab onto.
Reducing Quality: Common Mistakes
Using the wrong tools or environments reduces quality. Applying thick coats of paint often causes drips and hides fine details. Also, painting in a humid or very cold environment can cause the paint to dry unevenly or not cure properly.
User Experience and Use Cases
Different projects need different paints.
Miniatures and Detailed Models
For small, highly detailed figures (like tabletop gaming pieces), thin acrylic paints applied with a fine brush work best. You can easily layer colors and achieve fine shading.
Functional Prints and Props
If you are painting a large vase or a cosplay prop, spray paints often provide the fastest, most even coverage. Look for spray paints labeled “Fusion” or “for Plastic” to ensure they bond well.
Good paint makes a good print great. Choose wisely based on your project needs!
10 Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ) About 3D Print Paint
Q: Can I use regular wall paint on my 3D prints?
A: Usually, no. Wall paint is often too thick and is not designed to stick firmly to smooth plastic surfaces. It will likely peel off.
Q: Do I have to prime every 3D print before painting?
A: While not strictly mandatory, priming significantly improves the final result. Primer helps the color coat stick longer and look more uniform.
Q: What is the best way to clean my print before painting?
A: Wash the print with mild dish soap and warm water. Rinse well and let it dry completely. For resin prints, use isopropyl alcohol to remove any uncured residue.
Q: How long should I let the paint dry?
A: Acrylics often dry to the touch in under an hour. However, let them cure for 24 hours before handling the print roughly or applying a second coat.
Q: Which paint is best for hiding layer lines?
A: Thick, matte paints tend to fill in very small gaps better than glossy, thin paints. However, sanding is the best way to hide lines.
Q: Are spray paints safe for all 3D print materials?
A: Most commercial plastic spray paints are safe for PLA and ABS. Be careful with very cheap or thin plastics, as harsh solvents in some aerosol cans can sometimes melt or warp the print.
Q: What is the difference between hobby paint and craft paint?
A: Hobby paints (like those for models) are formulated to be very pigmented and thin for detail work. Craft paints are often thicker and better suited for large, flat areas.
Q: Should I use a clear coat (top coat) after painting?
A: Yes. A clear coat protects your paint job from scratches, UV light, and handling wear. Choose a clear coat that matches your desired finish (matte or gloss).
Q: What if I accidentally get paint on my fingers?
A: If you are using water-based acrylics, soap and water clean up easily. If you used enamel or solvent-based paint, you will need mineral spirits or appropriate thinner.
Q: Can I airbrush paint onto my 3D prints?
A: Yes, airbrushing is excellent! You must thin most acrylic or enamel paints specifically for airbrush use. Thinning them makes the paint flow smoothly through the small nozzle.