Artists Get a Hand Making Colorful 3D Prints

In a major announcement at Adobe MAX, 3D printing and additive manufacturing leader, Stratasys, and design software giant, Adobe, revealed that they will be joining forces to provide high-quality, color 3D printing solutions for creative professionals around the world.

The partnership aims to eliminate the numerous workflow obstacles that hinder designers’ ability to create tangible models from their digital designs with a simple and accurate process. Beginning immediately, Adobe Photoshop CC is capable of sending 3D files for printing via Stratasys Direct Express, and users are able to validate, preview and direct quote from the native Photoshop CC environment. Last year, Adobe released a new series of features that allow users to load, create and print 3D designs – a process that used to take over a dozen steps and several different software programs. If you know Photoshop but aren’t that familiar with using it as 3D software, Adobe has a few great tutorials to get you started, such as “How to print a 3D object in Photoshop.”

Here are the basics:

• Using the standard Photoshop toolbox, design your 3D model.
• Click “3D” and select “3D Print.”
• In the 3D Print toolbox, select “Print to: Stratasys Direct Express, 3D Printing Process, Material and Units.”
• Photoshop automatically repairs wall thicknesses and meshes to optimize a design for 3D printing.
• Get your settings in order, and click the “Print” icon.
• Photoshop estimates the price and lets you make further adjustments before the final export. To finalize your file, click “Export.”
• Photoshop prepares the file for upload and prompts you to save your design as an STL file.  
• After exporting the STL, a pop-up window asks if you want to upload your model to Stratasys Direct Express.
• Click “Yes” and you are zipped over to Stratasys Direct Express. Of course, you have to sign up for an account before you upload your STL and order your parts. You can choose to have your file printed from PolyJet, SLA, FDM or SLS 3D printers.
• The point is, any Photoshop ninja can easily have a 3D design printed using Stratasys Direct Express in a few days from Stratasys Direct Manufacturing.

Dan Yalon, executive vice president of business development, marketing and vertical solutions at Stratasys, commented:

Stratasys is poised to help product designers, artists, engineers and makers push the boundaries of color 3D printing. Partnering with Adobe is a major step in achieving this goal. We are confident that together we will introduce more creative professionals to the world of additive manufacturing and provide them with all the tools they need to effortlessly turn their visions into colorful, beautiful reality.

Read more at ENGINEERING.com