FullColor: opaque shape and color together
The documented material-jetting route combines a white reflective inner layer with a CMYK colored surface layer. Liquid photopolymer is deposited and cured by UV light, with color mixed at voxel level. The white base supports the color above it. Skin tones, painted gradients and photographic texture come from the model’s color data; they are produced with the shape rather than added as a separate hand-painted finish.
The result is opaque and normally has a matte resin or plastic-like appearance with fine process texture. It is the principal route for photo figurines, portraits, miniature scenes and colored gifts. Full color does not mean ceramic, stone or metal, even when the design imitates one of those materials.
Transparent: clear resin needs its own review
Transparent photopolymer can create clear sections and glass-like display effects. The material guide describes polishing and coatings to improve clarity, but also notes a possible faint blue or yellow tint and cracking risks in thicker sections. Shape, section thickness, surface treatment and lighting all affect what you see through the print.
The guide’s approximate 90% transmission is a generic material reference, not a test result for your finished item. Standalone clear products are not the preferred standard photo-figurine route in that guide; combined opaque, clear and colored-clear sections are described instead. A clear-only prototype therefore needs an individual process review.
TransparentColor: color within a transparent body
Colored and transparent photopolymers are deposited together and cured within the same system. The color can sit within a transparent body, allowing colored-clear, partly transparent or locally clear regions. This differs from painting color onto an already clear object.
The guide describes keepsakes, award concepts, art displays, wedding or corporate gifts and jewelry prototypes as potential applications. These are custom model-review uses, rather than additional standard photo-product sizes. This route has more process complexity than a basic opaque color print; the actual quote depends on the file and finish.
Compare the material routes
| Route | Appearance | Typical review focus | Finish guidance |
|---|---|---|---|
| FullColor | Opaque color with a white reflective base | Photo texture, thin parts and color expectations | Matte or reviewed UV gloss |
| Transparent | Clear, sometimes faintly tinted resin | Clarity, thick sections, stress and mixed materials | Polishing or reviewed UV gloss can reduce haze |
| TransparentColor | Color within a clear or partly clear body | Color/transparency regions and actual geometry | Reviewed UV gloss for display clarity |
On a small screen, scroll the table sideways to compare all columns.
Select the body and the surface separately
A body can be opaque or transparent while its surface is matte or glossy. Clay-look and animated cartoon names describe the visual model style, not a different resin. The file must identify any clear or colored-clear regions explicitly; describe these areas in your request rather than expecting the printer to infer them from a photograph.