A practical four-color foundation
- Black anchor: true black supplies shadows, depth, and contrast.
- Primary color: carries most of the subject's shape.
- Light transition: pink, beige, or light gray can soften gradients.
- White highlight: supplies brightness and top detail.
White is a design choice
Opaque white creates crisp highlights. Milky or jade white lets more light pass through for smoother, softer transitions.
Build a repeatable color library
- Use measured Transmission Distance values when possible.
- Keep brand, color, batch, and successful recipe notes.
- Start with consistent standard PLA; reflective silk is harder to predict.
- Test a small section before committing to a large print.
Treat each filament as measured color material, not just a name on a spool. Your tested library becomes more valuable with every print.