CMYK Masterbatches for Color 3D Printing A Wide Range of Colors with Just Five Filaments

Grafe applies the CMYK principle used in color printing to PLA and PETG masterbatches for filaments: Cyan, magenta, yellow, black, and white are sufficient to produce a wide range of solid and pastel shades in 3D printing. A strategic alternation of CMYK colors in the layer structure results in optical color mixing.

Anyone who produces multicolored parts using filament-based 3D printing quickly runs into economic constraints when it comes to color selection. Until now, the range of available standard filaments has dictated the final appearance, meaning that manufacturers and users have had to produce or stock separate rolls of material for every shade.

A color concept developed by masterbatch manufacturer Grafe now applies the principle of classic four-color printing to additive manufacturing. Using just five primary colors—cyan, magenta, yellow, black, and white—multicolor printers generate a wide range of intermediate shades directly during the printing process.

Optical color mixing instead of uniform coloring

Unlike offset printing, which places finely screened ink dots side by side, 3D printing relies on the controlled layering of thin plastic layers. The individual color filaments do not melt together into a uniform mass in the extruder, but are deposited one after another, layer by layer. When viewed from a specific distance, these successive layers blend together to create new color nuances visible to the human eye. Depending on the layer thickness, color sequence, and viewing angle, surfaces with subtle color gradients and unique textures are created. As a result, the visible layering transforms from a typical characteristic of the process into a deliberate design element.

“Color is increasingly becoming a design factor in its own right in 3D printing,” explains Lars Schulze, Head of Color Development and Material Sciences at Grafe. The targeted combination of different color layers creates visual effects that go beyond traditional, uniform coloring. The company sees potential in this for new surface designs in additive manufacturing for both series production and individual parts. “While geometric freedom and rapid prototyping were the main priorities in the early years of additive manufacturing, color design is now taking center stage with the use of 3D-printed parts for end-use and visible components,” says Schulze.

Five masterbatches for PLA and PETG

For the production of these filaments, Grafe supplies specially formulated masterbatch systems in the primary colors cyan, magenta, yellow, black, and white. White visually brightens bold base colors and enables soft pastel shades in the layered structure. Black complements the spectrum with deep, high-contrast shades as well as nuanced dark tones. The breadth of the achievable color palette depends largely on the pigmentation, the transparency of the polymers, and the selected layer sequence. 

At launch, masterbatches are available for the two established 3D printing thermoplastics, PLA and PETG. Both product lines are designed for the process conditions of filament extrusion and can be integrated directly into existing production lines. Depending on the desired color intensity and application, the manufacturer recommends a usage concentration of 5 to 7%. Standard formulations are already available, so filament manufacturers can request samples at short notice and begin their own test runs. 

Reduced Product Line Complexity in Logistics

In addition to offering design flexibility, the system is primarily aimed at improving cost-effectiveness throughout the supply chain. “Instead of having to maintain numerous individual color formulations, filament manufacturers can tap into a wide range of design possibilities with just a few coordinated masterbatches,” Schulze emphasizes. This reduces product range complexity, simplifies inventory management, and facilitates material planning for both filament producers and processors. At the same time, Grafe is already working on adapting the CMYK concept to other polymer classes in order to open up additional technical applications in filament-based 3D printing. (mg)

AdditivX | January 26, 2027

Additive Manufacturing as a Tool for Supply Chain, Production, and Service

The conference aims to demonstrate how 3D printing with plastics and metals can be used as a strategic tool for spare parts—regardless of the industry. The focus will be on materials, processes, cost-effectiveness, and integration into existing production and maintenance structures, including those from other areas of additive manufacturing.

Key topics of the event:

• Additive Transformation @ Daimler Truck & Buses (Keynote)

• What material and process requirements must a high-performance material meet in additive manufacturing?

• Digital Spare Parts Inventory: Fiction or Reality?

• Regulatory Matters

• Highlight: Guided tour of the SKZ Technikum

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