Since I got back into 3D printing I really want to fix up my prints now with sanding and coloring. Would airbrushing or traditional painting (paint brush) be better?
New Lemmy Post: Airbrush or traditional painting when coloring prints? (https://lemmy.world/post/9367570)
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It is all about aesthetic choice and preferred workflow.
I don’t touch airbrushes. I paint everything traditionally, and I’ve done a lot of prints. I know many people use airbrushes for either speed or just because they prefer the look.
I can’t tell you how you like to paint. I can offer specific suggestions based on your plans. What exactly are you planning to paint? Are you doing a lot or a little? Are there time restraints?
I’m interested in doing it for figures/busts and cosplay parts
I think for cosplay, you would like an airbrush. You won’t be as concerned about teeny tiny details the way a miniature painter will be, and airbrushes can allow you to do large areas with even coverage and easily and quickly make gradients.
For miniature figures, it is a much more taste based consideration, but if you’re already getting the airbrush for cosplay you may as well use it on figures in some capacity.
Depends on the size and shape of what you want to print. I print mostly miniatures so for me while it would be nice to have an airbrush for doing primer, zenithal coats or other shadows, and base colour, I would still need brushes so it’s not really that useful. If you’re printing larger things, or things that will only be one color (or that the colours are easy to mask, e.g. a cube with each side one colour) an airbrush will save you a LOT of time.