Brief
The client wanted a large collectible iguana model that looks as realistic as possible, including a colour gradient on the scales. The model had to be movable: a flexible tail, articulated legs and toes, so it can be posed in different positions and displayed as a decoration.
Hand-painting would have been demanding in both time and cost at this level of detail, so we looked for a way to achieve the colour transition during printing itself.
Solution
Instead of colouring after printing, we used tri-colour filament, which changes shade as it prints: from dark green through turquoise to light green. The model gets a natural, slightly metallic gradient with no additional painting.
The model is designed as a series of separate segments with ball joints. The body, tail, legs and toes can all be bent, and the model stays in the chosen pose. We printed it on an FDM printer in several parts.
Why tri-colour filament? The colour gradient is created directly during printing, with no seams and no extra work with paint. For detailed collectible models, this is more practical than hand-painting.
Result
After printing, we removed the supports and checked that all joints move. The result is a 59 cm movable iguana that can be posed in many positions.
The client particularly appreciated the combination of realistic appearance and movability. The model is not just a static decoration.
- Model length: 59 cm
- Technology: FDM 3D printing, multi-part articulated design
- Material: tri-colour filament with a metallic effect