Electroplating colours and finishes

Electroplating puts a skin of real metal over a 3D print. The plastic underneath holds the shape; the plated metal gives you the weight, the shine and the feel of something cast. SLA resin prints take it especially well, because they come off the printer smooth enough to plate with very little prep. We use it most for trophies, corporate awards, signage letters and product mockups that need to look cast rather than printed.

Why SLA prints plate so well

SLA and resin parts have a dense, smooth surface straight off the machine, so they need far less sanding before plating than a layered FDM print. FDM parts plate fine too, they just want their layer lines knocked back first. Either way the process is the same: sand smooth, seal and prime with a conductive coat, then build the metal up in the plating bath.

Metal finishes

The core finishes are solid metallics, plated straight over a primed master:

• Chrome: mirror-bright silver, the default for modern awards and automotive-look parts.
• Gold: warm yellow, from bright to satin, standard for premium trophies and presentation pieces.
• Copper: warm orange-red that ages naturally if you leave it unlacquered.
• Brass: muted yellow-gold, good for heritage and nautical themes.
• Nickel: a cooler pewter-grey, a quieter alternative to chrome.
• Antique bronze and gun metal: dark, patinated finishes for a heavier, older look.

We also run two-tone pieces, for example gold over copper, to warm up the highlights on a sculpted award.

Coloured finishes

Electroplating is not limited to bare metal. By tinting the top coat over a plated base we can produce a full spectrum: reds, yellows, greens and cyans, light blue through to dark blue, plus magenta and purple, alongside the light-gold, gold, silver, bronze and copper metallics. A coloured electroplate keeps the metallic depth underneath, so a blue or red part still reads as anodised metal rather than flat paint. If you need an exact brand colour over a metal base, send the Pantone code and we match it.

How durable is it

The plated layer is 50 to 200 microns thick and bonds to the conductive primer beneath it. It handles normal display, regular handling and light abrasion, and holds up outdoors for years. It is still metal over plastic, so it will mark under heavy abuse, but for trophies, signage and mockups it is production-grade.

What it costs

As a guide, chrome and copper plating runs about S$60 to S$100 on a hand-sized part, and gold or antique finishes S$100 to S$180. We quote per part with no minimum order, and the plating step adds a few working days on top of the print. Send the part or the file through the instant quote tool for an exact price.

What it suits

Electroplating is the finish behind much of our trophy and award work, from fully electroplated sculptural pieces to the Glenfiddich antlers. It is the fastest way to make a printed part read as solid cast metal, at a fraction of the cost and lead time of real metal casting.

Planning an award, a sign or a metal-look prototype? See the colour and finishing service or get an instant quote.