New Finishes for High Detailed Stainless Steel
Small, detailed and strong. There really is no better way to describe high detailed stainless steel. We introduced this material over a year ago and believed it might be just about time for some new finishes.
Today we are adding 2 new finishes for high detailed stainless steel: gloss and matt. The previous (and only) finish, which was called metallic, has also been renamed to satin. Let me quickly run through each finish separately to describe the process.
Matt finish
Your model is post treated with a blasting operation with small and gentle media. Outer surfaces, inner areas of your model and sunken areas get a matt look. This finish is the gentlest technique for your model and will give you the highest level of detail.
Satin finish
Your model is post treated with blasting of media. Outer surfaces get a shiny look, inner areas of your model and sunken areas will slightly darker. This finish is a less gentle technique for your model and will give you a lower level of detail than the matt finish.
Gloss finish
Your model will undergo a mechanical polish. Outer surfaces get a polished look, inner areas of your model and sunken areas will be hard to polish because the polishing stones cannot reach there. These areas will appear more dark and matt. The polishing technique is the most aggressive and will erode your model with a few microns. Corners facing outwards will be rounded off. Therefore, this technique will result in a lower level of detail than the satin finish. Although this finish removes some detail, a lot of designers still prefer this material for its look and its grade (316L).
Because each model is different, it’s difficult to predict the outcome of this process. When we believe polishing is not suitable for your model, one of our support engineers will contact you.
Sample kit
Since some of you might feel more comfortable in seeing and feeling these finishes first, we have made them available as separate samples. You can order them here. If you’re not sure what to keep in mind when designing for high detailed stainless steel, you can still check the design guide.
That’s all from our side. Now, we can’t wait to see what you will use it for. Board game pieces, miniatures, earrings, your own currency maybe?
