Post-processing & finishing
Post-processing - what turns a printed surface into a finished object.
- Shanghai Xionglan Culture Communication Co., Ltd. (brand: Xionglan Art)
- Shanghai-based workshop · delivery in 67 Chinese cities
- 10 capability groups / 102 individual techniques · design, fabrication and installation in-house
- Phone +86 156 0163 6249 · Mon–Sun 09:00–18:00 (CST)
Printing produces a rough part; finishing produces the object. Layer removal, priming, filling, painting and coating are where the visible quality is decided, and they usually take longer than the print itself.
Commissioned work in post-processing & finishing normally runs from 6 to 30 m², with 3–8 working days in production from approved drawings. The reference range for this technique is CNY 80+ per m², quoted itemised. It sits within our 3D Printing & Digital Fabrication capability, alongside 9 related techniques, and the 4-point deliverable below is what a commission includes as standard.
When post-processing & finishing is the right answer - and when it is not
Post-processing is chosen as a service in its own right because the quality of a printed piece is decided after printing, not during it. It suits clients who have parts made elsewhere, or who need a printed form to read as stone, metal, ceramic or a finished product. It is the stage most often cut under budget pressure and the one whose absence is most visible in the finished object.
How the work is actually carried out
The piece is assessed for what the finish requires: layer lines filled, support marks removed, and any seam where sections were joined worked flush. Surfaces are prepared through successive grades of abrasion, and texture is added deliberately where the target material would show it. Priming and coating follow the reference material - mineral, metallic or painted - and the finish is matched to a physical sample approved before the run. The piece is protected for transport once finished, since a finished surface is far easier to mark than a raw print.
Typical applications
Typical specifications
| Steps | Support removal, sanding, filling, priming, painting, sealing |
|---|---|
| Finishes | Smooth paint, metallic, stone, aged, translucent |
| Coating | UV-stable exterior systems where the part is outdoors |
| Lead time | 2 days to 3 weeks depending on finish level |
| Capability | 3D Printing & Digital Fabrication |
| Reference range | CNY 80+ per m² |
| Techniques in this capability | 10 |
| Coverage | Shanghai base, nationwide delivery, overseas projects on request |
Reference price bands for Post-processing & finishing
Indicative only, based on the scope normally quoted for post-processing & finishing. A firm price follows a site survey and an itemised quotation split into material, labour, finishing, packing and freight.
| Pricing basis | Priced per piece or per project rather than per square metre |
|---|---|
| Reference range | CNY 80+ per m² |
| How we quote | Itemised: material, labour, finishing, packing and freight shown as separate lines |
Build tiers for post-processing & finishing
Post-processing & finishing is not one product at one size: the table below is the same scope ladder we quote on, so you can see where your project sits before asking for a price.
| Build tier | Typical area | Production days | What changes at this tier |
|---|---|---|---|
| Tier 1 | 6–30 m² | 3–8 | Up to 30 m², one substrate and one access setup, 3–8 days in the workshop. |
| Tier 2 | 6–30 m² | 3–8 | 6–30 m² across two or more faces, 3–8 days, substrate build-up agreed per location. |
| Tier 3 | 6–30 m² | 3–8 | 6–30 m² across two or more faces, 3–8 days, substrate build-up agreed per location. |
| Tier 4 | 6–30 m² | 3–8 | 6–30 m² across two or more faces, 3–8 days, substrate build-up agreed per location. |
| Tier 5 | 6–30 m² | 3–8 | 6–30 m² across two or more faces, 3–8 days, substrate build-up agreed per location. |
| Tier 6 | 6–30 m² | 3–8 | 6–30 m² across two or more faces, 3–8 days, substrate build-up agreed per location. |
| Tier 7 | 6–30 m² | 3–8 | 6 m² and above, multiple substrate types and phased access, 3–8 days with a join and numbering plan. |
What we deliver
- Digital modelling from sketches, scans or reference images
- Large-format printing, section splitting and structural joining
- Sanding, priming, painting and surface texturing
- Master-pattern printing for subsequent casting
Faults we see most often in post-processing & finishing
Each of these is a field failure rather than a workshop one, and each is cheaper to prevent at enquiry stage than to correct after installation.
- Cutting the filling and sanding stage, which leaves layer lines visible through the topcoat at any close viewing distance.
- Spraying a metallic finish uniformly, which produces paint rather than the appearance of metal.
- Skipping the physical sample, when the same specification reads quite differently on a small test piece and a full-size part.
What to settle before an overseas project starts
| Target appearance | Send a photograph or sample of the material being imitated, and tell us how close the piece will be viewed. |
|---|---|
| Extent of work needed | Tell us whether the part arrives raw or partly finished. It changes both the programme and the price significantly. |
| Sample approval | We produce a finished sample for approval. It is the only reliable way to agree a surface before the run. |
Working with us from overseas
Enquiry to installation, one point of contact. Export packing, shipping, commercial terms and quality control →
Design intent and what drives the cost
| Technique | Post-processing & finishing |
|---|---|
| Positioning | Post-processing - what turns a printed surface into a finished object. |
| Floor area normally quoted | 6–30 m² per commission |
| Typical production window | 3–8 working days from approved drawings |
| Main cost drivers | Area and repetition; substrate preparation; detail and modelling time; surface finish; access and working hours |
| What we quote separately | Material, labour, finishing, packing, freight and site measures - each as its own line |
Representative work
3D Printing & Digital Fabrication projects photographed on completion.
3D Printing & Digital Fabrication — Art derivatives & designer toys
3D Printing & Digital Fabrication — Digital sculpture modelling
3D Printing & Digital Fabrication — Large-scale 3D-printed sculpture
3D Printing & Digital Fabrication — 3D printing material selectionCommon questions
Why does finishing cost more than printing?
Can a printed part be made to look like metal?
What is the maximum size of a single printed part?
Discuss post-processing & finishing
Send photographs, drawings or a 3D file with approximate dimensions. You will get a technique recommendation, a reference price band and a production schedule.