Frosted
Our frosted finish gently scatters light for a matte, translucent look—perfect for creating ambient lighting or sleek, semi-private surfaces.
Compatible materials
Quote this finish
Frosting in 3D printing refers to a post-processing method used to achieve a fine, matte surface finish on transparent resin parts. The frosting process involves lightly sanding the surface of a printed part(, usually with sandpaper or similar abrasive material), to diffuse light and reduce transparency, creating a frosted appearance. It can conceal minor surface imperfections, enhance visual quality, and improve the tactile feel of parts, making them less slippery and easier to handle.
Frosting is one of the 3D Plus hardware finishing services on AIHFABS. It is applied after printing so the part leaves production closer to a usable product—not only a raw build. Use this page to decide whether Frosting matches your cosmetic, durability, or assembly requirements before you upload a file.
Frosting in 3D printing refers to a post-processing method used to achieve a fine, matte surface finish on transparent resin parts. The frosting process involves lightly sanding the surface of a printed part(, usually with sandpaper or similar abrasive material), to diffuse light and reduce transparency, creating a frosted appearance. It can conceal minor surface imperfections, enhance visual quality, and improve the tactile feel of parts, making them less slippery and easier to handle.
Finishing is quoted with the print. Select Frosting in checkout, review price and lead time, and keep printing plus post-processing in one order instead of coordinating a second shop.
Frosting can hide layer lines, even out color, or create a more uniform surface for display models, consumer housings, and review samples.
Depending on the process, Frosting may improve wear, corrosion resistance, grip, or light diffusion so the part survives handling and end use.
When Frosting is combined with printing, you receive parts that are closer to install-ready, reducing secondary work in your own workshop.
Ordering Frosting follows the same 3D Plus software flow as a standard print. You do not need a separate finishing RFQ for catalog options.
Use STL, STEP, or another supported format. The quoter checks volume and geometry so finishing can be priced against the actual part.
Pick SLA, SLS, MJF, SLM, FDM, DLP, or CNC where applicable, then add Frosting and any other 3D Plus hardware options the part needs.
Review supplier options, confirm quantity, and place the order. Printing and finishing stay on one timeline and one invoice.
Frosting is typically applied to plastics or metals produced with industrial 3D printing. Compatibility depends on material, wall thickness, and whether the surface can be reached by spray, media, chemistry, or tooling. Deep recesses, thin walls, and optical faces may need design review. If the automatic quote cannot apply Frosting to your file, request a manual quotation.
Need Frosting on a batch, a mixed-material assembly, or a part that also requires tapping or painting? Keep those options in the same quote so lead time includes the full stack of operations.
These are the 3D Plus rows tied to Frosting. Compare the look, extra days, and which materials each option supports before you upload.
Our frosted finish gently scatters light for a matte, translucent look—perfect for creating ambient lighting or sleek, semi-private surfaces.
Compatible materials
Quote this finishOnly these grades can take this finish in the instant quote. Open a material for specs, or upload a file and the quoter will only show compatible options.
Answers that apply to Frosting on AIHFABS 3D Plus hardware — materials, size change, and how to order it with the print.
Frosting in 3D printing refers to a post-processing method used to achieve a fine, matte surface finish on transparent resin parts. The frosting process involves lightly sanding the surface of a printed part(, usually with sandpaper or similar abrasive material), to diffuse light and reduce transparency, creating a frosted appearance. It can conceal minor surface imperfections, enhance visual quality, and improve the tactile feel of parts, making them less slippery and easier to handle.
Frosting is a color or optical finish. SLS and MJF nylon take dye; resins take paint, primer, frosting, and clear coats; aluminum and other metals take anodizing, plating, or e-coat. The quoter only offers Frosting when the selected material can accept it.
Paint, plating, and e-coat add a thin film. Dye soaks into nylon with little build-up. Frosting and clear coats change how light hits the surface more than the CAD size. Call out fits and optical faces in the quote notes so they can be masked.
Transparency polishing and clear coat improve gloss and reduce scatter on clear resin. Frosting and translucency diffuse light instead. Neither turns an opaque resin into a window.
Upload the CAD file, choose a print process and material, then turn on Frosting. Price and lead time update on the same order. If the automatic quote cannot apply it, request a manual quotation and note fits or color codes.
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