Is Multi-Colour 3D Printing Really Worth It?

If you’ve been a part of the 3D printing community for any length of time, you’ve probably seen the dazzling, multi-colour prints lighting up social media feeds. From gradient Pokémon to full-colour architectural models, the results can look nothing short of spectacular. It’s enough to make any maker start eyeing a multi-colour upgrade.

Today’s machines, like the Bambu Lab X1 Carbon and Flashforge AD5X, can print in multiple colours (or even materials) in a single job — something that would have seemed futuristic just a few years ago. But is it actually worth it compared to a fast, reliable single-colour printer like the Flashforge Adventurer 5M Pro?

Let’s break down the trade-offs in time, money, and material waste.

1. Time Investment

Multi-Colour Printing

The Bambu Lab X1 Carbon, when paired with the AMS (Automatic Material System), can automatically swap filaments to create detailed, vibrant multi-colour prints.

• Pro: AMS automation means you don’t need to manually change filaments mid-print.
• Con: Every colour change requires purging the nozzle, which adds extra print time — sometimes hours over a long job if colour changes are frequent.

Example: A simple 6-hour single-colour job might stretch to 12–14 hours when printed in multi-colour!

Single Colour Printing

Single-colour printing on a printer such as the Flashforge Adventurer 5M Pro, has no purge cycles or material swaps.

• Pro: Faster printing and predictable print times.
• Con: If you want multi-colour, you’ll have to paint it afterwards or manually swap filament during pauses — more effort, but it can still be quicker for some projects!

2. Costs

At the time of writing, the Bambu Lab X1 Carbon comes in at around $1,499 AUD for the printer alone, or about $1,799 AUD for the Combo package, which includes the AMS (Automatic Material System).

On the other hand, the Flashforge Adventurer 5M Pro is priced at just $797.50 AUD — nearly half the cost of the X1 Carbon on its own, and well under half if you’re looking at the Combo.

It’s also worth noting that with more moving parts — such as the AMS, purge chute, filament cutter, and multiple sensors — the X1 Carbon has more potential points of failure, which could mean higher maintenance costs over time.

3. Filament Waste

Each time the Bambu Lab X1 Carbon swaps colours, it must purge the previous colour from the nozzle to avoid colour-bleed. This creates purge blocks or towers and a lot of 3d printer "poop", which can use up significant filament over the course of a print.

For high-colour designs, purge waste can sometimes even exceed the weight of the actual printed object!

Single colour printing with the Adventurer 5M Pro produces virtually no purge waste — the only loss is from supports, rafts, or brims.

4. Print Quality & Aesthetics

The X1 Carbon Combo produces seamless, professional-looking multi-colour prints without the need for post-processing. Great for figurines, branding items, and functional prototypes that need multiple colours in-place.

The Adventurer 5M Pro produces excellent quality single colour prints, but you’ll need painting skills or assembly from separately printed parts for multi-colour models.

5. Conclusion

Multi-colour 3D printing is undeniably cool, but it’s not the most practical choice for everyone. The time overhead, extra costs, and filament waste mean it’s better suited for enthusiasts who value the aesthetic payoff enough to justify the downsides.

For many makers, a single-colour printer—paired with some painting skills—offers far more flexibility, speed, and cost-efficiency. But if you’ve got the budget, patience, and a love for vibrant, multi-coloured models, then by all means—jump in and enjoy the rainbow.