Tinkercad simplifies the creation of colored models for multi-color 3D printing

For years, Tinkercad has been one of the most popular online platforms for getting started with 3D modeling. The browser-based tool from Autodesk impresses with its ease of use and visually appealing, colorful interface. Until now, however, the color variety ended with export: STL files, the standard format for many slicers, are purely geometric and do not contain any color information. This was a problem for users with color 3D printers—but a new feature is now changing that.

Previously, users had to manually “paint” colored models in the slicer or export each colored part individually as an STL file. Although the latter was feasible, it quickly led to confusing project structures. Each object was saved separately, and the individual parts had to be laboriously assembled in the slicer during import.

The new “Bundle Group” feature in Tinkercad greatly simplifies this process. Unlike conventional groups (“Union Groups”), the internal structure of the model is retained during export. Instead of many individual STL files, a single file can now be exported, which is automatically broken down into its colored components again during import into the slicer. This makes it easier to edit multi-part models and prepare them directly for multi-color printing.

YouTuber CHEP, known for his tutorials on Cura and other 3D printing tools, demonstrates the new feature using an example: a colored robot head. The “Bundle Group” option allows the eyes and head to be colored separately without having to laboriously select areas. In the slicer, the individual parts can also be renamed and assigned more easily.