(Darmstadt) Cuttlefish is a universal 3D printer driver developed by the Fraunhofer Institute for Computer Graphics Research IGD. It translates 3D scan data or 3D models generated by design and texturing software for 3D printers of various manufacturers. It also makes it possible to work with numerous print materials simultaneously, exactly reproduce the geometry, colors and fine color transitions of the original, and even simulate the finished product on the screen beforehand. Now, users of Mimaki’s 3DUJ-553 3D printer can opt for the driver, which also supports Stratasys Polyjet 3D printers. To achieve this, the software was adapted to the specific features of the printer and an appropriately calibrated color profile, including translucency, was created. Switching between printers from both manufacturers is easy. “The combination of 3DUJ-553 and Cuttlefish will greatly expand the possibilities of full color 3D printing, which is something we will continue to support,” said Mimaki’s General Manager of 3D Project Research and Development, Masakatsu Okawa, in explaining the decision to open the interfaces to Fraunhofer IGD. The printer driver excels above all in color value continuity, translucent design processing and geometric accuracy.

Cuttlefish supports RGBA textures containing both color and translucency information, which ranges from opaque to fully transparent. This makes it possible to print and integrate semi- or fully transparent materials with ease. The driver allows users to print multiple overlapping models, each with one or more RGBA textures. It also factors in how an object scatters light as well as how color and surface structures change depending on lighting. A sample 3D anatomical model, printed on the Mimaki 3DUJ-553, shows the possibilities for users in industry and medical technology. Each of the 28 total parts was given a different material that, when combined, are described by 425-megapixel color textures. Transparent parts of the model were generated by simply modifying the RGBA data. 3D models based on RGBA data are supported by standard 3D file formats and most design and texturing tools. Even established image processing programs such as Adobe Photoshop can work with RGBA textures. This makes Cuttlefish an all-purpose tool in professional 3D printing that closes the gap in quality between virtual design and its reproduction as a 3D print.