Colour image reproduction for 3D printing of facial prostheses

In this chapter, using colour 3D printing technology, a 3D colour image reproduction system is detailed for the automated and accurate additive manufacturing of soft tissue facial prostheses. A protocol for 3D colour image reproduction was designed based on six steps of processing. For this specific application, protocols for each sub-process required development and details of each technique applied is discussed. The quality of facial prostheses was evaluated through objective measurement and subjective assessment. The results demonstrated that the proposed colour reproduction system can be effectively used to produce accurate skin colour with fine textures over a 3D shape, with significant savings in both time and cost.