HUEForge: La revolución de la impresión a color

Full-color 3D printing has advanced greatly thanks to new specialized tools such as multi-head printers or multi-material units. However, there are tools that do not require these systems to achieve professional-level polychromy and detail. Enter the BIQU AJAX TD1S.

The BIQU AJAX TD1S is a filament sensor that accurately measures the Transmission Distance (TD) and captures the true filament color in hexadecimal format. With this device, creators have full control over the opacity and color of each material, which feeds into the HueForge software to simulate and plan realistic multi-color prints. The TD1S connects via USB-C, has an integrated OLED screen, and offers quick or continuous capture modes, making it a portable solution ready to integrate into maker or professional workflows.

HueForge: 3D printing via filament painting

The HueForge software complements the TD1S by allowing the creation of multi-layer 3D prints with multiple colors easily. It is not a traditional slicer but a filament painting platform that transforms 2D images into colored 3D models. HueForge uses the transmission distance data of each filament to simulate how each layer will filter light. In other words, it calculates how much light from lower layers will pass through upper layers, adjusting the resulting color in the preview.

Image 1: Examples of finishes achievable with HueForge. Source: HueForge.

In the HueForge interface, the user uploads their image or model and adjusts sliders for color, thickness, and layer order. The program shows a live preview of the final model based on measured TD values or filament library data. Once satisfied with the simulated result, HueForge exports a text file with layer-by-layer filament change instructions (colors and layer heights) that can then be used in the usual slicer. In this way, HueForge acts as a “crystal ball” and magic wand, calculating light filtering and simplifying precise multi-color print creation.

Video 1: Using HueForge. Source: HueForge

BIQU AJAX TD1S: color and translucency sensor

Image 2: The BIQU AJAX TD1S. Source: BIQU

The TD1S is a compact peripheral designed in collaboration between BIQU and Ajax-3D to enhance HueForge prints. It works by inserting a filament segment into its input: within seconds, it indicates the material's Transmission Distance (TD) and hexadecimal color code. This information is displayed on a 0.91″ OLED screen in real time, even without being connected to a PC. Key features include:

• Accurately measures the transmission distance of any filament.
• Instantly captures the filament's hexadecimal color code.
• 0.91″ OLED screen to view results on the spot, even without HueForge connected.
• Quick Capture Mode to characterize new filaments and Continuous Mode to monitor TD in real time during printing or winding.
• Universal USB-C interface and durable injection-molded plastic housing for maximum compatibility and portability.

The device offers ±7.5% precision in TD measurement, making it extremely reliable for fine print adjustments. The combination of advanced optical technology and factory calibration allows designers and makers to confidently predict how each filament will modify light in the final piece.

Integration and workflow

Image 3: Workflow in HueForge. Source: HueForge.

Thanks to its direct integration, the TD1S connects to HueForge to automatically add each filament to the project. By capturing the filament’s transmission distance and color, it eliminates the need for guesses or manual calibration. Sensor data is imported into HueForge so that all color predictions are true to reality, without unexpected variations. This results in prints with the intensity, depth, and color fidelity planned in the design. In practice, the process is as follows:

1. Measure filament: Use the TD1S to scan each new color/material. The device displays TD and hex on screen.

   

   Image 4: The TD1S measuring a filament. Source: BIQU.

2. Set up HueForge: In the software, create a print project. Assign each measured filament its TD and color value.
3. Simulate and adjust: HueForge generates a preview of the final model considering TD values. The user adjusts layers and colors until satisfied.

   Image 5: Color simulation and adjustment in HueForge. Source: HueForge.

4. Export instructions: HueForge exports the layer file with exact color change points. These instructions are loaded into the 3D printer slicer, which switches filaments per layer as planned.

Applications in the maker and professional world

The combination of TD1S and HueForge opens a new creative range. In the maker world, it allows artistic and detailed prints without complex equipment. For example, 3D posters or decorative figures can be created where each layer delivers an exact color. The sensor’s color capture accuracy ensures vivid, consistent results: both color and opacity of each layer are recorded.

With HueForge and the TD1S sensor, it is possible to print 3D artworks with bright colors and smooth transitions. The previous image shows a portrait printed in multiple layers of measured filaments, a result difficult to achieve without precise data.

Image 6: Printed tribal mask. Source: HueForge.

Additionally, in professional and design environments, advanced prototypes with controlled lighting effects can be produced. The TD1S measures how much light passes through the filament, allowing for backlit models (lightboxes) or panels with transparency gradients. For example, lamps or building models can be printed where internal light reveals inner colors realistically. The HueForge–TD1S integration produces prints with the intensity and depth originally designed.

Image 7: Print with backlight on and off. Source: HueForge.

Thanks to HueForge simulation, even internally lit prints show accurate light behavior. The lit figure in the previous image demonstrates how a 3D model printed with translucent layers produces realistic graphic effects only visible when backlit.

In summary, this solution benefits any user requiring reliability and realism in multi-color prints. Hobbyists can experiment with complex designs, while designers and engineers get a reproducible workflow. As highlighted, “this tool provides precise data, consistent results, and the freedom to explore complex designs with full confidence in the final outcome.”

The alliance between the BIQU AJAX TD1S sensor and HueForge software represents a significant advancement in 3D color printing, transforming flat images into hyper-realistic three-dimensional prints. With ease of use and power, these products allow the printed model to match the original design, expanding creative horizons in both maker workshops and professional industrial or architectural design environments.