Development of a methodology for quality control for graphic 3D printing
Short name: 3D-quality
Fogra no. 13.011
Project leader: Julie Klein
Partner: P. Urban (IGD Darmstadt)
Funding: BMWK (IGF) via DLR
Grant number: 01IF23633N
Timescale: 01.02.2025 - 31.01.2027
The evaluation of the surface, specifically the print image quality, is already very well established for 2D printing, with the exception of a few areas. Fogra's free PDF test forms provide a suitable basis for 2D print evaluation, particularly for small and medium-sized printing companies, both for a specific print product and for the qualification of a complete printing press. Objective quality assessment procedures that cover the quality of the entire ‘3D pipeline’ are not known. The ‘3D pipeline’ includes the control system (3D RIP), the 3D printer and any necessary surface treatments. Graphic 3D pipelines also include print service providers who produce objects with mono-material printers and then colour and further surface treat them.
It is therefore incumbent on 3D printing service providers as well as manufacturers and suppliers to subjectively evaluate the overall quality and suitability for a specific application in extensive tests. This applies in particular to new applications in the field of aesthetic prosthetics, for example for eye, skin and dental prostheses.
The research project aims to develop a 3D image quality evaluation methodology that captures all relevant 2D quality parameters for a given graphical 3D pipeline in a ‘3D print quality regime’ and aggregates the individual attributes into an integral ‘3D score’. The test objects required for the evaluation (3D test cubes) are provided free of charge together with instructions and documentation for the evaluation.
Solution steps
Three consecutive focal points are identified:
1. development of the relevant image quality attributes for assessing the visual print quality of a 3D printing system (‘3D pipeline’)
2. aggregation of the individual attributes into an overall 3D score
3. field test, standardisation and transfer to practical objects
The first focus is on printing 3D test objects and developing specifications for output and evaluation. Both existing 2D criteria are used and new 3D criteria are developed in order to assess the quality of the test specimens.
In the second focus area, an integral quality index, the ‘3D score’, is derived from the evaluation criteria using neural networks. In addition, an image distance metric is used and the two methods are compared with each other.
The third focus is on the practical implementation of the project. Instructions for the 3D test objects and the 3D criteria will be developed, which will serve as the basis for new parts of the ISO/TS 18621 image quality series.
Targeted results
In this research project, specific 3D test objects with defined control elements are being developed to evaluate print quality based on objective criteria. New metrics for 3D-specific artefacts such as steps, orientation-dependent colour variations and orientation-dependent surface artefacts are being developed, which are aggregated into a quality vector in combination with existing 2D metrics. The determined quality vector is finally summarised into an integral quality index, the so-called ‘3D score’, using a neural network.
How can you support the project?
You can print our current test object. We will measure your prints and the data will be used to develop the ‘3D Quality Score’.
You can complete this survey about your use of 3D printing to help us evaluate the most important quality attributes for each use case of 3D printing.
You can find in the table below a brief summary of the objectives and how you can support the project.
| Title | Version | Date | File type | Download |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3D test object for "3D quality" | Version 2 (Juli 2025) | 30.07.2025 | zip | Download |
| Instructions for 3D test object | 27.03.2025 | Download | ||
| Summary aim & support | 05.12.2025 | Download |
Meeting documents
| Title | Description/abstract | Version | Date | File type | Download |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Slides PA meeting 11.02.2025 | Presentation of the project status as part of the TB Digital Printing on 11.02.2025 | 18.02.2025 | Download | ||
| Slides PA meeting 11.03.2025 | Presentation of the project status as part of the TB Prepress on 11.03.2025 | 10.03.2025 | Download | ||
| Agenda PA-Meeting 17.11.2025 | Agenda of the meeting of the Project Advisory Committee (PA) on 17th November 2025 | 3 | 23.10.2025 | Download | |
| Draft minutes PA-Meeting 17.11.2025 | Draft minutes of the meeting of the Project Advisory Committee (PA) on 17th November 2025 | 26.11.2025 | Download | ||
| Slides PA-meeting 17.11.2025 | Slides of the meeting of the Project Advisory Committee (PA) on 17th November 2025 | 12.12.2025 | Download |
Publications and findings
| Title | Version | Date | File type | Download |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Summary project 13.011 "3D Quality" | 07.02.2025 | Download | ||
| Evaluation of colour on the test objects | 1 | 28.04.2025 | youtube | Download |
| Slides for the first results "Evaluation of colour on the test objects" | 28.04.2025 | Download | ||
| Report about the 2d metrics | 02.12.2025 | Download |