Custom Filament (Color-Matching)

Do you want a filament color that we don't currently make?  Can't find anywhere else that makes it?  Want to bring back a color that was discontinued by a different supplier?  Try out our custom color-matched filament!

We work closely with a color lab, allowing us to make filament to match any color, for orders as small as 25kgs.  If you're interested, send an email to hello@polarfilament.com and request a color match.

Pricing

$350 one-time color match lab fee + $21.99/kg (25kg MOQ).
Repeat orders are all at $21.99/kgs with no lab match fee.

Examples:

  • 25kg: $35.99/kg ($899.75 total)
  • 50kg: $28.99/kg ($1449.50 total)
  • 100kg: $23.29/kg ($2329.00 total)

$350 due up front, with remainder due at time of shipping.

Exclusivity

You may request that this color match is Private or Public.

  • Private (Exclusive): This color will only be made for you, and will never be released as a Polar Filament color.  Private color matches require higher MOQs for repeat production batches.
  • Public: You allow Polar Filament to decide what to do with this color.
    • Standard Stock: We may choose to adopt this color as a standard Polar Filament color, which means that we will keep inventory in stock at all times. Filament will be available to purchase directly from our website, without the need to run a custom production batch.
    • Unlisted: If we decide NOT adopt this as a standard color, we will still hold on to all supplies to produce it, but we will only run production batches upon request.

Minimum order quantity

First Order: 25kgs

Repeat orders: Varies, see below

  • Private (Exclusive): 60kgs. If you chose for this color to remain private, all future production batches must be at least 60kgs.

  • Public: 1kg or 25kg (details below)
    • Standard Stock: 1kg
      If we decided to make this a standard stock item, you can place repeat orders directly on our website with no minimum order quantity.
    • Unlisted: 25kgs
      If you allowed this to be a public color, we may still choose to not adopt it as a standard Polar Filament color.  This means that repeat orders will require a custom production batch with a 25kg MOQ

Color Master (Color Reference)

We can match colors to a physical object, a paint swatch, or a Pantone color code.  We CAN NOT color match to a hex code, CMKY code, or digital photo.  Color matching with plastics is a surprisingly complex process, where surface finish, texture, and glossiness can impact how a color is perceived.

We prefer to have a PHYSICAL object to color match.  This could be any physical object, a color swatch, an existing strand of filament, or an existing 3D print.

If you cannot supply a physical object, we can match to a Pantone code as a backup.  However, by opting to not use a physical object, colors will be matched as close as possible, and the results can not be changed or re-matched.  We can dispute color matches against a physical object, but not against a Pantone color.

Lead Time

Typical Lead time: 4-6 weeks
Max Lead Time: 8-10 weeks

Typically, we receive color match samples in about 4 weeks, and it takes us up to 2 weeks to make filament with it.  Officially, we agree to 8-10 week turnarounds, although they almost never take that long.  Please give extra time around holidays. 

Capabilities

We CAN make:

  • Standard opaque colors
  • Speckled (black or white speckles only)
  • Translucent (matched as best-effort, non refundable color match fee)

We CAN NOT make:

  • Dual or tri-color filament
  • Rainbow filament
  • Colored Glitter
  • Silk (We're getting ready to add this as an option, it's just not ready yet)

What to expect

  • Send an email to hello@polarfilament.com and request a color match
  • Mail us a color sample
  • Wait a few weeks for the lab to match the color (see lead-time section)
  • We'll mail you a color swatch to approve the color BEFORE we make filament
  • Approve the color
  • We'll make it into filament and ship it out

Misc Fine Print

  • We will hold on to supplies to make your color for at least 1 year after the last date of purchase.  If you don't re-order a specific color for over 1 year, we reserve the right to dispose of the supplies.  We typically send reminder emails before disposing of supplies, and we can make exceptions on a case-by-case basis.  We just don't want to sit on supplies indefinitely if they'll never be ordered again.