Exploring color integration in 3D concrete printing

Advancing 3D Concrete Printing Through Color Integration

At Vertico, we’re constantly exploring how to merge material innovation with expressive design. One of our most exciting frontiers is the integration of color into 3D concrete printing. By injecting pigments directly into the print process, we’re no longer just shaping structures—we’re telling visual stories through gradients, saturation, and contrast.
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This project showcases how color isn’t just decorative—it’s a dimension of precision fabrication.

From Grey to Gradient: Why Color Matters in Concrete

Traditionally, concrete is known for its neutral tones and utilitarian function. But by incorporating color gradients into our prints, we’re transforming concrete into a design-forward material—capable of defining space, guiding users, and communicating identity.
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Color transitions allow architects and designers to break free from grey constraints, opening the door to new textures, wayfinding solutions, and emotional expression in both public and private spaces.

Precision in Every Layer: The Striped Column Experiment

Our standout example, the striped column, demonstrates just how much control we now have over pigment injection. Each stripe is defined by a variable flow rate of pigment, managed in real-time by our robotic arm and controlled via our in-house software.
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These effects were only possible through the use of Vertico’s proprietary Accelerator Printhead, which enables precise layer control and pigment blending without sacrificing build speed or print fidelity.
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This experiment highlights what’s achievable when you combine hardware precision with parametric vision.

Design Innovation Meets Material Expression

The column isn’t just a technical achievement—it’s a creative statement. It redefines what concrete can be: a medium for storytelling in architectural and urban contexts.
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This color-printed project aligns with other design-led initiatives at Vertico, like our 3D printed urban furniture for public spaces, where concrete becomes both functional and expressive.

Whether it’s a colorful column or a modular bench, the principle is the same: material innovation + digital freedom = design evolution.

See It Live: 3D Concrete Printing at Dutch Design Week

This striped column made its public debut during Vertico’s Dutch Design Week 2024 showcase. Visitors saw firsthand how gradients in concrete could shift perceptions and open up bold new directions in digital fabrication.
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DDW gave us the perfect platform to display computational concrete printing as a tool for both form exploration and environmental storytelling.

Build Your Own 3D Concrete Printing Setup

Interested in bringing this color precision to your own projects? You can build your own 3D concrete printer setup with Vertico, including the accelerant system, custom printhead, and robotic platform that made this column possible.
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Our systems are tailored for creative studios, architecture firms, and research institutions looking to explore multi-material workflows and aesthetic performance in concrete.