Trophies and awards
Printed awards in gold or chrome that look cast but weigh less and can take any shape.
Electroplating 3D prints · New York
Metal Plating Service for 3D Prints and Artwork
PrintAWorld metal plates 3D prints, artwork, awards, props and prototypes in chrome, gold and other metal finishes. We can print the piece for you in resin and plate it, or review a print or object you already have. Plating adds a real metal surface over the print; it doesn’t make the piece solid metal. Surface prep makes the finish, so we check the base, sand and prime as needed, then plate. Plating starts at $700 per piece for an 8-inch model and usually takes 6–8 weeks after the model is approved. Our studios are in Queens and Brooklyn, and we ship across the U.S.
Metal plating 3D prints
What is electroplating a 3D print?
Electroplating a 3D print puts a thin layer of real metal over a printed part, so a resin print can look and feel like chrome, gold or bronze. The print underneath stays plastic, which keeps the piece light and lets it take shapes a metal casting couldn’t.
The plate copies every mark on the surface below it, so most of the work happens before plating: removing supports, filling, sanding and priming until the base is smooth. That’s why we usually print the part ourselves in resin. Need the piece printed first? See SLA resin 3D printing.
The facts
Our metal plating service at a glance
- Studios
- Glendale, Queens (74-12 88th Street) and Brooklyn (616 Berriman Street), New York. Visits by appointment.
- What we plate
- 3D prints, artwork and sculpture, awards and trophies, props and display pieces, presentation prototypes
- Finishes
- Chrome, gold, bronze and other metal finishes
- What plating is
- A metal surface over the object. It isn’t solid metal; for that, see metal 3D printing.
- Your part or ours
- We print it in resin and plate it, or review a print or object you send
- Surface prep
- Support removal, filling, sanding and priming, as quoted
- Turnaround
- Plated pieces usually take 6–8 weeks after model approval
- Price
- From $700 per piece for an 8-inch model. Size, surface prep and finish set the final price.
- How you get a price
- Send photos or a 3D file, size, quantity and finish for a written quote
- Delivery
- Pickup by appointment, or shipped across the U.S.
Plated work
01 / THE WORKChrome and gold plated 3D prints from our studio
Gold-plated burger sculpture
A printed burger sculpture finished in gold plating.
Plated hands sculpture
Printed in resin, then plated in gold and blue chrome.
Chrome-plated figures
One figure in six poses, each printed and plated.
Plated drone body
A printed drone shell with a silver plated finish.
Gold statue
A detailed resin statue finished in gold.
Chrome-plated art furniture
Art furniture printed, prepared and plated to a mirror finish.
What we plate
02 / THE OBJECTSWhat can be metal plated?
Sculpture and artwork
Organic forms and figures where a mirror or gold surface is part of the piece.
Props and replicas
Oversized product replicas, logos and props for events and shoots.
Presentation prototypes
Product samples that need a metal look for a pitch, a shoot or a trade show.
Prints you already have
Send photos first: we check the material and surface and say what prep it needs.
Runs of the same piece
Several copies printed and plated together so they match.
Plated or solid?
Metal plating vs metal 3D printing: which do you need?
Plating gives a printed piece a metal surface. It suits display: awards, sculpture, props and presentation models, where the look matters and the weight doesn’t.
If the part has to be solid metal, for strength, heat or weight, it should be printed in metal. We 3D print solid stainless steel by selective laser melting.
How it works
03 / THE PROCESSHow our metal plating service works
Send photos or a file
Photos or a 3D file, size, quantity, the base material, the finish you want and your date.
We review and quote
We check whether it can be plated, what prep it needs, and whether we should print it first.
Print and prep
Resin print if needed, then supports off, fill, sand and prime until the surface is smooth.
Plate and deliver
Plating in the approved finish, a final check, then pickup or packed shipping.
Is it the right fit?
Is metal plating right for your piece?
PrintAWorld is a good fit for
- Display pieces: awards, sculpture, props and presentation models
- Resin prints that should look like chrome, gold or bronze
- Complex shapes that would be costly to cast in metal
- A matched run of plated pieces for an event or a team
Another service may suit you better for
- Industrial plating to a spec, such as hard chrome or corrosion coatings
- Re-chroming car parts or restoring metal hardware: a plating shop does that
- Parts that must be solid metal: see metal 3D printing
- Cast bronze or solid gold jewelry: a foundry or caster
Budgeting your piece
04 / THE PRICEHow much does metal plating a 3D print cost?
Metal plating starts at$700
per piece, for an 8-inch model. Size, surface prep and finish set the final price.
What sets the price
Size and surface areaMore surface means more plating
Surface prepSupports, seams and layer lines take sanding and filling
FinishChrome, gold, bronze or another metal
QuantityMatched runs are quoted per piece
3D printing the baseFrom about $30, no setup fee
3D modeling from a sketchFrom $250
Send photos or a file with the size and finish, and we’ll quote it.
Get a metal plating quote
Send what you have and we’ll reply with a price. No payment to ask.
Pickup & shipping
Where can you get your plated pieces?
Pick up by appointment at the studio named in your quote, or we pack the plated piece to protect the finish and ship it across the U.S. Sending us a part to plate? Don’t ship it until your quote gives the studio and handling instructions.
Glendale Studio
74-12 88th Street, Glendale, NY 11385
Brooklyn Studio
616 Berriman Street, Brooklyn, NY 11208
Before you ask
What do people ask about metal plating 3D prints?
Can you electroplate 3D prints?
Yes. PrintAWorld plates 3D prints, artwork, awards, props and prototypes in chrome, gold and other metal finishes. We usually print the part in resin ourselves so the surface is right, then sand, prime and plate it. You can also send photos of a print you already have for review.
Does metal plating make a 3D print solid metal?
No. Plating adds a metal surface over the print; the core stays plastic. For a solid metal part, we 3D print stainless steel by selective laser melting instead.
How much does metal plating cost?
At PrintAWorld, plating starts at $700 per piece for an 8-inch model. Size, surface prep, finish and quantity set the final price. If we print the base, 3D printing starts around $30 with no setup fee, and 3D modeling from a sketch starts at $250.
How long does metal plating take?
Plated pieces usually take 6–8 weeks after the model is approved. If you need it sooner, ask about a painted metallic finish; your written quote confirms the date.
Which metal finishes can you plate?
Chrome, gold and bronze are the most requested, and other metal finishes can be reviewed. Tell us the look you want (mirror or brushed, yellow or rose gold) and we’ll confirm what’s possible in the quote.
Can you plate a print I made myself?
Send photos first, with the material and size. Plating shows every layer line and support mark, so we’ll say what prep it needs or whether reprinting it in resin is the better route. Don’t ship the part until your quote gives the studio and instructions.
Is plating durable enough to handle?
Plating is a presentation finish for awards, sculpture, props and display pieces. Tell us how the piece will be handled and where it will live, and we’ll recommend a finish and say if plating isn’t the right choice.
Do you offer electroplating in New York?
Yes. Our studios are in Glendale, Queens and Brooklyn, by appointment. We ship finished pieces across the U.S.
Let’s plate your pieceSend us the piece.
Send us the piece.
We’ll send a price.
Photos or a file, the size and the finish you want. We reply with a written quote and next steps.
Get a metal plating quotePrefer email? Write to contact@prtwd.com or call 929-213-9604.
What to send
- Photos or a 3D file of the piece
- Overall size and quantity
- Base material and surface (or “please print it”)
- Finish: chrome, gold, bronze…, mirror or brushed
- How it will be handled, your date and delivery ZIP
Service details reviewed by PrintAWorld ·