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How to Choose the Right 3D Printing Resin: A Practical Guide

Luke Macwhirter |

Resin 3D printing offers unparalleled detail and surface quality compared to traditional filament printing. With so many resin types available now, choosing the right one can be very overwhelming, especially if you're just starting out in resin 3d printing. The ideal resin depends on your project’s requirements, such as strength, detail, flexibility, or post-processing ease.

In this guide, we’ll break down the most common types of 3D printing resins Standard, High-Resolution, Engineering, Water Washable, Castable, High Temperature and Dental Resins to help you make the right choice for your project.

1. Standard Resin: The Everyday Use

Best for: General-purpose printing, prototyping, and visual models.

Standard resin is the most common type of resin. It strikes a balance between affordability and decent print quality. While it offers good detail and smooth surfaces, it can be brittle and not ideal for parts that need to withstand mechanical stress.

Use it if you’re printing display models, or prototypes where appearance matters more than durability. This resin can also be used to create moulds that have a 1 to 10 times use.

Standard Resin include:

2. High-Resolution Resin: When Detail Matters

Best for: Miniatures, jewellery, fine-detail models.

High-resolution resin is formulated for printing at very fine layer heights and brings out the smallest details in your design. It’s great for artists, designers, and professionals who need flawless, intricate prints.

Use it if your project involves sharp features, fine textures, or small-scale models that need to look highly polished.

High Resolution Resin include:

3. Engineering Resin: Built for Performance

Best for: Functional prototypes, mechanical parts, impact-resistant models.

Engineering resins are designed to mimic industrial materials like ABS or nylon. They’re stronger, tougher, and more flexible than standard resins, making them suitable for parts that need to endure real-world use.

Use it if your prints will face stress, impact, or need precise tolerances—like gears, brackets, or enclosures.

Engineering Resin include:

4. Water Washable Resin: Easy Post-Processing

Best for: Hobbyists and users without access to isopropyl alcohol (IPA).

Water washable resin simplifies the post-processing workflow by allowing you to clean prints with plain water instead of harsh solvents. The print quality is comparable to standard resin, but some water washable variants may be more brittle.

Use it if you’re looking for a low-mess, beginner-friendly resin that’s easy to clean and safe to use at home.

Water Washable Resin include:

5. Castable Resin: For Jewellery and Metal Casting

Best for: Jewellery makers, dental labs, and precision metal casting.

Castable resin burns away cleanly during the lost-wax casting process, leaving no residue. It allows you to create highly detailed wax-like patterns for investment casting in metal.

Use it if you’re creating metal parts and need a resin that leaves a clean burnout with no ash or expansion.

Castable Resin include:

6. High-Temperature Resin: Heat-Resistant Applications

Best for: Moulds, tooling, and parts exposed to heat.

High-temperature resins are engineered to withstand extreme heat without deforming. These are ideal for applications involving high friction, heat transfer, or thermal testing.

Use it if your print will be exposed to elevated temperatures, such as in mould-making, hot fluid channels, or high-performance testing environments.

High Temperature Resin include:

7. Dental Resin: Precision for Oral Applications

Best for: Dentists, orthodontists, and dental labs.

Dental resins are biocompatible and engineered for use in dental models, aligners, surgical guides, and dentures. These resins meet specific medical standards and deliver high accuracy.

Dental Resin include:

Where to now?

Choosing the right 3D printing resin comes down to understanding the needs of your project. Whether you’re aiming for fine detail, functional strength, easy cleanup, or medical-grade precision, there’s a resin that will meet your needs. Choosing a quality resin does have a high price tag, however the better results and less failed 3d prints completely overcome any price point and in fact in most cases you save money over the cheaper resins.

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