3d printing textures

[MarcusWatt 1]

Long time reader, first time poster...

 

I am currently doing a proof of concept for a client, with the end goal to create a replica of an antique ceremonial mace. The mace can't be touched, so I am modelling it (as best I can) from photos, etc. The mace is quite detailed with inscriptions, engravings, etc. I am hoping to recreate these using bump textures and/or displacment mapping of textures I am creating from photos. Detail doesn't have to be precise but it needs to look like the real thing from a distance. Can I get these textures printed in the 3d printing process?

Every time I export to an .stl file, the surfaces are 'clean' with no textures...

I have never 3d printed before so not even sure if this is possible!

 

Cheers

[PVA - Jim 2,342]

No texture information is stored in STL unfortunately and there's no way to extract displaced geometry from a render. The changes have to actually be made to the surface of the model itself in order to 3D print them:
 

 

[MarcusWatt 1]

Thanks Jim. I'm having another crack at this project and I was wondering if you (or anyone) knows if Cinema 4D will enable me to get displacement textures into an STL model to enable them to be 3d printed?