New announcement today from Shapeways. They have enabled prints from the new HP Multi Jet Fusion Printers for public purchase. If you must have a part in black or gray and you want it to look finished, then this is your best choice of materials. The nylon powder used in the HP printer is black or gray and the color is then all the way though the part, unlike the Versatile Plastic which as a raw material is a white nylon powder then dyed after printing in the other colors. The Premium Black Versatile Plastic is still the same white base but polished and dyed in multiple steps to get an eggshell like finish. The HP printer produces a part that is stronger, smoother and semi-glossy right out of the printer. The pricing for the Professional Plastic is the same as the Premium Versatile Plastic.

My personal preference is always order in any other color than black, but from now on if it must be black or gray will be the Professional Plastic. I would also recommend that anyone printing parts for themselves use the Professional Plastic offering if possible. It should really make a difference in the look and feel of the final printed part. I plan on going back through my entire model catalog and add this material but that will take some time.

Also in this announcement were name changes (new name = old name)