Technological innovation never stops. As we entered 2020, many resin 3D printers featured LCD screens that had a 2K resolution. Innovation throughout the year has taken us further, however, with resin 3D printer manufacturers now moving forward with LCD screens that have a 4K resolution.

Longer is one such company and has just launched a Kickstarter campaign for its new ultrafine 4K resolution resin 3D printer. Called the Orange 4K, it promises to offer superb precision, with a Y-resolution of 31.5 microns. When factoring into this the potential for sub-pixel activation, this can drop to as little as 10.5 microns along the X-axis. So, how does the Longer Orange 4K achieve this?

The conventional pixel size of a 5.5-inch 2K LCD screen is 47.25 microns, but upgrading to a 4K resolution can improve the pixel size to 31.5 microns. That’s the first step. Next, using algorithms in LongerWare software, one pixel can be divided into three subpixels, improving the resolution yet further, down to as little as 10.5 microns along the X-axis – a dramatic improvement over the 2K LCD screen. UV exposure through each subpixel is then carefully controlled to deliver final 3D models with incredibly smooth surfaces and ultra-fine details. This system allows Longer to boast of having an LCD 3D resin printer with one of the most competitive XY-resolutions on the market.

Besides its impressive performance at the micron level, the Orange 4K also features upgrades to its construction, with an upgraded hood cover, a metal body and a dual liner guide. Meanwhile, the printing size itself is 118 x 66 x 200 mm (4.64 x 2.6 x 7.87-inch), with a 807 PPI 4K LCD screen doing the job of curing the resin.

Two Orange 4K printers will be available, one featuring a color LCD and one with a monochrome LCD. Users of the printer with a color LCD will be able to upgrade to a monochrome screen at a later date should they wish. The Orange 4K is also compatible with three slicers – Longer’s very own LongerWare, Chitubox, and Lychee.

Live now, you can check out the Orange 4K for yourself over on its Kickstarter page. The final retail price of the Orange 4K Color will be $439, with the Orange 4K Mono priced at $529, but current Super Early Bird pledgers can get themselves the Orange 4K Color at for the special price of $269 or the Orange 4K Mono at $299. Both of these will come without shipping costs, but tax-free for US, European and Russian customers.