3D Printing Goes Outside to Play: Outdoor Sculpture with MatterHackers PRO Series Ryno and Kevin Caron Studios

3D Printing Goes Outside to Play: Outdoor Sculpture with MatterHackers PRO Series Ryno and Kevin Caron Studios

Based on the article “3D printing goes outside to play,” we’re excited to share how innovative artists like Kevin Caron Studios are pushing the boundaries of what’s possible with 3D printing—taking their creations into the great outdoors.

From Studio to Sunlight: The Outdoor 3D Printing Challenge

For years, outdoor 3D printed sculptures were mostly the domain of large institutions with deep pockets. For everyday makers and artists, the dream of installing a 3D printed piece outside was often dashed by the limitations of common materials like PLA. As Kevin Caron of Kevin Caron Studios discovered, PLA’s vibrant, translucent colors are beautiful—but the material simply can’t withstand prolonged UV exposure or high temperatures. Prints left in direct sunlight quickly become soft and deformed, making them unsuitable for outdoor display.

Debutante: 6-foot sculpture, 3D printed in 64 hours with hybrid PLA/PET filament for a satiny finish. Indoor/outdoor. Available. Ryno, 72"x15"x10", 2022.

Enter MatterHackers PRO Series Ryno: The Artist’s Solution

Kevin Caron Studios found a solution in MatterHackers PRO Series Ryno, a professional-grade copolyester filament engineered for strength, temperature and chemical resistance, and exceptional print quality. Ryno’s durability and versatility make it ideal not just for industrial prototypes and end-use parts, but also for ambitious artistic projects meant to live outdoors.

What truly excited Kevin Caron was Ryno’s availability in a translucent finish, opening up new possibilities for creating sculptures that interact beautifully with natural light while standing up to the elements.

The Debutante Project: A Case Study in Outdoor 3D Printing

To put Ryno to the test, Kevin Caron Studios created "Debutante," a striking 6-foot-tall translucent sculpture. Printed in two parts on an 8-foot-tall Cerberus 3D Gigante printer, and assembled with creative flair, Debutante became a showcase for what’s possible when art meets cutting-edge material science.

The sculpture spent six months in the unforgiving Arizona sun—one of the toughest environments for outdoor materials. While even automotive finishes are tested in these conditions, Debutante, printed with MatterHackers PRO Series Ryno, remained unchanged: no warping, fading, or cracking. The translucent material continued to glow, refracting sunlight and drawing the eye.

Lessons from the Field: Every Detail Counts

While the Ryno structure stood up to the desert heat, some decorative pearls attached with standard glue did not. As Kevin Caron Studios learned, every component of an outdoor piece must be weather-resistant. By redesigning the sash with Ryno, not only was the issue solved, but the sculpture gained an additional layer of visual complexity, with the translucent filament casting intricate patterns in the sunlight.

Outdoor 3D Printing: Now Within Reach

Thanks to Kevin Caron Studios’ pioneering work and materials like MatterHackers PRO Series Ryno, outdoor 3D printed art is more accessible than ever before. Makers, artists, and engineers can now confidently design projects that are as durable as they are beautiful.

So, inspired by “3D printing goes outside to play” and the creative achievements of Kevin Caron Studios, we invite you to step outside with your next 3D print. With the right material, your art can thrive in the sun.