Altoids Watercolor Palette - 12 Half Pans - Free 3D Print Model

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CavemanDesigns

Hobby & DIY>Other Hobby & DIY

IP Report

Print Profile(2)

All

X1 Carbon

A1 mini

X1E

H2D

H2S

H2D Pro

P1P

P2S

H2C

P1S

X2D

A2L

All updated models, separate plates - 0.2mm layer

Designer

7 h

14 plates

5.0(5)

0.2mm layer, 2 walls, 15% infill

2.6 h

1 plate

5.0(12)

Open in Bambu Studio

Boost

257

1017

359

240

Released

Description

Take your watercolors almost anywhere with this Altoids tin watercolor palette!

Features

Bring with you up to 12 half pans of your favorite colors and up to 6 small brushes!
Half pans/sponge are held in place with a small rubber band, and are easy to change.
Side trays that clip onto the tin lip for extra working space, and stack neatly on top of the main tray for convenient storage!
11 side tray options, for different paint mixing options, or brush storage!
The brush holder side trays are designed to hold brushes ~5.5mm in diameter and ~82mm long.

Models

Main tray, which holds 12 half pans, or 9 half pans and a small sponge.
9 side tray options with various mixing well configurations (1-5 mixing wells).
Side tray option with 4 mixing wells and 2 brush holder slots.
Side tray option with brush holder slots.
Watercolor half pan, snug fit.
Watercolor half pan, loose fit.

Printing

All models are designed to be printed in the provided orientation.
The side trays and half pans print fine without support, however the main tray will need support.

==Feb. 25th, 2026 Update==

Highlights:

Added 9 new side tray options.
Added half pan, snug fit model. It has less lateral play than the original half pan model.
Renamed the original files to match the naming scheme of the new files.

Renamed Files:

altoids_main_tray_half_pans.stl >> main_tray_half_pans.stl
altoids_side_tray_A_mixing_and_brushes.stl >> mixing_tray_4_with_2_brush_holder.stl
altoids_side_tray_B_brushes.stl >> tray_6_brush_holder.stl
watercolor_half_pan.stl >> half_pan_loose.stl

New Files:

half_pan_snug.stl
mixing_tray_1.stl
mixing_tray_2.stl
mixing_tray_3A.stl
mixing_tray_3B.stl
mixing_tray_3C.stl
mixing_tray_4A.stl
mixing_tray_4B.stl
mixing_tray_4C.stl
mixing_tray_5.stl

Comment & Rating (34)

@CreativeKoi

Boosted

Just printed in Bambu PLA basic without issues, although I do have a couple comments for feedback. - the main tray corner walls are very thin. Fine because they’ll be supported in the tin, but not ideal. - Half pans fit nicely in the main tray, but do have a little bit of lateral play. Thickening the walls between rows could help with that. - the brush sections are very narrow. Offering a version with wider dividers would be great for allowing something like a water brush - with two trays in the tin, the lid is propped up just a little. An elastic will handle it just fine so not a deal breaker, but something to note. Overall really pleased with this concept and looking forward to using it.

The designer has replied

@caveman_designs

Thanks for the feedback! I agree the walls are a bit thin. This is the result of my trying to design it to fit the largest half pans I have (which are possibly a bit bigger than normal as they appear to be a fairly cheap, no-name brand). I also noticed lateral play with another set I have (some Winsor & Newton pans), but the aforementioned no-name set fits quite snugly (the size range between paint brands is quite annoying). I have contemplated making the walls a bit thicker and hoping that slightly larger half pans I have are just an outlier in half pan size. How much larger would you like the brush sections to be? Adding some new variations of that shouldn't be too hard. This is with just the main tray and one of the side trays that the lid popped up? Did you have a sponge or anything sticking up above the top of either of the trays?

@CreativeKoi

Boosted

Replying to @caveman_designs :

For the pans, maybe just offer two sizes and specify the dimensions of the half pans? The pans I used were the ones linked in the profile. For the tin itself, turns out the OG altoids tin is deeper than some of the flavoured variants. The cinnamon flavours were what I originally commented as being a touch too shallow, but I found a normal tin and it fits fine. Probably should just make a note that it fits the original tins, and ymmv on alternatives. Re: the water brush, measuring the ones I have generally their diameter is around 13 mm or so.

@caveman_designs

Replying to @CreativeKoi :

I can tweak the size of the half pan model so it fits a little more snugly in the lower tray. That is quite interesting about the different Altoid tin sizes. I wasn't aware that the tins could be slightly different sizes depending on flavor, although I only have the Peppermint and Wintergreen tins (which both seem to be the same size). I'll try to get a cinnamon tin and see what adjustments need to be made to the design. Would you want to just put the brushes there while working or also store them there in the closed tin? If it was just for setting the brushes on while working, that will be fairly easy to adjust. If however you want to store them in the closed tin, the brush trays themselves are around 6.5mm in height and thus would unfortunately not fit a 13mm brush with room for the lid to close. For storing a larger brush I could model a special lower tray that replaces four of the half pans with a slot for a 13mm brush (since the lower tray is around 13.5mm in height).

(Edited)

@the.graveyard

Print Profile

0.2mm layer, 2 walls, 15% infill

I am really enjoying this print. I'm using a small hairband to secure the half pans and the sponge, which works great! the design is wonderful and functional. one thing I might do differently, is on the mixing piece....I would remove the small wall that is in the center of the long rectangle. so far, I am not finding a use for the third piece, but I am carrying it with me and experimenting. overall this is a very thoughtful design, versatile, and easy to use!

@scaredofsalad

great model! I printed one for watercolors and one for gouache. Going to add magnet strips to the bottom of altoids containers so they will stack for easy travel.

@Lensman

Boosted

So I added a print profile for this. My slicer did recommend supports so I printed as such. They proved very difficult to remove on the two side pieces. In the print profile I added support blockers for those two parts. Personally, I have no need for the brush holder piece and I suspect plein air painters won't either. I'd like to see that piece made into a different paint holder/palette. I also added 12 of the 1/2 pans to the profile - easier to delete rather than create.

@3dbythesea

Boosted

Boosted you! Where is your paint brush from? Can you send me the link? Great print!

The designer has replied

@caveman_designs

Thanks for the boost! I believe that brush may have come from a Winsor & Newton travel set I had a while back, and oddly I can't find them sold individually (I thought they used to be). If you search for "Watercolor Travel Brushes" on Amazon, you should be able to find similar collapsible paint brushes. I unfortunately don't know how well those will fit into the trays I designed. I have been meaning to get a larger set of travel brush so I may update the design at some point. I hope you enjoy the palette!

@3dbythesea

Boosted

Replying to @caveman_designs :

Thank you!

@user_1680037436

Where can I find the model to print the half pans?

The designer has replied

@caveman_designs

Thanks for the suggestion! I have added a model for half pans. It should now show up in the list of files.

@VDV3D

LOVE! Thank you for all the options for the trays. Also love the scale/theme (printed the cribbage as well). ;)

@chris_crafting

Print Profile

All updated models, separate plates - 0.2mm layer

Printed it for my wifes passion for coloring on the go. Fits well to a Barkeley Cinnamon sweets case.

@user_539512717

Print Profile

0.2mm layer, 2 walls, 15% infill

wonderful

The profile uploader has replied

@Lensman

Boosted

Thank you.

@gameandwatch

Print Profile

0.2mm layer, 2 walls, 15% infill

used with a bucees ' mint tray

License

This user content is licensed under a Standard Digital File License.

You shall not share, sub-license, sell, rent, host, transfer, or distribute in any way the digital or 3D printed versions of this object, nor any other derivative work of this object in its digital or physical format (including - but not limited to - remixes of this object, and hosting on other digital platforms). The objects may not be used without permission in any way whatsoever in which you charge money, or collect fees.

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