Method and apparatus for manufacturing a three-dimensional article

A method of manufacturing a three-dimensional article comprises printing one or more ink layers 504 onto a base. At least one ink layer includes a gap. A pool of un-cured resin 505 is formed within the gap and at least a portion is cured 506 to form a solid part of the article. The pool is preferably formed by submerging the partially formed article in a bath 503 of uncured resin following each printing step and raising it prior to curing. A squeegee may remove excess resin prior to curing. Further layers of ink may be printed onto previously printed ink and/or cured or uncured resin and the steps repeated. Several inks of different colours may be used and the article surface or boundary may have a colour corresponding to the ink or inks. The resin is preferably cured by exposure to radiation such as UV light or a laser. Alternatively the ink may be used to define the boundary area of each layer of an article and the resin may be deposited within the area by the printing head used to deposit the ink. The resin may be deposited such that the complete internal edge of the ink boundary contacts uncured resin.