System and method for printing a textured three-dimensional object

A system for printing a 3D object, the system comprising:

• a 3D printing device, comprising a printing resolution;
• and
• a processor, in communication with the 3D printing device, wherein the processor is configured to:
• receive (i) a digital 3D model comprising a 3D geometry of the 3D object, the 3D geometry comprising a list of vertices and faces;
• (ii) a 2D displacement map comprising displacement information;
• (iii) one or more maximal displacement values;
• and
• (iv) the printing resolution;
• calculate a displacement limit for each vertex of the 3D model based on the one or more maximal displacement values;
• apply local tessellation on the 3D model geometry in accordance with the 2D displacement map and with the printing resolution, thereby obtaining a tessellated 3D model;
• apply the displacement information of the 2D displacement map to the tessellated 3D model in accordance with the calculated displacement limit relative to each vertex, thereby obtaining a displaced 3D model;
• and
• print the 3D object with the 3D printer based on the displaced 3D model.