A process for applying surface parameter(s) to a three-dimensional (3D) printer object while the 3D printer object is being printed from a digital model. The surface parameter(s) includes a surface texture of a reference surface. The reference surface is scanned by a sensor to detect the surface parameter(s). The detected surface parameter(s) are received by the 3D printer for application to the 3D printer object. The surface texture is applied by a 3D printer to the 3D printer object while printing the 3D printer object based on the 3D digital model.