A method for forming a surface-treated, three-dimensional object, the method comprising: providing a rapid-manufactured, three-dimensional object at least partially built with a layer-by-layer, rapid manufacturing technique, the three-dimensional object compositionally comprising a thermoplastic material and having an exterior surface that includes stair-stepped surface effects due to the layer-by-layer, rapid manufacturing technique; placing the three-dimensional object in a vapor smoothing chamber; monitoring a specular reflectivity of the exterior surface during the solvent-based, vapor smoothing process; reducing or eliminating said surface effects of the exterior surface with a solvent-based smoothing process in the vapor smoothing chamber to provide a solvent-smoothed exterior surface having a higher glossiness than the exterior surface prior to the solvent-based vapor smoothing process; and discontinuing the vapor smoothing process when the specular reflectivity of the exterior surface reaches a first predetermined level, wherein the resulting smoothed three-dimensional object has a solvent-smoothed exterior surface with a higher glossiness than the exterior surface prior to the vapor smoothing step; media blasting at least a portion of the solvent-smoothed exterior surface; monitoring a specular reflectivity of the solvent-smoothed exterior surface during the media blasting step; and discontinuing the media blasting when the specular reflectivity of the solvent-smoothed exterior surface reaches a second predetermined level, wherein the burnished exterior surface has a lower glossiness than the solvent-smoothed exterior surface prior to the media blasting step. providing a rapid-manufactured, three-dimensional object at least partially built with a layer-by-layer, rapid manufacturing technique, the three-dimensional object compositionally comprising a thermoplastic material and having an exterior surface that includes stair-stepped surface effects due to the layer-by-layer, rapid manufacturing technique; placing the three-dimensional object in a vapor smoothing chamber; monitoring a specular reflectivity of the exterior surface during the solvent-based, vapor smoothing process; reducing or eliminating said surface effects of the exterior surface with a solvent-based smoothing process in the vapor smoothing chamber to provide a solvent-smoothed exterior surface having a higher glossiness than the exterior surface prior to the solvent-based vapor smoothing process; and discontinuing the vapor smoothing process when the specular reflectivity of the exterior surface reaches a first predetermined level, wherein the resulting smoothed three-dimensional object has a solvent-smoothed exterior surface with a higher glossiness than the exterior surface prior to the vapor smoothing step; media blasting at least a portion of the solvent-smoothed exterior surface; monitoring a specular reflectivity of the solvent-smoothed exterior surface during the media blasting step; and discontinuing the media blasting when the specular reflectivity of the solvent-smoothed exterior surface reaches a second predetermined level, wherein the burnished exterior surface has a lower glossiness than the solvent-smoothed exterior surface prior to the media blasting step.