3D copies of people, 3D selfies, 3D figurines, Photography 3.0. Many names, one essence. Or almost alone.

The idea captivates with its off-scale wow factor.

Are you still taking pictures?

And we are already scanning people and printing their exact copies in color.

On the net you can find an educational course "How to make money printing three-d figures" The course costs 4600 rubles, and its author earns not on 3d printing, but on selling the course.

I'll save you money by laying it out in five points:

1. Buy a course

1. Make a website

2. Hire a freelance designer (as an option on 3Dtoday)

3. Find a printer

4. Get money, send orders.

The course assumes printing on an fdm printer, but in principle, it seems to me that this will work for other printing technologies.

Therefore, there are so many sites on the network that offer 3D figurines from photographs. The guys do not have their own equipment, but simply merge the consumer and the contractor and get their profit. Well done to those who make it.

But there are more serious players who have invested in their own equipment.

They invite you to be scanned in their office or they can do an on-site scan, they have a full-time 3d modeler who will finalize and comb the model.

It is possible that they order printing from a third-party organization, but here at least the consumer has a guarantee of the quality and similarity of the resulting model.

And there are companies that seriously develop this business and invest not only in equipment and the full production cycle, but also in marketing.

Here I would single out, as an example, two companies: BeIn3d And MiniMe3D.

MiniMe3d

How to bring a new expensive service to the Moscow market?

The guys approached the process creatively and on a grand scale. In a short time of launching the project, they scanned and printed the finalists of the show "Voice", the singer Glukoza, MMA fighters, famous bloggers and journalists.

MiniMe3d received a lot of press and television attention. They managed not only to draw attention to the new original gift, but also to create an aura of elitism for the figurines from MiniMe3d.

The apotheosis of the development of the project was the world's first show of the Haute Сouture collection in the format of 3D sculptures. Bein3D

The company also took the path of scanning and printing stars.

In a short time, they found their copies

Timati, VIA gra, Anita Tsoi, Timur Rodriguez, Stas Kostyushkin and his wife Julia, Chile, Bigbet

The next step in popularizing 3D figures was the opening of a scanning point in the Vegas shopping center in Moscow.

Speaking at the conference 3D Print Expo in St. Petersburg, Alexey Kolachev, co-owner of the company, said that the service has a steady demand and the business is developing steadily.

Interestingly, orders that require additional 3D modeling bring more money: lose weight on me and attach angel wings or I want my head on the body of a superman.

Great hopes are placed on further work with 3d content obtained as a result of scanning.

Does it make sense to start a 3D figurine printing business now?

Yes, it does, if you can bring something new. Especially in regions where this fashion trend hasn't arrived yet.

If you decide to make money on 3d printing of various figures, then after looking around the market a little, you can definitely tell where you need to be careful not to make it “like everyone else”! For example, you need to approach the creation of a site with a soul: more original things, fewer photos of works with Chinese, and you definitely shouldn’t use this photo:

If people always hiccupped when they were mentioned, then this guy would probably hiccup all his life, because he is on almost every site! No, you need to stand out in order to grab the customer's attention.

Equipment selection

The next thing to do for a figurine business is to decide on the equipment. A small part of the market today works with FDM printers, and products are hand-dyed. A large number of organizations use various plaster printers from 3D Systems. Such machines differ from each other mainly only in the volume of the print area. Accordingly, the available sizes of figures in each company are different.

Printers using other color printing technologies can also work in such a business: CJP, 3DP, LOM, SDL, but for various reasons this equipment is still in little demand.

But in vain! Indeed, for example, figurines obtained by SDL lamination not only have excellent quality color detail, but also very durable, which cannot be said about fragile gypsum.

A few words about business on 3D figurines.

1. The resulting figurines are not as easy to break as plaster ones. It's a shame when, bought for 12,000 rubles, a figurine accidentally falls to the floor and a loved one's hand falls off. The photo shows a beer opener printed on a printer. Mcor. I'm not suggesting you open beer with your 3D Selfies. But this is definitely an example of the strength of the resulting figurines.

2. HD color reproduction. Printers Mcor Technologies are the only printers that fully comply with the International Consortium for Lighting standard ( ICC), which guarantees accurate color reproduction from creation to final printing.

3. The cheapest consumables you can think of. IN long term Printer Mcor more profitable and bring more profit. Material costs are only 10% of the cost of materials used in other printing technologies.

It can also be added that the resulting products are absolutely environmentally friendly, and post-processing takes several minutes and even a child can handle it, but it seems to me that the above three reasons are enough to consider this printer as the basis for a 3D figurine printing business.

Scanners.

Another type of equipment that is needed for a 3D figurine business is 3D scanners. Among them, you need to pay attention to:

• Professional hand-held optical scanners that provide not only high-quality object fixation, but also high speed scanning. The disadvantage is hand-held operation and, in connection with this, a long scanning time (10-30 minutes).
• The so-called "booths", in which a large number (40-50 pieces) of digital cameras are located in a circle, providing very fast shooting. Such installations are only gaining popularity and are distributed, as a rule, through franchising, but due to a large number cameras are very expensive.

  Separately, it must be said about portal scanning from the company Texel Graphics.

  

  They use a unique patented technology that allows from 17 to 40 people to be scanned in 1 hour! At the same time, it retains high quality color model and inexpensive cost necessary equipment. It is also interesting that the scanners installed on the frame can be changed if more advanced models appear on sale.

  There was a post on 3Dtoday about scanning a person on Texel Portal with further printing on Mcor Iris. What else can you offer the client?

  

  The "gentleman's set" of any self-respecting company that earns money by printing 3D figures should include the following additional services:

  • Modeling from a photograph, picture, drawing, sketch.
  • Field scanning.
  • Print by the most different materials(the bigger, the better).
  • Gift certificates for 3D selfies.
  • Delivery of figurines (preferably free in your region).

    Also, some companies that are serious about making money from 3D figures sell franchises, which can make it easier for an aspiring entrepreneur to start.

    But what to choose for those who cannot or do not want to buy a franchise?

    Selling ads should stand out with unusual words, and successful business on 3D figures should stand out with unique equipment and related features. Strong, not fragile, as well as beautiful and detailed colored figures can be provided by Mcor printers, and quick scanning - Texel Portal. Both the first and second machines are unique in their kind and have a lot of advantages over analogues. With the support of such units, you can cope with any task.

    In conclusion, I will give some statistics on the 3D figurines market in Russia. Apparently, it's just getting started.

    

Ruslan Akhmedov(left), Vitaly Malykhin(right) believe that printed
on a 3D printer, copies of people can serve as a logical continuation of photography

Finding equipment

After the development of the concept, the name of the studio was born - MiniMe3D. The guys started looking for equipment - a 3D scanner and a 3D printer. It was obvious that the equipment must be of very high quality, so that people would be as similar to themselves as possible. Having found a site with equipment that fully met their requirements, they wrote them a letter in English, but they received a reply in Russian: it turned out that the devices were completely domestically produced and were located in Moscow. So the team purchased a portable 3D scanner, which is used to create 3D models in film production, and rented a color printer, which architects normally use when designing buildings.

The MiniMe3D studio at Krasny Oktyabr has only a scanner and computers. The scanner records the smallest details of a person's appearance, down to moles. The industrial printer is quite large, so it is stored in a large rented room on Volgogradsky Prospekt. True, the current printer has a maximum resolution, but lags behind the scanner in quality, so MiniMe3D are waiting for the release of an even more accurate printer that could print even more believable figurines.

Process

It doesn't take long to order a 3D copy of yourself. A person is placed on a round rotating panel, then they begin to scan at a distance of 50 centimeters from the body. The process takes no more than ten minutes, the main thing is not to twitch. In addition, customers are asked not to come in black, because the scanner does not read this color well. During scanning, a 3D model of a person is automatically created on a computer.

Then the model is handed over to a designer working remotely: he corrects the image, removes technical defects, bruises under the eyes and finishes the hair (it is especially difficult to scan them). Next, the model is generated into a file for the printer, from which you can print as many copies of a person as you like. The printing itself takes 10-12 hours. Several models can be loaded into the printer at a time and will be printed at the same time. After that, excess gypsum is blown off the figures and varnished for strength. Packed in boxes and sent to customers.

DAYS usually goes from scanning to getting a figurine

RUBLES worth the smallest figurine

CENTIMETERS- the height of the largest figurine

Launch and promotion

Before launching the project, the MiniMe3D team tested the technology for about three months and eliminated shortcomings: either the limbs did not hold on to the figures, or the facial features were distorted. Vitaly, Ruslan and Vladimir decided to declare themselves only when they completely brought the system to mind. To promote, the guys decided to make videos: through friends, they managed to find a professional team that, for a nominal fee, shot three mini-movies explaining the philosophy of MiniMe3D and the production process. The “wow effect” also worked when the media began to write about the unusual studio.

Products and prices

Now the studio prints figurines in three sizes: 20, 35 and 50 centimeters high. They cost 20, 35 and 75 thousand rubles, respectively. The high cost is easy to explain: the production is very young and costly. The main difference is that this is not a $500 plastic printer, but an industrial plaster printing machine worth tens of thousands. However, the company is not currently experiencing a shortage of orders: they come to shoot almost every day. As expected, families are the most frequently contacted: many want to capture children and elderly parents.

Plans

While the team is trying to expand the staff. It turns out that in Russia it is very difficult to find a smart 3D designer who could process models before sending them to print. Also, in the near future, an administrator will appear in the MiniMe3D office, but for now, the owners themselves communicate with customers.

Photos: Ivan Gushchin

The rapid development of technology opens up more and more new opportunities for us, both for making money and for entertainment. Today we will talk about a relatively young, but very promising industry- 3D printers or, as they are commonly called, 3D printers. Since the invention of this device, it has already found its niche in many areas of human life.

Such units can be found in household use and on huge industrial complexes, in design offices and medical institutions, in the workshops of architects and design studios, as well as in many other areas.

What will be discussed:

3d printer for human figurines

These devices, in a short period of time since their invention, "learned" to print volumetric details from the most various materials, ranging from the softest and most ductile to parts made of various metals and concrete structures.

Although printing mass-produced parts on a 3d printer is not cost-effective, but in terms of manufacturing exclusive and rare parts, this device justifies itself 100%. Until recently, 3D printing was not available to the general public, but now many companies are acquiring 3D printing devices and providing various services for the population, whether it is the creation of an intricate and exclusive concrete structure in a summer cottage or the creation of an exact copy of some architectural structure for the collections of interested buyers.

Recently on Russian market services, there was such an offer as the manufacture of figurines, which are an exact copy of a person. This service allows you to create copies of yourself or your loved ones in various sizes. This figurine will be a wonderful gift for a relative or a great addition to your office decor. The cost of this kind of pleasure is far from cheap, and this is due not only to the cost of the material and the time of the staff, but the high cost of equipment for this kind of activity.

In addition to what we need, a machine for creating 3d figures, we also need a 3d scanner that allows us to scan a person to create a full-fledged 3d model with its subsequent printing. 3d scanners, the equipment is quite expensive and rare, and therefore, except for a narrow circle of specialists, until recently, few people heard about it. Also, it should be noted that the printing of figurines on a 3d printer should be done as accurately and in detail as possible.

This directly depends appearance products and the more detailed and better the figurine is, the better for the manufacturer. But, as a rule, a high-quality 3d scanner and a good 3d printer cost a lot of money and such investments are beyond the reach of most start-up entrepreneurs.

3d printed human figurines

As mentioned above, to print human figures, we will need not only a printer, but also a 3d scanner, while both devices must be high-tech, since the error of any of them will significantly reduce product quality.

In the role of a scanner for such purposes, the Artec Eva model proved to be excellent. This device is easy to operate and simply connects to a computer or laptop. This equipment is entirely suitable for creating a 3d model of a person of the required quality.

All software necessary for the operation of the device is included. Software works with Windows operating systems versions 7 and 8. For scanner operation and information processing, it is recommended to use a powerful computer with a processor with a frequency of more than 2 MHz, a video card of at least 1 GB and 8 GB of RAM.

Such computer parameters will allow you to process information and engage in 3d modeling without obstacles. According to user feedback, the software does not always work smoothly with AMD and Xeon processors, and users advise NVIDIA graphics cards of the appropriate power to work, with the exception of the NVIDIA Quadro line, various problems occurred during the work with this line.

In general, as practice has shown, to work with such equipment and such volumes of information, for a productive result, it is worth taking care of the parameters of your computer and it is desirable that these indicators be above the minimum. As an alternative to Artec Eva, there is a more affordable one in financial plan 3d scanner model Artec Eva Lite, it is a little cheaper, but at the same time inferior in functionality: the scanning process is a little more complicated here.

ProJet 660 Pro

As a 3d printer for printing human figures, the ProJet 660 Pro proved to be excellent. This is a professional wide format 3d printer, with excellent color reproduction and highest precision print. It is perfect for color printing of human figures, the color reproduction of this printer allows you to print 90% of the Photoshop color gamut.

Also among the advantages of this device, users note ease of use, high print speed and the ability to create several products at the same time. The self-diagnosis function and the automatic consumables loading function are implemented here at the height. VisiJet PXL and zb61 are used as consumables. The print resolution in the horizontal plane is 42.3 microns along the X-axis and 47.1 microns along the Y-axis, and 125 microns in height. The supply voltage of the device is 100 and 240 V, and the operating current is 15 and 7.5 A, respectively.

Big Rep 3

For printing figures of people, the BigRep 3 3d printer is suitable, the print quality of which, although inferior in quality to the ProJet 660 Pro, but at the same time fully meets the requirements for this kind print. This model belongs to the category of industrial 3d printers and its weight is 410 kg, an additional proof of this.

The print area of ​​this model is 105X105X105 cm, and the presence of 2 extruders can significantly speed up the production process of the product. It is possible to print in different colors of the base material. Supported consumable PLA, CoPolyester, Laywood, Laybrick, and others. The layer thickness is adjustable from 0.1 to 1 mm. Accurate positioning in the horizontal and vertical plane allows you to create figures of people with good detail. The supply voltage of the device is 230V. Users noted in positive side auto-alignment function, which significantly shortens the process of setting up the device.

How to start a 3D printing business

In any business, highly qualified personnel is one of the keys to the success of the company. Unfortunately, at the moment, there are quite a few 3d modeling specialists, which creates a small problem with professional staff for this kind of activity. It should be noted that for computer processing and bringing 3d models to the required quality, a specialist does not need to sit permanently in the office and can work remotely.

Another point, for the success of your company, is a good room to accommodate the necessary equipment and staff. At the same time, the room where clients will be scanned should be located in crowded places: on the main streets, in the premises of large shopping centers and the like.

But the industrial premises, where the 3d printer for printing human figures will be located, can be located in another area, where the cost of rent will be much lower, thus saving a little financial resources which is very important, especially at first.

For rapid development, you should attract the maximum possible attention of the press to your company and conduct promotions. For this, city or regional events, as well as sports competitions, are perfect. A wonderful gift for the winner of the regional Olympiad in running, boxing, chess, checkers or in any other discipline will be an exclusive figure full height, and the presentation of such a gift is sure to be mentioned in the media, which will be an excellent advertisement for your company.

Study the experience of foreign companies engaged in the provision of services of this kind, this will help to take into account their mistakes and avoid them, as well as calculate profitable steps that bring profit.

When drawing up a business plan for this type of service, it is necessary first of all to assess the state of the market and the presence of competitors, since the investments are very serious and the risks of failure must be minimized. If there are competitors in your region, it is worth taking care of the exclusivity and profitability of your products next to competitors, this may be more low price, faster production times, more durable material, free shipping, special promotions and other "chips" that make you stand out in a favorable light.

Only after a careful and competent analysis of the market, it is worth starting to register your company with state bodies.

At the very start, you should pay attention to the quality of the equipment, because the low resolution of the scanner or a cheap 3d printer for creating figures can nullify all your efforts in promoting the company. At first, it may become relevant not to buy, but to rent equipment, this will allow you to “probe the market” without risking large investments.

Alternatively, you can not have your own 3d printer, but based on the scanned and processed data, print products on partner equipment or simply in a company that has such an opportunity

Be that as it may, success in such a new type of business as printing figurines on a 3d printer depends only on you. It is the creativity of your ideas and often a non-standard approach to solving problems that will make your business profitable.

Traditional photographs are becoming a thing of the past, and they are being replaced by 3D figures, the main advantage of which is their tangibility. Modern technologies allow you to accurately convey the shape and color of the original object. A 3D figurine is not just an image on your phone or computer, it is a thing that will delight you at home or in the office, decorate a shop window and attract attention. By the way, a 3D figurine will be an excellent gift for any holiday: you can pleasantly surprise your friends and loved ones, colleagues, clients and business partners. For those who want to make a 3D figurine as a gift secretly from the recipient, we have provided gift certificates, on-site scanning and the ability to create a 3D figurine from a photo.

Technology for creating 3D figurines

First, a 3D file is created and for this you need to scan a person using . The scanning process is absolutely harmless to humans and lasts no more than 5-10 minutes. In our work, we use a professional with a mechanized turntable to obtain the best results. Next, the scan results are processed by software and prepared for printing on . The cost of 3D scanning and model optimization for color 3D printing is from 12,000 rubles. Printing of 3D figurines takes place on professional color from high-quality gypsum-based composite material using technology.

3D figurine - 3D printing cost:

3D figurine from photo

We can make a 3D figurine without human intervention. To do this, we need from you a set of photographs of a person whose 3D figurine we will make, in good quality: full face, profile face, three-quarter face, pose photo and costume photo. The cost of 3D modeling from photographs is from 10,000 rubles.

Terms and process of approval of the layout before printing

A scanned figurine from 15 cm to 20 cm in size is made within 4 working days. A scanned figurine in the size of 30 cm or more is made within 6 working days. At your request, we can show the layout before printing. Changes to the layout are not included in the cost of the service and their cost is calculated individually.

A figurine according to a photo of any size is made within 10 working days. Speeding up the production process results in a rush markup of 100% of the total order value. Coordination of the layout when ordering a 3D figurine from a photo occurs according to e-mail. Making changes to the layout in accordance with your wishes when ordering a figurine from a photo is included in the cost of the service.

We can come to you for scanning

If it is inconvenient for you to come to us for scanning, then you can use our on-site scanning service. The cost of this service (excluding the cost of the figurine) within the Moscow Ring Road on weekdays work time is 10,000 rubles, the cost of leaving on weekends or after the end of the working day is 20,000 rubles (excluding the cost of the figurine). Departure outside the Moscow Ring Road is calculated individually. The cost of the visit includes 2 hours of scanning, then 5,000 rubles for each subsequent hour.

Making figures on a 3D printer is a new modern technique for creating unique souvenirs according to an individually designed layout. Unlike typical toys and figurines that fill the shelves, this is a visualization of the customer's personal wishes. A child's favorite fairy-tale hero or an unfulfilled dream of an adult who has long since matured - a high-tech device with filigree accuracy will “draw” the image of any character in volume. The value of such a souvenir is beyond calculation, especially when it comes to fanatical collectors. The client will become the sole owner of the 3D figurine: Moscow and the region are already replenishing their collections with unique “printed” items.
In the department finished products at any time you can buy 3D figurines of both cult characters of a bygone era, and only now from those that have become mainstream. Creation of 3D figures to order is a chance to get a copy of a character that is no longer mass-produced or has never come to the attention of manufacturers:
● hero computer game;
● cartoon personality;
● fantastic creature, invented by yourself.
A miniature 3D character as a present is both a gift and a demonstration of attention to the addressee.

Price

If you do not have a ready 3D model, our 3D modeling specialists will be able to create it according to your drawings and sketches.

The cost of creating a 3D model is from 1000 rubles.

The cost of printing is from 65 rubles per cubic centimeter of colored gypsum polymer, depending on the complexity of the model.

Loyalty system for regular customers. Possibility of cost reduction when ordering a large volume of printing.

Model Requirements

Model in .STL format (without colors), .WRL (with color)
maximum print area - 350x270x350 mm
optimal wall thickness - 2 mm

Printing times:
from 2 working days depending on the volume of printing.

HOW TO MAKE AN ORDER

1. Leave your online application on the site, call the number: +7 495 740 51 70 or send your request with photos of the character to info@site
2. We make calculations and contact you to clarify all the details of the order as soon as possible.
3. Taking into account possible additions, we agree on the cost and terms, we conclude a contract.
4. Let's get started with the order.
5. Upon readiness, you can pick up the product by self-delivery or we will arrange delivery in any way convenient for you.