MarsUltor
Well-Known Member
- Aug 2, 2018
 
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dork thinks this is the only site on the web......
click the button that looks like this View attachment 4552481
no reason to say "what" there is nothing to hear, everyone is typing & typing is silent !!
this post is for informational purposes only.
some users do not seem to be able to grasp reality.
View attachment 4552492
![]()
And This:dork thinks this is the only site on the web......
wake up dude !!
click the button that looks like this View attachment 4552481
no reason to say "what" there is nothing to hear, everyone is typing & typing is silent !!
this post is for informational purposes only.
some users do not seem to be able to grasp reality.
View attachment 4552492
![]()
click the button that looks like this View attachment 4552481
no reason to say "what" there is nothing to hear, everyone is typing & typing is silent !!
this post is for informational purposes only.
some users do not seem to be able to grasp reality.
View attachment 4552492
![]()
Daz is a bit of a milker when it comes to 3D printing. Each asset needs its license. 12 girls, 12 bikinis, 12 hairstyles. The cheapest license, when not in sale, is $1.99, so we are talking about $72 in licenses to 3D print that image (up to 20 times). Then you should add the printing cost, which I do not know, and even the printer if someone wants to do it commercially and (as it's my case) doesn't own one.I was confused about the need to purchase a 3D printing license, but I see that Daz requires a separate Commercial 3D Print License that "allows you to print and sell up to twenty prints of that piece of content." Oh wow! I was not aware of that restriction.
That being said, although I would love to have a 3D print of these girls, I know that it would not be easy.
I have several 3D printers at home and at work, and I can tell you that printing hair is a nightmare.Printing curly hair that is not stuck to the body is virtually impossible.
The hair would need a lot of supports and would probably break too easily. Same for the fishnet bikini: the parts that are stuck to her skin would be easy to print, but the parts that are loose would need a lot of supports and would probably break. Besides, the fishnet would be barely visible except if the print nozzle has a very small diameter (<0.2mm), but then the print would take several days.
And then there is the issue of colors. Most of the reasonably priced 3D printers would be limited to five colors (Prusa Mk4 with MMU3 or Prusa XL with five toolheads) or four colors (Bambulabs with AMS). This is certainly not enough to support all these skin tones, hair colors, and bikini colors. So the solution would be to print these girls in a neutral color and then paint them by hand. But then this means several hours of preparation, painting and post-processing for each 3D print.
So... nice in theory, but not so easy in practice.
The costs of the material (usually PLA) would not be so high. For a single 20cm tall figurine with a base and a few props, that would be about 100 to 200 grams of material, which costs around 30€/kg (or half of that if you buy from cheaper brands). So the material costs would probably be around 5€/$5.Then you should add the printing cost, which I do not know, and even the printer if someone wants to do it commercially and (as it's my case) doesn't own one.
That would be the biggest hurdle for me. I am rather good at optimizing 3D prints, but I am terrible at painting. It is not that hard in theory but it takes a lot of time, good eyes and a steady hand if you want to paint fine details with the tip of a brush. If you want to do it well, then you have to:The best idea to get a good result would be to print it in a neutral color and handpaint it, and that would add even more cost and, especially, time. And someone who knows how to paint. It's been years since I painted a Warhammer figurine, and my skill couldn't be considered pro-level even then.
It is not that hard once you get used to it. Some hints:The figures should be adapted to 3D printing (even more time) to avoid the problems you named with hair and fishnet.
I agree. Except for very simple models using only a few colors, it would be very difficult to turn a profit. I doubt that many players would be ready to spend several hundred euros or dollars to buy a 3D printed figurine that required several days of work. The cost of the raw material would only be a small fraction of the total. Most of the costs would come for the time spent printing, removing supports and cleaning up, sanding, painting, coating, etc.So, yes, that would be a nice feature to have, but I never would try to do it commercially. The final cost of each printed item would be too high to have any success, would take a lot of time I would need to take from development, and no one can be sure the final product would have the quality needed to be commercialized.
I guess that's why no one is doing it in the AVNverse. The more "fancy" items I've seen out there for AVNs have been T-shirts and mugs, and I think it wasn't a success. Most people who would purchase them have the PS skills to extract their favorite image from the game and print a mug online.
Don't forget the expedition risks and costs, when shipping to other countries there is a non-indifferent probability to lose the pack or damage the action figure (a good packing is essential for reduce this) and insured shipment has a considerable cost, especially with some currency exchanges and distances.The costs of the material (usually PLA) would not be so high. For a single 20cm tall figurine with a base and a few props, that would be about 100 to 200 grams of material, which costs around 30€/kg (or half of that if you buy from cheaper brands). So the material costs would probably be around 5€/$5.
The issue might be the printing time if you don't own a 3D printer as a hobby and if you have to pay for the time you use the printer. With a high level of detail (layer height < 0.10 mm), a 20cm tall figurine would consist of more than 2000 layers and would probably take more than 24 hours to print, depending on the complexity of the pose, the amount of supports, etc. Using variable layer height could cut that time in half but it would still be significant.
That would be the biggest hurdle for me. I am rather good at optimizing 3D prints, but I am terrible at painting. It is not that hard in theory but it takes a lot of time, good eyes and a steady hand if you want to paint fine details with the tip of a brush. If you want to do it well, then you have to:
That could take between a few hours and a few days, depending on the level of detail that you are aiming for. It is a labor of love, unlikely to be affordable if you intend to sell the result.
- start by lightly sanding your model with a fine-grit sandpaper to get a smooth surface,
 - spray it with some primer,
 - apply a first layer of white or black undercoat to the areas that you will paint in the lightest or darkest colors,
 - paint over that with the desired colors, preferably in multiple thin layers, letting the paint dry every time,
 - and finally apply a clear coat (matte or glossy) so that your painted model lasts for a long time.
 
It is not that hard once you get used to it. Some hints:
- Free floating hair is bad, but hair that is close to the body or tied in a bun works well. Even a ponytail can work well, with a small amount of supports in its lowest part.
 - Same for the clothes: skin-tight clothes work best. Bikinis, hotpants, leggings, t-shirts, tank tops, jeans are all fine. Avoid shirt collars, loose sleeves, shirts or jackets with open sides, etc. Skirts and miniskirts can be challenging but are doable if you only need supports for the lowest part and if the folds are not too complex.
 - The pose requires a bit of thinking. In general, any body part that is connected to the ground and mostly vertical from there will work fine. If someone is standing, then the legs, waist and torso will be easy to print. The arms require a bit more thinking but you can reduce or even eliminate the need for supports if you avoid having too many horizontal areas. Any angle above 45 degrees usually works fine without supports. Below the spoiler, I have tried to illustrate that with four poses for the arm in which I highlighted in red the areas that would need some supports.
 It is relatively easy to pose a model for 3D printing, as long as you keep in mind that a filament printer is printing layer by layer from the bottom up and that you should try to minimize the areas that do not have anything under them.You don't have permission to view the spoiler content. Log in or register now.
And even if you do not optimize the pose, this is not a big problem anyway: some additional supports will usually solve the problem. This will waste a bit more material and you will need to spend a bit more time cleaning up your figurine later, but adding supports can be better than being forced to use some awkward poses.
I agree. Except for very simple models using only a few colors, it would be very difficult to turn a profit. I doubt that many players would be ready to spend several hundred euros or dollars to buy a 3D printed figurine that required several days of work. The cost of the raw material would only be a small fraction of the total. Most of the costs would come for the time spent printing, removing supports and cleaning up, sanding, painting, coating, etc.
That being said, even if I suck at painting, I would be curious to try 3D printing one of the girls from My Dorm if a suitable 3D model (.obj or .stl or .blend) was available. The Daz license allows 3D printing for free if it is for personal, non-commercial use.
Thanks for the insights into a world I mostly know nothing about!The costs of the material (usually PLA) would not be so high. For a single 20cm tall figurine with a base and a few props, that would be about 100 to 200 grams of material, which costs around 30€/kg (or half of that if you buy from cheaper brands). So the material costs would probably be around 5€/$5.
The issue might be the printing time if you don't own a 3D printer as a hobby and if you have to pay for the time you use the printer. With a high level of detail (layer height < 0.10 mm), a 20cm tall figurine would consist of more than 2000 layers and would probably take more than 24 hours to print, depending on the complexity of the pose, the amount of supports, etc. Using variable layer height could cut that time in half but it would still be significant.
That would be the biggest hurdle for me. I am rather good at optimizing 3D prints, but I am terrible at painting. It is not that hard in theory but it takes a lot of time, good eyes and a steady hand if you want to paint fine details with the tip of a brush. If you want to do it well, then you have to:
That could take between a few hours and a few days, depending on the level of detail that you are aiming for. It is a labor of love, unlikely to be affordable if you intend to sell the result.
- start by lightly sanding your model with a fine-grit sandpaper to get a smooth surface,
 - spray it with some primer,
 - apply a first layer of white or black undercoat to the areas that you will paint in the lightest or darkest colors,
 - paint over that with the desired colors, preferably in multiple thin layers, letting the paint dry every time,
 - and finally apply a clear coat (matte or glossy) so that your painted model lasts for a long time.
 
It is not that hard once you get used to it. Some hints:
- Free floating hair is bad, but hair that is close to the body or tied in a bun works well. Even a ponytail can work well, with a small amount of supports in its lowest part.
 - Same for the clothes: skin-tight clothes work best. Bikinis, hotpants, leggings, t-shirts, tank tops, jeans are all fine. Avoid shirt collars, loose sleeves, shirts or jackets with open sides, etc. Skirts and miniskirts can be challenging but are doable if you only need supports for the lowest part and if the folds are not too complex.
 - The pose requires a bit of thinking. In general, any body part that is connected to the ground and mostly vertical from there will work fine. If someone is standing, then the legs, waist and torso will be easy to print. The arms require a bit more thinking but you can reduce or even eliminate the need for supports if you avoid having too many horizontal areas. Any angle above 45 degrees usually works fine without supports. Below the spoiler, I have tried to illustrate that with four poses for the arm in which I highlighted in red the areas that would need some supports.
 It is relatively easy to pose a model for 3D printing, as long as you keep in mind that a filament printer is printing layer by layer from the bottom up and that you should try to minimize the areas that do not have anything under them.You don't have permission to view the spoiler content. Log in or register now.
And even if you do not optimize the pose, this is not a big problem anyway: some additional supports will usually solve the problem. This will waste a bit more material and you will need to spend a bit more time cleaning up your figurine later, but adding supports can be better than being forced to use some awkward poses.
EDIT: here is an example of a pose that would not need any supports, except maybe around the head.
You don't have permission to view the spoiler content. Log in or register now.
I agree. Except for very simple models using only a few colors, it would be very difficult to turn a profit. I doubt that many players would be ready to spend several hundred euros or dollars to buy a 3D printed figurine that required several days of work. The cost of the raw material would only be a small fraction of the total. Most of the costs would come for the time spent printing, removing supports and cleaning up, sanding, painting, coating, etc.
That being said, even if I suck at painting, I would be curious to try 3D printing one of the girls from My Dorm if a suitable 3D model (.obj or .stl or .blend) was available. The Daz license allows 3D printing for free if it is for personal, non-commercial use.
The only thing you can do without great work and time is to offer STL files. The customer decides what size he would like to have, he orders (organizes) printing himself, paints himself as he likes (or how he is able). And you already have a model of your favorite character.Don't forget the expedition risks and costs, when shipping to other countries there is a non-indifferent probability to lose the pack or damage the action figure (a good packing is essential for reduce this) and insured shipment has a considerable cost, especially with some currency exchanges and distances.
I had once a small business with some friends for these products, we bought a 3D printer and sold our finished printed objects in all world. I was in charge for the painting, it was hard and required a lot of time and patience (but for me it was fun) and with the use of good dyes and primers we have never had any complaints for my part. But how tiring was the personalized 3D modeling part, the shipments and the many inconveniences that followed...
It was mostly a joke, but as they said, it can be done. Just it's not easy if you don't have a good supply chain, customer service and professional workes to assist you. Maybe one day it will happen, if we have the possibility to translate these games in the real world with fairs and physical stands (like comicon) where merchandising can be sold for avid fans who have made their way there...
Pose is not bad. Suitable for printing in a position lying on the back. I don't know what the real size of the character is. Will he enter the printing field.I don't know if it will work for you, but here you have the file
Mega
I guess the pose isn't the best one, her right elbow and her chin will need support, for example.
Thanks! It looks like Daz exports a rather messy mesh. It took a surprisingly long time for the algorithm to automatically repair the 68k invalid triangles, but eventually I got a model that was ready for slicing (18 cm tall). I expect that the hair will fail because it is made of thin strands that cannot be supported in a good way, but I am curious to see how bad it will be. I just hope that the hair will not mess up the whole head and cause a print failure.Once that said, I'm also curious about how a 3D-printed figure would look, so I made a fast export to OBJ of Erika (I was working on her for the next update).
I for one would be interested in the Photo Results if you do post a Photo just to see how it would look like.Thanks! It looks like Daz exports a rather messy mesh. It took a surprisingly long time for the algorithm to automatically repair the 68k invalid triangles, but eventually I got a model that was ready for slicing (18 cm tall). I expect that the hair will fail because it is made of thin strands that cannot be supported in a good way, but I am curious to see how bad it will be. I just hope that the hair will not mess up the whole head and cause a print failure.
With Erika lying down, most of her body does not touch the print bed so the model needs supports almost everywhere: back, legs, arms, etc. The estimated print time is 6 hours 13 minutes with a variable layer height around 0.15 mm.
With Erika standing up, the supports are only needed around a few places: feet, elbow, and a few other places. This requires less supports, but they are much taller. So the print takes one hour longer.
In both cases the amount of material needed is only 40 grams. I am printing it now with some relatively cheap AmazonBasics red PLA filament (15-20 €/kg) because that's what I had loaded in the printer. Even after taking into account the electricity costs and after amortizing the costs of the printer, that's still only around 2 €. I am considering trying to print the model in both positions: standing up and lying down. It depends on how bad the hair will be. Anyway, I will let you know the results and maybe post a photo or two (probably tomorrow, don't hold your breath).
Last one for today or I will need to start selling themPose is not bad. Suitable for printing in a position lying on the back. I don't know what the real size of the character is. Will he enter the printing field.
Could you do Scarlett in such a pose?
View attachment 4553710
I would like her to sit on the shelf at the computer.