How We Turn Your Photo Into a Custom 3D Printed Figurine
Every custom 3D printed figurine we make starts as a photo and ends as a hand-finished keepsake — here's exactly how our FDM 3D printing process works, why we use FDM instead of resin printing, and the kinds of personalized 3D printed gifts you can order.
What is FDM 3D printing?
FDM (Fused Deposition Modeling) is a 3D printing technology that builds an object layer by layer out of melted plastic filament. A heated nozzle extrudes PLA or PETG filament along the exact path of a digital 3D model — your custom figurine — depositing one thin layer on top of the last until the full statue takes shape. It's the same additive manufacturing principle used across industrial 3D printing, applied here to personalized photo figurines instead of prototypes or parts.
FDM vs. resin printing — why we chose FDM
Resin (SLA/DLP) printing is often marketed as the "premium" option for miniatures, but for a figurine meant to be displayed, handled and kept for years — not a tiny tabletop miniature — FDM is the better fit. Here's the comparison:
| Feature | FDM (what we use) | Resin printing |
|---|---|---|
| Technology | Fused Deposition Modeling — melted filament extruded layer by layer | SLA/DLP — liquid resin cured layer by layer with UV light |
| Material | PLA / PETG filament — durable, impact-resistant, food-safe options | Photopolymer resin — brittle, more sensitive to sunlight/heat over time |
| Best for | Figurines, statues, keepsakes, functional parts, larger custom 3D prints | Very fine miniatures (e.g. tabletop gaming pieces) where micro-detail matters most |
| Surface finish | Visible layer lines, smoothed and hidden through hand-finishing and painting | Very smooth out of the printer, but needs careful post-curing handling |
| Durability | Strong and durable — holds up well to years of display, handling and shipping | More brittle — can crack or discolor with age and UV exposure |
| Color & painting | Printed in a base color, then hand-painted for realistic multi-color finishes | Usually a single resin color, painted afterward if a custom look is wanted |
| Why we use it | The right balance of durability, size, color options and cost for a custom photo figurine meant to be displayed and kept for years | Overkill in cost and fragility for a figurine-sized keepsake — better suited to tiny collectibles |
Our step-by-step process
Send us a clear photo of the person, pet, couple, or object you want turned into a custom 3D printed figurine — this is the only reference our designers need to start your personalized 3D print.
A digital 3D model is sculpted from your photo — pose, proportions, facial features, clothing and any custom object are shaped by hand in 3D modeling software before anything is printed.
Before FDM printing begins, you get a digital preview of your custom figurine to review and approve — colors, pose and details can still be adjusted at this stage.
Once approved, your figurine is built with fused deposition modeling (FDM): a nozzle extrudes molten PLA or PETG filament and deposits it layer by layer, following the exact geometry of your 3D model, until the full custom 3D printed statue takes shape.
Every 3D printed figurine is hand-finished after printing: support removal, sanding, and hand-painting (up to 4 colors) bring out details a raw print alone can't — this is what turns a print into a keepsake.
Each personalized 3D print is inspected for print quality, paint finish and structural strength, then carefully packaged to survive shipping without damage.
Your finished custom figurine ships from our Berlin studio to addresses across Germany and the rest of Europe, with tracking so you always know where your order is.
Materials & specifications
| Printing technology | FDM (Fused Deposition Modeling) |
| Material | PLA (standard), PETG available on request |
| Layer resolution | 0.1 mm – 0.2 mm, depending on figurine size |
| Colors | Up to 4 colors, hand-painted after printing |
| Finish options | Matte, hand-painted realistic, metallic (gold/silver) |
| Sizes | From pocket-sized keepsakes to larger display statues |
| Base included | Yes, on most figurine listings |
| Made in | Berlin, Germany |
Examples of our work
What can you turn into a custom 3D printed figurine?
Turn a single photo of yourself, a friend or a family member into a realistic or stylized 3D printed statue.
A custom 3D printed figurine of your dog, cat or other pet — a lasting keepsake or memorial gift.
A custom cake topper 3D printed to look like the actual couple, instead of a generic figure.
One printed piece capturing a couple, a family, or a group — a personalized gift for anniversaries, holidays or reunions.
A respectful, lasting way to remember a loved one or pet through a custom 3D printed keepsake.
Branded or personalized 3D printed figurines and models as a distinctive corporate gift or award.
Custom 3D printed props and character busts built from reference photos or artwork.
Custom miniatures modeled after your own tabletop character, not just a generic pre-made mini.
Custom religious figurines and statues personalized to a specific likeness or design.
A custom figurine marking a graduation, promotion, birthday or other milestone.
Small custom 3D printed ornaments and holiday figurines made from a favorite photo.
Scaled 3D printed models of buildings, vehicles or other objects, printed from photos or reference drawings.
Frequently asked questions
We use FDM (Fused Deposition Modeling) — a nozzle extrudes melted PLA or PETG filament and builds your figurine layer by layer from a 3D model made from your photo.
For a figurine meant to be displayed and kept for years, FDM is the better choice: it's more durable and less brittle than resin, holds paint well, and isn't as sensitive to sunlight or heat over time. Resin printing shines for tiny, ultra-fine-detail pieces like tabletop gaming miniatures, not display-sized keepsakes.
PLA is our standard material — durable and safe for display in a home or office. PETG is available on request for extra impact resistance.
Most figurines are hand-painted in up to 4 colors after printing, chosen to match your photo as closely as possible.
Yes — every order includes a digital design preview you review and approve before FDM printing begins, so there are no surprises.
From your photo upload to a shipped, hand-finished figurine, the process runs through 3D modeling, your design approval, FDM printing, and hand-finishing before it ships from our Berlin studio.
Yes — pet portrait figurines are one of our most popular custom 3D prints, made the same way as a person's figurine: photo, 3D model, your approval, then printing and hand-finishing.
Yes, a single custom figurine can include multiple people — couples, families or groups — modeled together from your reference photo.
Yes, we ship across Germany and the rest of Europe from our Berlin studio.
Yes — see our Terms & Cancellation Policy for the free-cancellation window and what's still possible after your design has been approved.