Animals made in 3D by miniNature

HKHollinstone wrote:

What is the material they're made from? Is it flexible?

When you print at Shapeways you can choice your own material. This are the current Shapeways materials.
I'll advise the White, Strong & Flexible plastic. This one is the cheapest, the details are pretty good and white material can be painted very nice. The smaller models, with parts smaller than 0,7 mm will be better to print in Frosted (Ultra) Detail plastic. This isn't flexible, but it will future parts of 0,3 mm! This material looks like ice and can also be painted.

miniNature wrote:

widukind wrote:

miniNature wrote:

SyLoBe wrote:

Wow, nice work! I love the looking of the red images. Those are the programs I want to try some day :)

About the prices... Well, 160 euro for a 1:22 figurine is not a bit expensive, it´s VERY expensive.

Yes, the 1:22,5 scaled models are very expensive. But the 160 euro model is the solid version. The hollow version of that model is 40 euro cheaper, but I'll try to reduce the prices of the hollow models more, with thinner 'walls'. I think the hollow version of that model of 160 euro, I can reduce to 60 euro.

And what is the price for a Dik-Dik? And would the price cheaper if you would produce more animals???

That is phantastic

I can't told you exactly yet. Shapeways will calculate the price of the model when I've sent them a Dik-Dik model. I need first to finish a Dik-Dik, but I've a basic model of a Dik-Dik already, so I've tried to calculate the price: a 1:22,5 Dik-Dik (model is 2,4 cm high, 2,6 cm long and 6 mm wide) is less than 1 cm3, but because it's so tiny, he must be print in the highest detailed plastic. That material had a handling fee of $5 and $3,49 for each cm3, so I think a 1:22,5 Dik-Dik would be $8 = 6,15 euro. But I can do also other scales. a 1:10 Dik-Dik can print in cheaper materials so that would be $12 for a model that's 12,5x more material. Normaly it's not cheaper to produce more animals at the same time. You would pay for each cm3 material, but when you print more animals at the same time you'll pay only 1x shipping costs. Only the Strong-and-Flexible materials on Shapeways (that's the basic plastic) has a discount: 'For models that are greater than 10% dense (material volume divided by bounding box volume), after the first 20cm3, the remaining volume is calculated with a 50% discount.' You can watch here when you want to learn more about the pricing.

Fisva wrote:

I consider, is this used to create a model later with clay or something? I know, it might be a stupid question, but I'm actually interested how such 3D model can be used to make a normal model

Yes, this models can be used to create a solid & touchable model. This is done with a 3D Printer. A computer sent mine file to the printer and the 3D printers can print my model in different materials. Most common are plastic materials, but you can also print in different metals like steel, silver and gold and also materials like sandstone, ceramics, chocolate, paper and lots more. Just say a material and it's possible. This will grow very big in the future. Here you have a sample video of the basic plastic material Shapeways used. You can see how a 3D Printer works.

I know absolutly nothing about that. But the price for a Dik-Dik is not so expensive as i think before. And how much more would be the price with painting? I think i am very very interested in this if you plan to create some unusual species like the Dik-Dik

widukind wrote:

I know absolutly nothing about that. But the price for a Dik-Dik is not so expensive as i think before. And how much more would be the price with painting? I think i am very very interested in this if you plan to create some unusual species like the Dik-Dik

Yeah, elephants and giraffes are not a good comparison in terms of price with smaller animals like a Dik-Dik. I'm happy not all my animals I would bought are expensive. Otherwise it becomes a very expensive hobby .
And yes, I'll create a lot of unusual species in the future. I love them :) I'll make also animals on request.

Painting is a different thing. Shapeways at the moment owns 1 3D Color Printer, but that's a sandstone printer. The colors are not realy bright and the detail of sandstone is to bad for the models I'd created. So, when you order a 3D printed animal from my site on Shapeways, it will deliverd within 10 days at your home by Shapeways and after that, you'll need to paint the models by yourown. But maybe there is a way to work together on this forum and create a painting service for people, who can't / don't want paint. It's a long time ago I've paint a figure. I think I still just have to practice when I have ordered my first model . I saw on this forum a number of people who painted animals beautiful, maybe we can do something with.

miniNature wrote:

widukind wrote:

I know absolutly nothing about that. But the price for a Dik-Dik is not so expensive as i think before. And how much more would be the price with painting? I think i am very very interested in this if you plan to create some unusual species like the Dik-Dik

Yeah, elephants and giraffes are not a good comparison in terms of price with smaller animals like a Dik-Dik. I'm happy not all my animals I would bought are expensive. Otherwise it becomes a very expensive hobby .
And yes, I'll create a lot of unusual species in the future. I love them :) I'll make also animals on request.

Painting is a different thing. Shapeways at the moment owns 1 3D Color Printer, but that's a sandstone printer. The colors are not realy bright and the detail of sandstone is to bad for the models I'd created. So, when you order a 3D printed animal from my site on Shapeways, it will deliverd within 10 days at your home by Shapeways and after that, you'll need to paint the models by yourown. But maybe there is a way to work together on this forum and create a painting service for people, who can't / don't want paint. It's a long time ago I've paint a figure. I think I still just have to practice when I have ordered my first model . I saw on this forum a number of people who painted animals beautiful, maybe we can do something with.

If you will create in the future unusual species and that is the price
I think you get any money from me
But i also need a painter, because i am free from talent

Elephant is amazing! Congrats!

Congratulation for your work Mini (o)): Your models are really beautiful and I love especially the last elephant. Even if it is "a bit" expensive for me. I also like your videos and pics about the making of, it is very interesting.

I have three models I bought on shapeways but they are very tiny and I chose the basic material. it was a bad idea, I agree for small models, detail or ultra detail seems far better.

I hope you will manage to make some small unusual species, I'm sure some of us will like to add some on their shelves for not too high fees.

I love your giraffes :)

They are beautiful! Thanks for sharing! (o)):

Those models look really nice, and the technology is intriguing, too!

Thank you all again for all nice comments!

Kikimalou wrote:

Congratulation for your work Mini (o)): Your models are really beautiful and I love especially the last elephant. Even if it is "a bit" expensive for me. I also like your videos and pics about the making of, it is very interesting.

I have three models I bought on shapeways but they are very tiny and I chose the basic material. it was a bad idea, I agree for small models, detail or ultra detail seems far better.

I hope you will manage to make some small unusual species, I'm sure some of us will like to add some on their shelves for not too high fees.

This week I'll update my site with some things. Like you said about the material choice. I'll give each model a specificationlist and there, i'll also give materialadvice for the proportions of the model. Also I'll remove the expensive solid models of my site. Sometimes it looks like confusing and why someone buy a expensive model when there is also a same model far much cheaper is available. This weekend I'll make the Elephant hollow and also the giraffes get a new (cheaper) hollow model. I've a new hollowing technology, so I can hollow the giraffes more efficient.
I hope, I can show you all this week also my first unusual species :)

Kikimalou wrote:

I hope you will manage to make some small unusual species, I'm sure some of us will like to add some on their shelves for not too high fees.

sure

I find everything very interesting although still not affordable for me. I also recomend all those who are envolved with manufacturing and this world of animal replicas to follow and study these tools. I don't have any doubt that it is the future for some toy manufacturers and also of other kind of business. If I'm not wrong, Nayab figures are already 3d designed. But I don't believe they produce the multiple figures with 3D printers. I think they make something more interesting. They make the molds with 3D technology and printers and than start manufacturing in a traditional way. So they save in money making the molds with that technology and keeping the traditional manufacturing for copies. Though, I am not sure actually. I confess I am impressed with your figures in some aspects but some other makes me feel dubious about the results. For example, figures doesn't look rich in terms of texture but that could be only a little impression. Also, I think you need to rework the back of your elephant, I can see you care a lot with proportions, the legs and head size shows it, also correct characteristics for the species. I am eager to see those unusual species.

If the technology is getting better, at sometime the hand-made models will become extinct. Even if the technology is very interesting, I would find it very sad.
Still often seen when models are made on the computer.

Your elephant looks very good, the shape is perfect, only the skin is too smooth for a African elephant. Is in these mostly very rich on structure. See sample photos:




Haha Andreas, if it is a good model(e.g. a Dik-Dik), you can order and buy two models, one for you and one for me and I Paint both.

The wrinkles in their skin are amazing aren't they, the pattern they make. Incredible creatures.

Yurumi wrote:

If the technology is getting better, at sometime the hand-made models will become extinct. Even if the technology is very interesting, I would find it very sad.

!!!

OH...

I don't think handmade models will become extinct But we will see

Yes Harriet, these how showing the life, a wonder of nature!

Anna, I mean in the future.

Yurumi wrote:

Yes Harriet, these how showing the life, a wonder of nature!

Anna, I mean in the future.

Yes, but painting didn't disappear because of photography so why would other techniques do?

The same with computer graphic, this didn't mean end of lithography or metal techniques or even older types of technologies such as woodcut. These techniques give different effect than these created in computer so all those things can exist together.

I think it's going to be like that also in world of figures. As long as some people wants to see (and create) effects that are unique for handmade models

I actually think that handmade models will anyway be much better, everything that has been commercialised has rather low quality.

Roger wrote:

I find everything very interesting although still not affordable for me. I also recomend all those who are envolved with manufacturing and this world of animal replicas to follow and study these tools. I don't have any doubt that it is the future for some toy manufacturers and also of other kind of business. If I'm not wrong, Nayab figures are already 3d designed. But I don't believe they produce the multiple figures with 3D printers. I think they make something more interesting. They make the molds with 3D technology and printers and than start manufacturing in a traditional way. So they save in money making the molds with that technology and keeping the traditional manufacturing for copies. Though, I am not sure actually. I confess I am impressed with your figures in some aspects but some other makes me feel dubious about the results. For example, figures doesn't look rich in terms of texture but that could be only a little impression. Also, I think you need to rework the back of your elephant, I can see you care a lot with proportions, the legs and head size shows it, also correct characteristics for the species. I am eager to see those unusual species.

Yurumi wrote:

If the technology is getting better, at sometime the hand-made models will become extinct. Even if the technology is very interesting, I would find it very sad.
Still often seen when models are made on the computer.

Your elephant looks very good, the shape is perfect, only the skin is too smooth for a African elephant. Is in these mostly very rich on structure. See sample photos:


Haha Andreas, if it is a good model(e.g. a Dik-Dik), you can order and buy two models, one for you and one for me and I Paint both.

Thanks guys! I realy appreciate constructive criticism! Models can grow only better when other people take a critical look at the models.
At the moment, Shapeways accept only models less then 1.000.000 polygons (the uploaded Elephant is nearly 999.999 the pictures shows less, because my laptop can't render so many polygons), but I think for me it's possible to give the Elephant a less smoother surface, if I divide the polygons on a more clever way. I'll try and I'll show the pictures when I've succeeded.

And I think nobody have to be afraid for disappearing traditional handmade models. As long 1 people on earth wants the traditional models, they will be there. And when 0 people wants traditional models, nobody will be sad they'd disappeared

Good news! I've succeed in making better hollow models. Now, the giraffe models of the 1:22,5 and 1:32 are all more than 50% cheaper. The standing 1:32 giraffe is even 65% cheaper! They are now available.
Tomorrow I'll make also for the 1:45 and 1:87 giraffes a good hollow model, I'll try to give my elephant a better skin and work for the Dikdik :) I'll keep you up to date.

Yurumi wrote:

Haha Andreas, if it is a good model(e.g. a Dik-Dik), you can order and buy two models, one for you and one for me and I Paint both.

Also the other giraffes (1:45 and 1:87) are lowered drastically in price now

And I've also finished the new skin of the African Elephant. I hope you'll like this new version and agree this version is better than the smoother Elephant!



I'll start hollow this model now and in a few hours this model will be available :)

miniNature wrote:

And I've also finished the new skin of the African Elephant. I hope you'll like this new version and agree this version is better than the smoother Elephant!

It is a BIG improvement indeed (o)):

Here some new pictures of my elephant, now can be found on my site :)

A nice elephant