How to Make Your Own Figurines
Creating figurines on your own requires skills in drawing, modeling, and painting, which makes it a relatively high barrier to entry without seeking help from others
If you want to create figurines, let me first explain the concept of IP licensing. Many companies or studios that produce figurines often choose well-known IP characters for their releases because these IPs already have a certain level of popularity and an established fan base. If you want to release such characters on the market, you must obtain IP authorization from the original company. Even if you redesign the character, official authorization is still required; otherwise, it would be considered an infringement. However, if you design a completely original figurine, you don’t need to worry about copyright issues.
1. Concept Art Design
When creating a figurine, the first step is to design the concept art based on the requirements. This involves translating your ideas into visual form through drawings.
2. 3D Modeling of the Figurine
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The modeler creates the 3D model based on the concept art, following the production requirements and specifications.
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Adjust the file format to STL (note that the size units should be adjusted according to the actual printed size).
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Split and arrange the model (each component must be a complete entity without any missing surfaces).
3. Printing the Prototype
Import the file into a 3D printer for printing. The choice of printer and printing material depends on the desired effect and quality of the final product.
4. Painting
The 3D-printed model is usually a gray (unpainted) prototype. Based on the original concept art, the model needs to be painted and colored to bring it to life.
5. Assembly and Final Adjustments
The separated parts are assembled to check the overall effect. If any adjustments are needed, the model is modified until the desired result is achieved. Once the final design is confirmed, mass production begins.