Workshop Secrets #1 – How your custom 3D model is made

If you've ever wondered how a single photo becomes a tangible, mini action figure, then this article is for you! Below, we provide a detailed look at how the soul of ActionDoll figures is created: the 3D model.

🧠 1. The photo as a starting point

Every figure starts with a good photo.
It can be a portrait or a full-body picture – the key is that it should be sharp, well-lit, and show character. The complete body shape, facial expression, hairstyle, and clothing are created based on the photo, making this the first and perhaps most important foundation. Depending on the style (e.g., Funko, Pixar, Marvel), we choose what remains proportional and what becomes stylized.

Tip: a neutral background and a front-facing photo help AI modeling the most.

⚙️ 2. Artificial Intelligence-based modeling

The first digital step is 3D model generation based on the photo. We use various tools for this:

  • We use AI-based software capable of creating a characterful, full-body 3D model from even a single photo.
  • The generated model contains the basic body shape, facial features, and clothing details.

The AI provides a gray, neutral, low-detail humanoid model, in which:

  • The body proportions roughly match the photo
  • The basic shape of the face is already recognizable
  • There are no accessories – these must be modeled by hand

But this is just the beginning...

✏️ 3. Model refinement and detailing in Blender

The generated 3D model is never perfect. Therefore, the next step is: manual post-processing in Blender. This is the most labor-intensive part, where the magic happens:

  • Retopology: cleaning up the model's surface, removing faulty or unnecessary points

    • We delete unnecessary internal geometry
    • We correct the geometry of the face, hands, fingers, and hair
    • We convert to quad-topology if painting or animation is also a goal

  • Posing / Rigging:
     
    • We place the model into a basic skeleton (rig)
    • Standing posture, slightly bent arms (native action figure pose)
    • For Funko/Pixar figures: we intentionally distort proportions – larger head, smaller torso, fairy-tale shape

  • Adding details
    • Clothes: t-shirt, jacket, trousers, shoes – based on custom mesh or sculpt
    • Hair: resculpted or textured form
    • Accessories: created in a separate file, then fitted to the model

  • Sculpting
    • Highlighting facial features (e.g., nose, eyebrows, smile lines)
    • Clothing folds, shoe details, stitching
    • Texturing skin surfaces and hair

🧽 4. Cleaning and preparation for printing

The next step is "slicing" and exporting the model:

  • Boolean union
    • We unite the separate parts (body + head + clothing + accessories)
    • We ensure no internal cavities remain

  • Manifold geometry:
     
    • By closing the surface, we ensure the model is solid and watertight – i.e., printable

  • Scaling:
     
    • The size of the figure is precisely set: e.g., 150 mm total height
    • Accessories are proportionally scaled to fit

  • Exporting:
     
    • Finally, the finished model is saved in .STL or .OBJ format
    • If multi-color painting is involved, UV mapping may also be performed

5. Preparing for slicing

  • The file is imported into a slicer program
  • We generate supports for resin printing
  • We set parameters like layer height, exposure time, lift speed, etc.

🧠 Did you know?

Character modeling can take 2–4 hours – especially if there are many details on the face or clothing. Every single figure is truly completely unique!

✅ Summary – steps of 3D modeling:

  1. Requesting a photo from the customer
  2. AI generation based on the photo
  3. Model refinement and posing in Blender
  4. Adding accessories
  5. Creating a printable file
  6. Exporting and slicing
  7. Preparation for 3D printing
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