How to make a 3d print of yourself

How to 3D Scan & 3D Print Yourself Accurately (Head & Body) – 3D Printerly

3D printing is great in itself, but what if we could 3D scan ourselves and then 3D print ourselves. This is definitely possible when you know the right techniques. In this article, I will detail and guide you through how to 3D scan yourself the right way.

To 3D scan yourself, you should use a process called photogrammetry which is taking several pictures from a phone or normal camera, then uploading it to 3D reconstruction software, a great one being Meshroom. You can then clean imperfections of the model using the Blender app and 3D print it.

There are some real details and steps to perfect this process, so definitely keep reading to get a clear tutorial on how to 3D scan yourself.

What Do You Need to 3D Scan Yourself Properly?

People that have experience 3D scanning themselves tend to use either a phone or a professional 3D scanner.

You don’t need a bunch of complicated equipment or some specialized scanning apparatus, just a decent quality phone will suffice, as well as the correct software such as Blender and Meshroom.

Some 3D scanners are more suitable for small, detailed objects while others are great for 3D scanning your head and body so keep this in mind.

The 3D scanners capture the shape of your body through a series of data points. These data points are then combined to get a 3D model. 3D scanners use photo technology, such as:

• Structured-light Scanners
• Depth Sensors
• Stereoscopic Vision

This shows us that it uses various measurements to encompass different shapes and minute details of an object, or in this case, yourself.

All these data points are combined into a single data map, and a full 3D scan is fleshed out.

Basic Process of 3D Scanning

3D scanning may seem complex, which it is technologically speaking, but let me give you a simple explanation of the process of 3D scanning:

• You can either use a 3D scanner through your phone or can get a 3D scanner machine.
• The structured light lasers hover over an object to create data points.
• The software then combines these thousands of data points.
• All these data points help in getting a detailed, accurate, and realistic model within a specialized program

However, before moving towards 3D scanning yourself or others, you should know a few important points about it.

Type and Size of Objects

Some 3D scanners are more suitable for scanning smaller objects while there are also those scanners available, which you can use for scanning the whole body from head to toe.

You should be aware of the size of objects or yourself to select the right scanner for such purpose.

Accuracy

It would be best for you if you consider the extent of accuracy that you need for 3D scanning.

The maximum precision and accuracy which a group of 3D scanners can give lies between 30-100 microns (0.03-0.1mm).

Resolution

Focus on the resolution and get your values aligned before starting it.

Resolution is directly related to the accuracy; the better the resolution of your 3D scanner will be, the higher the accuracy.

Speed of the Scanner

Static objects do not cause a problem with speed; it is the moving objects which require an adjusted level of speed. You can select and adjust the speed from the software settings and get things done with ease.

How to 3D Scan Yourself

There are different ways of 3D scanning yourself, and I will be listing them one by one. So keep on reading.

Photogrammetry with Camera

Josef Prusa goes into great detail on how to 3D scan with just a phone using photogrammetry. He has sweet, real-life examples and extra tips to help you get some good quality results.

Rather than needing a high-end camera, you can actually choose to use your phone to 3D scan yourself.

There are open-source softwares you can make use of for your photogrammetry needs. Meshroom/AliceVision is great for photogrammetry, Blender is great for editing, then Cura is a good choice for your slicing.

So the first step is using Meshroom, which is a free, open-source software that specializes in 3D reconstruction, photo and camera tracking to produce 3D models by using several photos as the source.

It has some amazing features that make it a lot easier to create some high quality meshes that can be used easily.

What you do is:

• Get your desired object and make sure the lighting is fairly even all-round
• Take several pictures (50-200) of your desired object, making sure it stays in one place
• Export those pictures to Meshroom to put them together and recreate the object as a 3D model
• Clean up the model in the Blender app to make 3D printing easier and more accurate, then export to slicer
• Slice & print the model as usual

The better your camera, the better your 3D models will be but you can still get excellent quality models with a decent quality phone camera. Josef Prusa uses a DSLR camera which is great for those extra details.

2. Mobile 3D Scanning App

This method requires no extra hardware and no extra hand to help in the scanning process. The process is simple and given below:

• Install the app which you want to for scanning.
• Take a picture of your face.
• Move your face to both sides to let the scanner capture the sides.
• Email the result to your desktop or laptop.
• Build your model easily from there.

Depending on the functionality of your phone’s scanning capabilities, you may have to export the file and change the file extension to .png, then open the .gltf file if it can’t be opened.

You can then open it in Blender and export it as an . obj file.

2. Handheld 3D Scanners

Handheld 3D scanners tend to be pretty expensive, especially if you want one with respectable quality. If you can access a 3D scanner locally for quick-use, then that would be perfect.

I did write an article about the Best 3D Scanners Under $1,000 which details some of the better cheap scanners out there.

If you want to scan yourself using a handheld 3D scanner, you’re going to need a second person to help out. The process is simpler than using the photogrammetry, but they are essentially doing the same concept.

They will require a second person to help you with scanning yourself. What is required to be done is as follows:

• Stand in a well-lit room that ideally has multiple light sources to reduce shadows
• Get the second person to move the 3D scanner slowly over the whole body or parts that you want to capture
• Similarly to the camera scanning, you’ll export these pictures to software to make a model out of it.

3. 3D Scanning Booths

iMakr are a great example of a 3D scanning booth that creates a ‘Mini-You’ using the latest technology to recreate your looks in a 3D-color infused sandstone composite.

The whole process doesn’t take too long, and can be done in around two weeks.

Here’s how the process works:

• You come in to iMakr, dressed to impress.
• We scan your full body image in our scanning booth.
• Your scans are processed on site into an initial print file.
• This file is transmitted to our design team for final preparation.
• We print a full color Mini-You in sandstone.
• We deliver your Mini-You or you can come into the shop to pick it up.

Doob is another 3D scanning service which makes replicas of you. Check out the cool video below for more details behind the process.

4. Xbox Kinect Scanner

Many people get excited when they figure out the capabilities of their Xbox Kinect to actually 3D scan themselves. The Kinect is quite outdated, but its still an option for some.

There isn’t too much stock of them around, although its possible to purchase one from Amazon, Ebay, or other e-commerce websites.

You can download the latest version KScan from a mirror, since it is no longer actively available.

How to Make a 3D Model Print of Yourself

Depending on the technique you used to get the 3D model ready, you should have been able to create a file which can be processed and sliced to finally print.

At first it can seem pretty complex, but with the right directions, it can be quite simple.

After you have taken all the photos which are required for generating a 3D model, the rest of the work is done in a system. The steps are listed below for your understanding.

As previously mentioned, you’re going to want to use the open-source Meshroom/AliceVision software to create the model for you to print.

Meshroom can be downloaded from their official website.

The video below is a great tutorial to make a 3D print model of objects and yourself if you have the images!

Best 3D Scanner Apps for 3D Printing

The application stores for both Android and iPhone are filled with 3D scanner apps.

You do not require any extra hardware in addition to your smartphone while installing these apps. The list of the apps is as follows:

• Qlone: It is a free application and works on both IOS and Android devices. You will require a special black and white paper mat, which can look like a QR code to scan something.
• Scandy Pro: This app is only for iPhone users, and it can turn the iPhone into a full-color 3D scanner. You can edit the scans within the app in real-time with various tools.
• Scann3D: Android users can use this app to scan photos of the object which they wish to 3D scan.

To get the scanning right, you should take photos in a continuous circle around the object.

• Sony 3D Creator: 3D Creator is Sony’s entry to smartphone scanning, and it is compatible with all Android devices. Through its selfie mode, you can even scan yourself.

3D Printing Yourself – How to Print a Mini You!

Self-portraiture has been an art form for as long as art has existed. Sketching, painting, and photography have all been used to capture the self from their inception.

This practice eventually came to the modern age with selfies, and the step beyond that is finally here: 3D printing yourself!

Making a 3D model of yourself for printing is a fun and exciting prospect, from making mini tableaus of your friends and family to even making workable 3D action figures of yourself. I guarantee even your best selfie won’t be as cool as having a mini model of you!

There are a few ways to get a little 3D you up and printing, and here we’re going to look over a few of the best ways to make a 3D model of you and your friends.

We’re also going to look at some of the coolest uses and ideas for 3D printing yourself to maximize the fun of being mini!

Why Make a 3D Model of Yourself?

Let’s be honest, all of us are at least a little vain, I know I am. This is why self-portraits have been a staple of just about any art form since time immemorial.

When it comes to 3D printing yourself, there are a few fun and creative uses for having a tiny plastic you.

Making a small scene of you and your family to decorate the mantlepiece is a simple yet novel way to keep treasured memories close. Think of it as a 3D family photo.

Wedding Cake Toppers

An even sweeter way to use a 3D model of yourself is on a wedding day or similar occasion.

Having the figures on top of the cake that are the actual likeness of the newlyweds is a really nice way to make the day a little bit more special.

Action Figures and Toys

For more fun reasons, you can even make 3D printed action figures of yourself. With a little extra work, you can print a 3D model of yourself with posable limbs like a real action figure.

With fun and games in mind, tabletop and board games that use figurines like Monopoly and Arkham Horror will be made all the more fun by using 3D printed models of you and your friends as the game pieces.

Before You Start Printing

There are a couple of ways to make a 3D model of yourself, and which method you choose will depend on both what equipment you have access to as well as just how artistically experienced you are.

The most common, easiest, and most accurate way to get a model of yourself to 3D print is through 3D scanning.

3D Scanning Yourself

We’ve already discussed 3D scanning and its uses, from dental practices to full-body 3D scanners and their uses. In the latter, we’ve even briefly discussed 3D selfies.

3D scanning is the process of using structured light or lasers to scan a 3D object ready for upload to rendering and modeling software. Think of it like scanning a document or photo onto a computer, but in full 3D.

Handheld scanners work great for this, but you will need another person to help you so you can get a good scan of your whole body.

How to Get a Scan of Yourself

The scanning process itself will require preparation.

Like taking a good photo, there are things to keep in mind to ensure top-quality results. Correct lighting, reduced background clutter, and stillness to avoid blurring are all crucial to getting an accurate model of yourself ready for 3D printing.

There are a few routes to take to get yourself 3D scanned.

Some scanners can be printed and made at home. Some are fairly cheap, while professional-grade scanners will set you back a little more.

To really get a sense of which scanner is right for you, you can check out our article on 3D printed scanners in all price ranges. And that’s not even mentioning the different kinds of 3D scanner software out there.

The Revopoint POP 2 is a good low-cost choice for home scanning. You can check out our review of it here.

Ensuring Scan Quality

For a really high-quality 3D model of yourself, your scan will need to be as clear as possible.

While the home-based scanning options mentioned above are handy, there are also professional scanning services that use high-end equipment in studios for the best results.

Which of these services are available to you will naturally depend on your area.

A quick search should get you in touch with professional 3D scanners so you can be confident you’ll end up with a 3D model of you that’s a perfect likeness.

All-in-all, it will take some time, research, and money to know exactly what hardware you’ll want and which software to use, but it will be worth it when you’re holding a tiny you in your hands.

Alternatively, you can always go hard mode and make an entire model of yourself from nothing.

Alternative Option: Model Yourself From Scratch

Of course, the most basic method is to simply make a 3D model of yourself from scratch.

Much like how painters will often have a photo of their subject matter by their easel, you can use differently-angled selfies to make a model of yourself using your preferred 3D modeling software.

Naturally, this requires a deft artistic hand and good experience in 3D modeling. But if you’ve got the skill, you might find it to be a worthwhile project that’s a lot of fun as well as rewarding.

3D Printing Yourself

Now that you’ve got your model, it’s time to 3D print yourself!

There’s not much point in making models of real people if they’re not as accurate and detailed as possible, so you’re going to need to have the right machine for the job.

No matter how good the scan or clear the model is, a lesser 3D printer will make your resulting model look generic.

With your model loaded into your preferred slicer, you’re ready to double-check the accuracy and resolution before sending it to be printed.

You can 3D print yourself in just about any material, but for the best results, we recommend resin.

Resin printers are known for more high-quality prints than their FDM counterparts, so it’s better to use one if you’re really going for accuracy in your models.

Particularly high-end or reliable resin printers are excellent for getting models that really look like a little you!

If you don’t have access to a resin printer, or any printer that you trust to get the results you want, it’s worth noting that many professional scanning services will also offer printing as an extra. These services may even be able to print in ceramic or metal.

After printing, it’s time to post-process.

How you’ll do this will depend on what materials you’ve used and how you want your model to look in the end.

If FDM printing with ABS filament, adding a sheen with acetone or carefully painting the model are both good ways to get your desired results.

Just be sure to have your materials ready. If painting, you’ll need the right colors to get your models exactly right, for example.

If you’re new to 3D printing or just want to make extra sure that your models turn out right, you can check out our guides on improving your finish and post-processing your 3D prints.

Make Yourself as an Action Figure

Making static 3D models of yourself may be cool enough as it is, but you don’t have to stop there if you don’t want to.

With a little extra engineering and time, you can even make yourself into a 3D printed action figure!

Once you’ve got a 3D model of yourself, you can use your preferred slicer or editing software to split the model into individual parts depending on where you want your points of articulation.

By modifying these parts with holes to fit together with hinges or screws, you can print them all separately and then combine them to make an articulated action figure that looks just like you.

Of course, this only needs to be as complicated as you want it to be.

If you only want the head to turn, it’s as easy as printing it separately with enough of a connection to hold steady but with enough space to turn.

Joints on the shoulders and elbows will make it so you can put yourself in different poses like a real action figure, same with joints at the hip and knees.

For the best results, make sure you get a scan of yourself standing straight. Different poses and leaning positions may make for cool 3D selfies, but they will limit how your action figure self can be manipulated.

The most important thing is to make sure the points of connection match.

Having CAD software that can run simulations of moving parts is useful for this, but making careful notes when measuring the holes will do.

If you’re feeling extra zany, you can size up the top of the model and attach it to a small spring to turn yourself into a fun bobblehead!

Hints and Tips

We’ve already gone over some of the more important things to keep in mind when 3D printing yourself as a model or action figure, but here are a few extra hints to make sure you’re satisfied with your tiny you.

Always Scan in an Ideal Environment

There are a lot of ways to make sure your 3D scan comes out as clear as possible. Professional scanning services will know what to do, but if you’re scanning yourself at home you’ll need to be mindful of a few things.

Correct lighting and good background colors will stop your scan from being too ‘noisy’. You should also be mindful of your clothing, posture, and chosen pose. All-in-all, just do what you would when taking a good photo and you should be fine.

Taking photos of yourself in the clothes and poses you have in mind makes for a good test run before scanning so you’ll know what looks and works best.

Get More Than One Scan

Again, this is a similar rule to photography. Getting scans of yourself in different poses or in different clothes will give you many more options when it comes to printing.

Even if you’ve got a good one, there’s no harm in getting the same again for safety, it could even end up being a better scan than the first.

Don’t Be Afraid to Experiment

Printing yourself out in different poses or testing out some scans as action figure material can take some trial and error. Considering the time and effort 3D printing yourself can take, you probably won’t want to settle for second-rate.

Experimenting with sizes, infills, materials, and post-processing methods is part of the fun of making a model of yourself.

It will not only help you get a better idea of what to do next time but also make for a good learning experience for getting great 3D printing results in the future.

3D Printing Yourself FAQs

Can I print a 3D model of myself?

Yes. With 3D scanning, you can upload a 3D image of yourself to your preferred slicer and 3D print a model of yourself with ease.

How much does it cost to make a 3D printed figure?

3D printing a figure is fairly cheap if you do it all yourself.

Renting a scanner can cost anywhere between $250 – $500 on average, while professional scanning services generally cost up to $1000, with an added cost for printing that varies depending on size, detail, and materials.

If you like, you can also buy and keep a good low-cost scanner like the Revopoint for around $500 – $700.

How do you 3D print a statue of yourself?

With either an accurate 3D scan of yourself or a model you’ve made from scratch, you can use any high-resolution printer to make a statue of yourself that looks as much like you as possible.

Other articles you may be interested in:

• The 34 coolest & most useful things to 3D print
• 30+ Easy and fun things to 3D print at home
• The 10 best free 3D printer models on Thingiverse
• 8 Big ideas for small 3D prints
• Paper 3D printing
• Top 7 3D printing tips for beginners
• 3D printed items that sell
• 7 Exciting 3D printed food projects

How I printed a model of myself on a 3D printer.

3D modeling

After reading this article, you will learn how I printed a model of my face and body on a 3D printer!

It all started with the purchase of a Kingroon KP3S 3D printer, with a table size of 180 x 180 x 180 mm.

I already had a model of a woman ready, and immediately after assembling the printer, and I assembled it for 15 minutes in total, I sent this model for printing. nine0003

For a printer out of the box, and even not fully configured, the quality is normal.

After some manipulations with the printer, I managed to get a completely smooth surface of the figure after printing.

While watching videos on setting up a printer for printing, I came across a video showing a face modeling program.

This program is called DAZ3D. (perhaps there was already an article on this topic, do not throw slippers)

And the idea came to my mind to make a model of my own face and body. Maybe in the future and earn extra money on this, making 3D models of people and printing them to order. (but hardly anyone needs it)

You can download this program on the official website for free.

After installation, we see the initial page of the program.

And to create yourself you need to go to the tab Windows - Panes - Face Transfer.

After opening this plugin, you will only have to insert your photo. nine0003

Insert a photo, click male - a man (female - a woman) and click - Generate (generation).

A body appears with our face and you see what a resemblance!!!

It seems to be similar, but I hasten to upset you. This model is not suitable for printing.

The point is that our photograph is stretched onto a blank, onto a blank. And it seems to be plausible, but if we print this model, we will get a figure, well, not at all like us. The program tried to automatically repeat our facial features, but she did not do it very well. nine0003

What to do?

To create a 3D model of your face, you will have to work hard.

For this we buy an extension for DAZ 3D - MetaMixer Toolkit.

Quickly install and first create a blank. Genesis 8 Basic Male

may not be installed, you will have to buy ;-)

We are looking for and launching Meta Mixer.

Next, select the Shaping tab and select the faces that are most similar to you, in your opinion. nine0003

After all, Ok Google MetaMixer is: "MetaMixer is a Daz Studio tool that allows users to create unique faces from a set of previously released characters using add-ons for Metamixer."

This tool will allow us to change the facial features of our disc, and not just overlay a photo (texture) on it.

After selecting the desired faces, we need to start Power Pose. Look at the picture below and start.

In Power Pose, select Sculpting or any other parameters that will help "blind" the face of your dreams. After many hours of work in das 3d, I managed to create my face and adjust the body. nine0003

Printing the model. File - Export - I save in .obj format and transfer it to the slicer. (I use Cura).

Printed with PLA.

And if you want to know what I got in the end, then Welcome to my YouTube channel =)

Link to the video:

How I printed a model of myself on a 3D printer ...

Do not swear in the comments, everyone of good. Thank you for reading)

Software for modeling and printing on a 3D printer

Content

• • Programs for 3D modeling
  • types of files for 3D printing
    • Free programs
    • Paid programs
    • Paid Slicers
  • To summarize

The whole cycle of creating a part on a 3D printer can be fit into three stages: Creating / finding a model, cutting a model in a slicer, printing on a 3D printer. Each stage is tied to its own program. Models are created in special programs, then in the slicer the model is “cut” into steps that the printer will sequentially execute. The resulting list of steps (commands) is either placed on a memory card and run from the printer itself, or sent to the printer via a wired/wireless connection. As a result of all these actions, we get the product. Therefore, looking for a “3D printer program” is wrong: you need to look for a modeling program and a slicer. nine0003

3D modeling software

Programs for 3D modeling are divided into two large groups:

Obviously, when creating a drawing, an engineer needs precise tools: a ruler, pencil, compass, etc. But the artist needs more free tools: brushes, pastels, palettes and others. Programs are divided according to the same principle: in engineering programs, there are all the tools that allow you to accurately specify the characteristics of each element of the part, and in art programs, tools are created to give smoother shapes so that the model looks as natural as possible. Of course, in art programs it is possible to model technical products, but this is comparable to drawing a drawing with pastel: it is inconvenient, difficult and inaccurate. Therefore, it is very important to determine why you need a simulation program. nine0003

Tip: It is best to learn one or two programs at a professional level, as this will allow you to create complex models. But you should also know the basics in other programs, since a large circle of knowledge allows you to more flexibly choose the approach to creating models.

File types for 3D printing

To begin with, it is worth understanding what types of files are involved in the manufacturing process of the part. The first step is to create a model. It can be saved in the format of the program itself (for example, KOMPAS-3D files have the .m3d extension, while 3ds Max has the .MAX file extension). Such files can only be opened in the programs in which they were created. But we need a universal format - STL. All programs can save models in this format. It stores the polygons that create the model. nine0003

All files are divided into 3 categories:

• Files that store polygonal information (STL, OBJ, etc. ). They are analogues of a raster image. It is possible to increase the quality of 3D models in this format only by smoothing, but in this case small details will be lost, and the file weight will increase greatly.

• Files that store the steps for creating a part (STEP, STP, etc.). Here you can draw an analogy with vector images. Each element is specified either using simple dot connections (for example, as in a cube or pyramid), or using formulas (any curved, rounded objects). Models in this format can be scaled without loss of quality, while maintaining a relatively small file size. nine0003

• Utility files that store steps for a 3D printer (GCODE, GCOD). These files store the commands that the printer executes and, in some cases, comments (for example, with what settings the model was cut). Some slicers can simulate the movements of the printer, thereby rendering the model, but it is impossible to convert a file from this format to a full-fledged model.

nine0139 Be careful! If you are not sure that the GCODE file is intended for your printer, then you should not print it, because the print area for each printer is different. On third-party firmware there is no limit on the maximum travel distance, some third-party software commands may lead to incorrect operation of the control board. If the printer tries to move the print head out of the printable area many times, then it can harm itself! nine0140