How prevalent is 3D printing? And is it affecting the hobby?

[Doghouse]

2 hours ago, sarabando said:

oh God i hadnt even thought of this, "create me a warhammer 40k science fiction power axe in the style of a two handed danesaxe" *poof* and print

 

It's something I have been thinking about a lot as I am designing my own models for my own game for fun. AI is not going to be amazing straight off the bat but I have seen people already using AI and Blender and other programs combined with examples of 2D art being turned into 3d models.

 

In my experience sculpting with GS can be a long process and difficult to start over from scratch if you mess it up or it's not working. Computer modelling and creating STL has been an eye opener increasing the speed enormously and more importantly allowing me to rapid prototype and alter designs extremely quickly. I have refined the latest model I am working on seven or eight times in a fraction of the time with 3D printing that I could with GS.

 

Once the prompts are figured out it could be the same as what people are achieving with AI art in which case you could reduce that design process to a matter of seconds. Like I say it's very early days but I think this is going to be the next step in printing for sure, just not sure how long it will take to catch up to the current human modellers then surpass them but it's extremely likely we will see sites flooded with fairly decent wargaming models.

 

[phandaal]

6 minutes ago, Doghouse said:

Once the prompts are figured out it could be the same as what people are achieving with AI art in which case you could reduce that design process to a matter of seconds. Like I say it's very early days but I think this is going to be the next step in printing for sure, just not sure how long it will take to catch up to the current human modellers then surpass them but it's extremely likely we will see sites flooded with fairly decent wargaming models.

 

That will be awesome. So many times I have spent hours looking for the right bit of proxy model, only to come up empty handed.

[Evil Eye]

Yeah, whilst I don't think AI will be able to instantly model up entire miniature ranges or even complete models, for bits and design elements I can see it being fantastic. Give me ALL the abstract semi-organic blades and guns!

[Bung]

9 hours ago, Doghouse said:

 

It's something I have been thinking about a lot as I am designing my own models for my own game for fun. AI is not going to be amazing straight off the bat but I have seen people already using AI and Blender and other programs combined with examples of 2D art being turned into 3d models.

 

In my experience sculpting with GS can be a long process and difficult to start over from scratch if you mess it up or it's not working. Computer modelling and creating STL has been an eye opener increasing the speed enormously and more importantly allowing me to rapid prototype and alter designs extremely quickly. I have refined the latest model I am working on seven or eight times in a fraction of the time with 3D printing that I could with GS.

 

Once the prompts are figured out it could be the same as what people are achieving with AI art in which case you could reduce that design process to a matter of seconds. Like I say it's very early days but I think this is going to be the next step in printing for sure, just not sure how long it will take to catch up to the current human modellers then surpass them but it's extremely likely we will see sites flooded with fairly decent wargaming models.

 

 

I dont think it will be that fast. 

For me sculpterd should have experience with the physical medium to sculpt cause most stuff i see from sculptors using only Blender etc. is just flat. There is a lack of personality for faces being to perfekt symetric or with to much Details like a lot of GWs stuff in the last years.

 

Its more visibil in bigger models and busts. But i dont find as much interesting stuff to paint from sculptors that only work in a Computer. 

It could be a nice tool for an experienced sculpter / Artist willing to change the creations a bit just like Blender as another tool for experienced sculptors.