Contemporary art moved beyond canvas and clay long ago. 3D printing gives artists, sculptors and designers possibilities that seemed like science fiction ten years ago: creating a complex sculpture in a few hours, printing an exact copy of a digital model or making a mould for serial casting. In this article we look at specific ways 3D printing is used in artistic and design practice \u2014 from art objects to tools for everyday work.<\/p>\n
3D printing makes it possible to create sculptures with geometry that\u2019s impossible to achieve by hand modelling or milling. Interwoven structures, thin openwork walls, internal cavities \u2014 all of this prints as a single piece without assembly.<\/p>\n
The workflow usually looks like this: the artist creates a digital sculpture in ZBrush, Blender or another 3D editor, then the model is exported to STL format and sent for printing. If you\u2019re just starting out with digital sculpting, we recommend Blender \u2014 it\u2019s free and has powerful sculpting tools. ZBrush is better suited to complex organic forms with millions of polygons.<\/p>\n
For most art objects the best choice is PLA plastic<\/a>. It holds detail well and is easy to post-process<\/a> \u2014 sanding, priming and painting. After finishing, a sculpture is practically indistinguishable from one made of plaster or ceramic.<\/p>\n A lithophane is a thin plate of varying thickness that turns an ordinary photo into a three-dimensional image. When a lithophane is backlit, the thinner areas let more light through, while the thicker ones stay dark. The result is a three-dimensional \u201cphotograph\u201d with striking depth.<\/p>\n Lithophanes are printed in white PLA and need no post-processing. They make a great personalised gift or a piece of interior decor. You don\u2019t need 3D modelling skills to create a lithophane \u2014 just upload a photo to one of the free online generators, and it will automatically generate a model for printing.<\/p>\n One of the most practical scenarios is printing master models and moulds for casting. Instead of carving the original by hand, you can create a 3D model<\/a> on a computer, print it and use it as the basis for a silicone mould. Then you pour in plaster, concrete, epoxy resin or any other material.<\/p>\n For moulds that will take hot material (for example, molten wax at up to 70\u201380 \u00b0C), PETG is better than PLA. PETG withstands higher temperatures and deforms less. If you work with plaster or concrete at room temperature, PLA is quite enough.<\/p>\n Preparing for an exhibition often calls for non-standard solutions: stands for unusually shaped objects, mounts for installations, frames with an individual design. 3D printing lets you make all of this exactly to your needs, without compromising with what\u2019s available in the shops.<\/p>\n For example, you can print a stand that follows the outline of a sculpture perfectly, or a frame with an integrated mount for LED lighting. PLA works well for exhibition pieces and looks quite presentable after painting.<\/p>\n 3D printing is useful not only for making finished pieces but also for making working tools. Ceramicists and sculptors print:<\/p>\n The advantage is obvious: instead of hunting for the right tool, you simply design it for the specific task.<\/p>\n For artists who work with textiles, ceramics or paper, 3D-printed stamps and stencils are a way to scale up handwork without losing individuality. You create your own ornament, print a stamp and then use it as many times as you like.<\/p>\n PLA works well for stamps used with paint or ink. If a stamp will come into contact with hot material \u2014 for example, for embossing wax \u2014 choose PETG.<\/p>\n Before building a large-scale installation, it makes sense to create a scaled-down model. 3D printing is ideal for this: you quickly get a physical model, assess the proportions, show the concept to the client or curator, make changes and print an updated version.<\/p>\n It\u2019s much cheaper and faster than building each iteration of the model by hand. And the digital model is kept and can be scaled up to full size when the time comes to build it.<\/p>\n If you\u2019re an artist or designer with your own style, 3D printing lets you create a line of signature souvenirs: miniature copies of your sculptures, key rings with your characters, decorative magnets or desk objects. It\u2019s both extra income and a way to promote your own brand.<\/p>\n Even a small run of 20\u201350 pieces becomes economically viable with 3D printing \u2014 no injection moulds, no minimum order.<\/p>\n Going from a sketch to a physical object takes a few steps:<\/p>\n If you already have a ready-made 3D model \u2014 great, the process is even simpler. If there\u2019s no model but you have an idea, we\u2019ll help you bring it to life at any stage.<\/p>\n Important:<\/strong> we print only from a ready-made 3D model (STL, OBJ, STEP or 3MF). No model? We\u2019ll tell you where to find a ready-made one (on Printables, Thingiverse or MakerWorld) or who can make it.<\/p>\n Send us your model or sketch, or simply describe the task \u2014 we\u2019ll choose the best printing method and material. We work with artists, designers, architects and everyone who creates.<\/p>\nLithophanes \u2014 3D photographs<\/h2>\n
Casting moulds: silicone, plaster, concrete<\/h2>\n
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Custom frames and stands for exhibitions<\/h2>\n
Tools for modelling and sculpture<\/h2>\n
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Stamps and stencils<\/h2>\n
Models for installations<\/h2>\n
Personalised souvenirs<\/h2>\n
How to start: from idea to finished piece<\/h2>\n
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Ready to turn your idea into a physical object?<\/h3>\n