3D printer manufacturer Bambu Lab is expanding its ecosystem with MakerLab PrintU. The tool is aimed at users who want to quickly create printable 3D figures from photos. PrintU relies on a combination of AI image analysis and automatic 3D model generation. Tencent Hunyuan 3D forms the technical basis.
Access is via a web-based interface. First, a photo is uploaded, either by drag-and-drop or file selection. Common image formats such as JPG, PNG, WEBP, and JPEG are supported with a file size of up to 10 MB. The user interface then determines the visual style of the figure. You can choose from bobblehead, chibi, cartoon, or emoji, for example. PrintU generates a stylized portrait from the photo based on the selected look.
The next step is to define the figure’s posture. In addition to a neutral standing pose, an “image pose” mode based on the original image and a T-pose are available in a beta version. After selecting the style and pose, PrintU first creates a 2D preview image. This image is used to check whether the face, clothing, and basic pose have been applied as desired.
Only when the 2D view is satisfactory is the 3D model generated at the touch of a button. The resulting model can be further customized in an integrated 3D editor. There, base plates and name tags can be selected, colors changed, and poses adjusted. It is also possible to design the figure in one or more colors and then export the finished model.
A fee in the form of MakerWorld credits is charged for use. One run from the image template to the exported 3D model costs 10 credits.
Subscribe to our Newsletter
3DPresso is a weekly newsletter that links to the most exciting global stories from the 3D printing and additive manufacturing industry.
