FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
Q: Do you take bust requests?
A: Not anymore, unfortunately. Over the years I have managed to build a large portfolio, and most of the subjects never returned what I invested into them. You may request a subject to be commissioned at a price of $800 per subject.
Q: I'd like a bust of my grandmother, is this something you can do?
A: Yes, but it will be expensive if I need to create the digital asset from scratch. Sculpting costs and prototyping costs will run about $800 for the job, and it will take about 4 weeks. You can reduce this significantly if you obtain a scan of your friend or relative with a smartphone app such as "3DCatch" or any photogrammetry app. Google "photogrammetry apps" for a complete list of free and paid programs.
Q: Can you copy this statue from this photograph?
A: I can, as long as it's old enough that there aren't copyright issues (pre-1909). If you have a file, it will be fairly straightforward and similar to the pricing in my shop for the print. If you only have a picture, and there is no file (STL) in the open domain, sculpting it from scratch will run around $600 and will take a couple of weeks. If it is a work post-1909 I can't help you; I will not copy other artists' copyright-protected original work under any circumstances.
Q: What are your 3D Prints made of?
A: Every item in my shop is made from Polylactic Acid (PLA), which is a non-toxic organic thermo-polymer made from corn starch or sugarcane and is industrially compostable under very specific and expensive conditions. It will not break down if buried or submerged in water and will last for a very, very long time. 3DPD makes every effort to repurpose and transform waste plastics such as support material and failed prints. One example of this is that our PLA waste is ground up into shards and suspended in the filled and premium bust product lines. Additionally, in-house colors such as black make use of a small percentage of waste plastics to recycle them. Anyone that makes the claim that PLA is “eco-friendly” or “biodegradable” is simply misinformed and has copy/pasted the erroneous marketing materials made available by the manufacturers. 3DPD will aspire to reduce, repurpose, recycle, or upcycle its waste streams and prevent as much material as possible from being sent to the landfill, and a portion of your purchase will be used to fund this ongoing research and development.
Q: Are 3D prints fragile?
A: All of my prints are FDM, meaning they are very rigid and hold up very well to time and use. Occasionally, the USPS will devise a clever way to wreck my work, but this is the exception.
Q: Why are they so light?
A: I combine technology and art to create the strongest possible work, yet the least amount of material consumed and therefore lower cost of manufacture and also shipping cost. It also has the added benefit of allowing multiple works to be placed on floating shelves without the need for elaborate reinforcement or the like. I do also make a premium bust version that are much heavier, but they will need a sturdy shelf if you want to display more than 5 at a time.
Q: Which colors are made in the USA?
A: Black, white, white marble, gray, bronze, olive, gun metal gray, lime green, green, purple, blue, silver and brown. All of the rest of our colors are sourced globally. Our long term goal is to source USA suppliers for all of our colors, and will continue to add USA sourced filaments.
Q: Do 3D prints smell?
A: Absolutely not. PLA is an odorless plastic that doesn't emit any smell. That said, I occasionally use a strawberry-scented accelerator on my glue that makes it cure instantly. For the large busts this is a MUST to get a good bond between the plinths and the bust. If there is any residual accelerator, that strawberry scent will dissipate in a day or so leaving only the odorless print.
Q: I see 10 items listed, does that mean you have 10 to ship tomorrow?
A: If you see "QTY 10" for a given item, it means I can make 10 of them inside of the advertised delivery date listed. If you ask me for an estimated shipping date and wait 5 days to actually buy the item, the ship date will have to slip to reflect the delay in purchase.
Q: Do you sell your STL files?
A: I just launched a digital download storefront here: https://www.etsy.com/shop/DimensionalDesignLab
I'm hoping to have all of the portrait artwork listed by July/August
Q: Do you take on 3D print work?
A: If you have a file, I can generate a quote very quickly. It's best if you include a link to a source when you contact me. Please be aware I will not 3D print any of the following under any circumstances:
1) Pornographic content
2) Anything firearms related
3) Fidget Spinners
4) Cookie Cutters
5) Pokemon
If it is a functional part to be used on a plane, train, boat, or automobile I will require indemnification should the part fail while in use.
Q: If I send you a photo, is it going to be used for marketing purposes?
A: Probably, especially if it is good. If you upload or email a photo to my site or to my inbox you are giving me permission to use it in social media or for marketing purposes. I will not cite the source of the photo, and I might create a derivative (filters, cropping, etc) of your photo.
Q: I don't see an item on your site anymore, can I still buy it?
A: If you're an existing customer that is looking to purchase a replacement or a copy, sure. I've grown a lot personally and professionally since I started this site, and my interests have changed for both legal and personal reasons.