A custom figurine from a photo is made by turning your image into a 3D model, then printing it in full colour. At 3DCentral you upload one to three clear photos, our two AI engines sculpt a draft, an artist hand-finishes the mesh, and you approve a 3D preview before anything prints. The figurine is then printed in our Laval, Quebec farm and shipped across Canada with no customs and nothing charged until you give the go-ahead.
If you have ever wanted a miniature of yourself, a loved one, a pet or an original character sitting on your shelf, this guide walks through exactly how photo-to-3D printing works in Canada, what it costs in Canadian dollars, and what makes a good source photo. You can start your own at the custom figurine studio whenever you are ready.
What is a photo-to-figurine, really?
A photo is a flat, two-dimensional image. A figurine is a solid, three-dimensional object. Bridging the two takes a step called photogrammetry-style reconstruction: software studies the shapes, proportions and colours in your picture and rebuilds them as a printable 3D mesh. Modern AI sculpting engines do this remarkably well from even a single good photo, which is why a true custom figurine no longer requires a 3D scanner or a sculptor working from scratch.
The important part is what happens after the AI. Raw machine output is a starting point, not a finished collectible. Faces, hands and small details often need cleanup, and that is where a human artist matters. This is not a “100% AI” gimmick — it is modern decentralized manufacturing with a craftsperson in the loop.
How photo-to-3D printing works at 3DCentral
The whole process is built around one principle: you should see and approve your figurine before we ever heat a nozzle. Here is the flow step by step.
- Upload your photo. Send 1–3 sharp, well-lit photos or reference art — ideally a front view plus a three-quarter angle. Add notes for pose, outfit and colours.
- AI sculpts, an artist finishes. We route your photo to whichever engine sculpts you best (we run two — Tripo and Rodin — rather than being locked to one), then a real artist hand-polishes the mesh.
- You approve the 3D preview. You receive a 3D preview to spin around and check. One revision is included. Nothing prints until you say it looks right.
- We print and ship. Your figurine is printed full-colour in our Quebec farm and shipped to your door.
Because the preview-and-approve step comes before payment is captured, there is no risk of paying for a figurine that does not look like its subject. It is the same secure, made-to-order model we use across our collectibles shop — just personalized to you.
What makes a good source photo
The quality of your figurine starts with the quality of your photo. For the best result:
- Use a sharp, well-lit image, at least roughly 1000 × 1000 pixels.
- Include a clear front view, and if you can, a three-quarter angle too.
- Avoid heavy shadows, motion blur, sunglasses or anything covering the face.
- For a couple, a group or a pet, supply a clean photo of each subject.
Custom figurine pricing in Canada (CAD)
Everything is priced in Canadian dollars, so there are no exchange-rate surprises at checkout. Pricing depends on the size of the figurine and the craft level you choose. The figures below are indicative; your final price is confirmed with your 3D preview.
| Size | Format | Indicative price (Signature, CAD) |
|---|---|---|
| 4 cm | Mini | $49 |
| 6 cm | Best fit (most popular) | $89 |
| 8 cm | Display | $129 |
| 10 cm | Centrepiece | $169 |
| 13–15 cm | Hero | $239 |
There are two craft levels available today. Studio is full-colour FDM with automated cleanup — the fast, budget-friendly option, with figurines starting around $37 CAD. Signature routes to the best AI engine and is then hand-finished by our artists; it is the standard most customers choose. A max-fidelity resin, hand-painted Atelier tier is coming soon.
Optional add-ons let you build a scene: a second character, a pet companion, an engraved name base, or a premium collector box. A rush option is available when you need it faster.
No customs, Canadian shipping, made in Quebec
This is the part that matters most if you have ever ordered a custom figurine from an overseas seller and waited a month — only to get hit with surprise duties. Because 3DCentral prints in Laval, Quebec, your order ships domestically:
- No customs and no duties for Canadian customers — it never crosses a border.
- Free shipping on orders over $149 CAD within Canada; US and international rates are calculated at checkout.
- Fast turnaround — typically a few days of production after you approve the preview, plus Canadian shipping.
- Bilingual service in English and Quebec French.
We print in PLA across more than ten colours today, with outdoor-safe PETG on the way. Want to feel the print quality before commissioning a custom piece? Browse our ready-to-ship collectibles first.
Who owns the figurine — and a note on licensing
Your custom figurine is yours, for personal use. We do not resell your likeness, and your uploaded photos are deleted after your order is fulfilled. You can also commission someone else’s figurine as a gift, provided you have their consent (and a parent’s consent for a child). We decline requests for celebrities and licensed characters.
One clarification that often comes up: 3DCentral’s Commercial License is a separate offering that lets print-farm and Etsy sellers legally print and sell our original 3DCentral designs. It does not apply to custom photo figurines, and it does not cover designs by the community artists we curate. Our catalogue is a mix of original 3DCentral models and curated community-artist designs (creators such as Cinderwing3D, Flexi Factory, McGybeer and others, printed with their permission); for commercial rights to a specific artist’s model, contact that artist directly.
FAQ
How much does a custom figurine from a photo cost in Canada?
Figurines start around $37 CAD for a small Studio print. The most popular 6 cm “Best fit” in our hand-finished Signature craft is $89 CAD, and larger display and hero sizes run up to $239 CAD. All prices are in Canadian dollars, and your final price is confirmed with your 3D preview.
What photo works best for a custom figurine?
A sharp, well-lit photo of at least about 1000 × 1000 pixels — a clear front view, ideally plus a three-quarter angle. Avoid blur, heavy shadows or anything covering the face. For a couple, group or pet, send a clean photo of each subject.
How long does it take to receive my figurine?
Plan on a few days of production after you approve the 3D preview, plus Canadian shipping time. A rush option is available if you need it sooner.
Will I be charged before I see it?
No. You approve a 3D preview first — one revision is included — and nothing prints until you give the go-ahead. The approve-before-print flow means you never pay for a figurine that does not look like its subject.
Do Canadian customers pay customs or duties?
No. Because we print in Laval, Quebec and ship domestically, Canadian orders never cross a border, so there are no customs fees or surprise duties. Shipping is free on Canadian orders over $149 CAD.
Ready to see yourself, a loved one or your pet as a full-colour collectible? Start your commission at the custom figurine studio, or reach out through our contact page if you have a special request.
