Bring the important details of your original character into one clear brief. Explain the intended size, pose and use, then review what can be made before committing to production. References, dimensions, permissions and finish expectations help distinguish the object you want from an attractive image alone.
Prepare an original character request
For a custom tabletop character, begin with the character you have permission to reproduce, not just a style label. Describe the pose, clothing, equipment and details that matter most. Tell us whether the result is a small tabletop figure or a larger display collectible; the same design can read very differently at those sizes.
- Provide your original concept and identify any reference images and permissions.
- Specify the desired overall size and, where relevant, base dimensions.
- Highlight essential features separately from details that may be simplified.
- Review the proposed scope and quote before payment, then approve the final model before printing.
Thin weapons, fingers or other small details need a feasibility check. An illustration is not proof that every feature can be reproduced at miniature scale. Finish and painting requests also need confirmation in the project scope.
For personal use, explain how you plan to display or use the figure. If you intend to sell copies, say so at the start: a personal character request does not establish a commercial production agreement. Start an original-character request.
Turn a reference into a usable character brief
A clear reference brief explains what must remain recognizable and what may change. For a miniature from character artwork, include the original image and describe the features the viewer cannot see. For a figure from a written description, describe the pose and silhouette before adding small decorations.
- Views: supply front, side and back references when available; identify uncertain details rather than asking the maker to guess.
- Priorities: separate essential features from optional details. A distinctive cloak may matter more than a tiny buckle.
- Size: state the intended height and whether the figure is for display or comparison with other miniatures.
- Permissions: identify the artist and your authority to commission a reproduction.
Feasibility review may identify details that need thickening, simplification or a different pose. Agree on those changes before approving the model. The goal is a workable physical object, not a promise that a flat illustration can be reproduced identically at every size.
Send your original character brief. Ask which references and approvals are needed for the particular project, including any finishing request.
Specify a finish without assuming a painting package
“Painted,” “tabletop-ready” and “display finish” can mean different things to different makers. For a custom figure, describe the result you want: main colours, areas that need contrast, surface appearance and whether you plan to add paint yourself. Ask which parts of that request can be included in the actual quote.
Compare an example of the proposed finish at a similar size. A coloured digital preview can guide a discussion, but it is not evidence of the paint, surface preparation or detail you will receive on a physical miniature.
- For an unpainted figure, ask what preparation remains before your own painting process.
- For a requested painted finish, identify the important colours and provide authorized references.
- Confirm whether the quote includes preparation, painting or only the printed object.
- Agree on the approval point and how changes affect scope before work begins.
Do not assume that a particular painting tier is available because another page or an older example mentions it. Ask about the current finish options for your project. If painting cannot be included, decide whether a suitable unpainted object still meets your needs.