3D Model Figurine Generators

I started 3D printing as a hobby in May 2023. At the time, most of my 3D prints were of models that other people created and uploaded to free online repositories such as the ones I’ve described here. I then took the next logical step of learning a CAD application called Tinkercad to create my own simple models. For some specific use cases, I’ve experimented with 3D modeling streets and terrain. Generative artificial intelligence exploded onto the scene in recent years, and now there are many websites that allow users to upload a photo and automatically generate a 3D figurine without knowing anything about mesh modeling of curved surfaces. In this post, I compare 2 free 3D figurine generators: PrintU by Bambu Lab and FanForge by Creality.

As depicted in the image at the top, I uploaded the same photo to PrintU and FanForge and generated 3D models. Both PrintU and FanForge had relatively easy to understand wizard interfaces, and both websites offered variations for how to generate the 3D models. I generated 3 variations in each application, and screenshots of the 3D models are presented below.

As you can see, the 3 models generated by PrintU were far more realistic than the ones generated by FanForge. In fact, the FanForge models did not even remotely match the facial features that were in the uploaded photo. The FanForge models were more “artistic” which could partially explain their deviation from reality, but if the starting point is a bust photo, I have an expectation that the resultant model should bear some resemblance.

I’d have to experiment with additional models generated by different photos before drawing more definitive conclusions, but my initial impression is that PrintU is the clear winner in this head to head comparison.

Generative Artificial Intelligence Revisited

My previous post was about generative artificial intelligence (AI). The purpose of the post was to illustrate  the capabilities of generative AI. You see, I did not write the contents of the post. In fact, ChatGPT wrote it for me:

I also asked DALL·E 2 to generate the image. Both ChatGPT and DALL·E 2 are developed by OpenAI and are free to use, so you can sign up for an account and start experimenting.

With ChatGPT, you can start a conversation on almost any topic, and it will respond accordingly based on the massive amount of data that was used to train the AI model. Depending on your conversation with ChatGPT, you may get very realistic and stunningly accurate answers.

With DALL·E 2, you can simply input a text description of your desired image, and DALL·E 2 will leverage its AI model to generate such an image. Some of the images are so realistic that it can be difficult to tell the difference between images that were created by humans and images that were created using AI models. If you want to test your ability to spot the difference, check this out.

Generative Artificial Intelligence

Generative artificial intelligence, also known as generative AI, is a type of AI that is able to generate new and original content or data based on a set of input parameters. This technology is having a significant impact on a wide range of industries and applications.

One area where generative AI is having a major impact is in the field of art and media. Generative AI algorithms can be trained on large datasets of images, text, or audio, and then generate new content that is similar in style or content to the training data. This has led to the creation of new forms of art, such as music and paintings, that were created entirely by AI. In addition, generative AI is being used to generate realistic images and videos that can be used in films and video games, as well as to create personalized content for social media platforms.

Another area where generative AI is having an impact is in the field of science and research. Scientists are using generative AI to generate new hypotheses and predictions that can be tested in the lab, and to design new materials and drugs. In addition, generative AI is being used to analyze and interpret large datasets in a variety of fields, such as genomics and finance, to discover new patterns and trends that were previously hidden. Overall, generative AI is having a profound impact on the way we think about and use data and is likely to continue to shape the way we live and work in the future.