Choose a photograph with readable silhouette
Use one complete subject with space around its head, feet and accessories. A three-quarter view usually gives more shape information than a tightly cropped portrait. Keep the subject sharp and the background simple. Separate an arm from the torso where the silhouette allows it; a hand hidden behind a coat is information the model must invent. A clean photograph of an original sculpt, toy or costume is a useful starting point when you own the image and design. Avoid a collage of unrelated angles in a single upload: one image does not become a calibrated multi-view scan because several photographs share the same canvas.
Review shape before committing to a detailed variant
The miniature preset selects Detail because small silhouettes can depend on the outline of a face, collar or accessory. It does not make a thin sword thicker or repair fused fingers. You may switch to Fast in Studio to review the broad shape before spending more credits. The exact credit cost is shown beside generation, and clicking the preset button only prepares controls; it does not submit a job. Keep the reference image and the accepted GLB together. Compare front, sides and back, especially where the input photo had shadows or occlusion. A plausible back view is still inferred geometry, not a measurement of the real object.
Understand 32 mm height versus tabletop scale
This tool sets total mesh height. Some miniature ranges measure a humanoid from feet to eyes, while others use total height or a nominal scale ratio. A 32 mm total-height export therefore may not match a 32 mm-to-eyes figure. Decide which measurement your collection uses before selecting the value. Imported GLB models may be authored in metres or arbitrary coordinates; entering a target height makes the resulting STL coordinates millimetres without relying on that source convention. The tool scales all three axes equally, recentres the model and puts its lowest point at Z=0. It does not independently stretch the head, feet or base.
Prepare thin parts and the base in a mesh editor
At miniature size, an apparently solid rendered feature can become too thin for the intended printer and material. Inspect wrists, fingers, hair tips, straps and points where separate surfaces nearly touch. Add or strengthen a base in a mesh editor if the model cannot stand as intended. Work from the exported mesh rather than assuming a painted shadow is a groove. The converter changes coordinates and file format; it does not add supports, hollow the object, repair self-intersections, close holes or certify wall thickness. Keep an editable original so a failed print does not force you to generate the whole model again.
Inspect the downloaded STL in your slicer
Open the file in the slicer you will actually use and confirm the displayed height matches the value entered here. Choose millimetres if the importer asks for units: STL itself contains no unit declaration. Check the base touches the build plane, rotate the model if a different orientation is preferable, and review layer previews around delicate features. Look for missing islands, intersecting shells and unexpectedly solid cavities. Printer-specific supports and exposure or extrusion settings belong in the slicer. A small test print is a better validation of a new miniature workflow than a clean-looking shaded preview in a browser.
Keep the deliverable clear for a buyer or collaborator
A miniature commission needs an agreed subject, dimensions and file format. Deliver the reviewed STL, explain the total-height convention, and keep a screenshot of the slicer dimensions with your working files. If a buyer expects colour, retain the textured GLB as a separate asset: STL carries geometry and does not carry the original PBR textures. An AI-generated file is not automatically a production-ready commercial miniature. Check the provider terms and rights to the input design before offering it for sale. Do not represent a single-view reconstruction as an exact likeness or a scan of surfaces that were never photographed.
Common questions
Does the preset generate a miniature immediately?
No. It opens the existing 3D Studio with the selected settings. You still choose or review the source, sign in if required, check the displayed credits and press Generate. Existing account and download entitlements continue to apply.
Can I turn a portrait into a full-body figure?
A face-only photograph does not provide a body, clothing or pose. Use a full-body reference when the deliverable needs those features. A guessed body may be useful for a concept, but it should not be described as an accurate reconstruction.
Does a successful export mean the mesh is printable?
No. Success means the browser produced an STL at the requested coordinate height. Watertightness, physical strength, supports and printer-specific settings still need inspection. The tool does not run a printability certification.