desmoda- I think you misunderstood my post :). Sorry if I wasn’t clear, I’m new to this forum and rarely go on forums in general (currently this is the only site I’m even posting on because I’m so busy with stuff). I didn’t realize how old this thread was, I just saw “Ooow they do 3D printing!” and I posted.
I’m not asking anyone here to help me with traditional mold making a traditional piece, this is a site for digital art and that’s what I’m getting into…I was simply sharing my work to prove I know how to sculpt & duplicate traditionally since I don’t have anything like that done digitally yet. And yes I am already aware about why air bubbles happen, lol. I worked in special FX briefly, and we used those machines all the time for our molding and casting process. I cannot afford $500.00 for a pressure pot (well I can probably save up now that my computer is bought). The reason I brought up traditional mold making and casting, is I’m hoping to be able to reproduce some digital prints once I have digital work done. And reproduce them with traditional casting methods since it’s probably more simple/cheap. So; Sculpt something in Z-brush, pay you guys for one print, reproduce/paint them on my own. I sometimes sell artwork at Renaissance fair, and I sell these fantasy pendants I make in clay and then cast in resin…but I sometimes sell larger pieces than the pendants, or figures, and I know I could do so many new designs faster digitally. For example; If I was to (in z-brush) sculpt a flat backed dragon head wall hanging piece that’s only about 6 inches, then get it 3D printed…I could take that 3D print made in plastic or whatever printed material, and make a silicone mold, and make my own duplicates in resin…assuming that’s cheaper for me to do, just make ten on my own instead of paying to have ten 3D printed and shipped. If I’m conveying that clearly? This is just all stuff I do on the side because I don’t make very much money at the studio I work at currently.
BUT, I also want to have personal projects printed…so I can have my own characters stood up on my desk. I’m used to having a figure I can hold being a traditional artist, so I’ll definitely want to end up printing my digital 3D work. I hope I’m articulating myself more clearly now :S.
Knowing you guys now do all different scales…can you link me to a price guide if you have one? I will definitely be wanting to get some original characters and creatures printed out if I can afford it, but may not be able to if it’s around $200.00 just for one little figure to put on my desk. In that case I would at least really need to pick and choose. Z-brush is definitely a heck of a lot faster than traditional sculpting. I’m trying to get away from traditional sculpting for the most part since I need digital for my career, and in some ways it’s just more fun and free I’m finding.
To answer your question about my paints (were you having a go at me having vitamins on my art table? What’s up with that? lol). I do not keep food items on my art table WHILE working :P. I don’t run my own shop, I work at a video game studio full time and sell artwork on the side now and then. I don’t have a big professional thing going like you guys, and don’t intend to unless I decide to become freelance and leave studio work one day. It’s just me in my room, at my art table, doing art, on my own. I am also self taught at just about everything I do. I cast in polyurethane resin, and after all the post casting work I spray them with a primer made for plastic. After that I do all my painting with acrylics (just regular ones you can get cheap at craft stores). Then when the paint job is done, I apply flat and gloss (for eyes etc.) varnish to help seal the paint job. I really do need to break down and buy and airbrush, lol. I know how to use one but don’t own one. I have a handful of figures on my computer desk I made and have painted this way, and none of them have chipped…even being jostled around, so I must be doing something right. I have had nothing but praise from custoimers too about my paint work. Unfortunately the werewolf photo i attached is crappy and blurry and does not do them justice. If you can recommend a paint that’s better suited for plastic/resin,or even a specific airbrush to buy, I’m all ears! I have stuck with acrylics because it’s what I’ve known, and when I’ve tried to find out what others use I can’t seem to dig out any clear info. I learned what I could at the special FX shop I was in years ago, but being a Christian girl surrounded by disgruntled (pissed they had to learn digital or become extinct, lol), middle aged death metal heads…my learning process was stunted, lol. You know…I like Rob Zombie and Ramstein! But I don’t think they believed me since I didn’t look and act like them, lol :P. I think I made them uncomfortable and sculpting werewolves wasn’t dark enough, LOL. I guess what I’m trying to say, is there are holes in my knowledge on how to make things traditionally in the most professional manner possible.
This is an original little creature I’m currently working on in z-brush…I am NEW to z-brush though, so I realize it has a lot of flaws, and it still has more work I need to do. I’m doing semi cartoony stuff until I’m more at home in Z-brush, then will do some more detailed or realistic pieces. When he’s done I’d love to have him printed at about 6 inches tall (it doesn’t have to be an exact 6 inches…just around that), but would prefer to paint him on my own. I’ll probably do a few figures first and get better before I pay for any prints though (it depends on how expensive it all is). Do you guys print in unpainted plastic? I’m still not sure if you answered me on that…sorry! I apologize if you have an obvious link posted somewhere to your shop…but I figure it’s better just to ask in case any links or info is outdated by now.
! His name is Crumpet Crawler btw…lol. He’s a sidekick to a British character in a original project I’m working on (a British character based on my significant other in England…his fave animal is the red panda! there’s a handful of characters in my project who I’m basing off friends and family). But anyways, lol…
lol I am thankful I took the time to learn it…because it’s a nice thing to be able to do after spending hours sculpting something (to in a sense immortalize it and cast it in a sturdy material! and share with friends and sell sometimes!)…but I definitely view it as a messy and expensive chore. Now that I have a fairly steady job with a paycheck, I don’t need to do it as much though, so it’s not so bad.
Gamingheads 
