Master your Prints
So, you've decided to print tiny plastic people with your complex piece of manufacturing equipment — excellent choice.
This is the go-to page for every beginner and mid-level printer who wants to level up their FDM miniatures. Everything you need, in one place.
Miniatures Photography Guide
In this hobby we collect, print, paint and game with miniatures — and we want to share what we've done. However, taking photos of these little dudes is a challenge on its own. The goal is to have crisp, clear pictures with nice contrast, close to reality, without photoshopping — because we don't want to lie about what we've painted.
Common problems to avoid: washed out colours, lack of contrast, blurry images, accentuated layer lines, accentuated distortions, and colour tinting.
Clean, plain background
The best option is black velvet — it absorbs light completely, producing zero glare and making your miniature pop with natural contrast. If you don't have black velvet, a plain white background works well too (a curved A4 sheet of paper or a photo booth turntable printed in white PLA). The key is keeping it plain, clean, and free of distractions. Avoid shiny or textured surfaces that reflect light or compete with your subject.
Diffuse lighting
If you have a photo booth with LEDs, even better. Otherwise, tape a blank white sheet of paper on your desk lamp, or print a single-layer disk in white PLA and tape it in front of the light. This creates ambient light that reduces the accent of sharp features like layer lines.
Stabilise your camera
Use a tripod or a printable phone stand. Stability is critical for sharp macro-like shots. If you don't have a tripod, small cheap ones work well, and there are printable adapters for phone mounting.
No digital zoom
Choose a suitable distance for proper focus and do not exceed your camera's optical zoom. Digital zoom is a major culprit of accentuating layer lines and artifacts. Don't worry if there's more visible in the photo than you want — we'll crop later.
Camera application
Use a camera app with manual control. Set proper white balance for your lighting, increase exposure slightly by adjusting ISO and shutter settings, and switch to manual focus. To nail the focus: zoom in, set the value, then zoom back out.
Post processing
Keep it minimal. Slightly increase exposure if needed, and crop the image so the miniature's base sits around the centre third of the frame. Maintain the original aspect ratio.
Before the camera — painting techniques that matter
These aren't meant to hide things, but to not show things that aren't there. Some painting techniques accentuate layer lines, others hide them:
Spray / brush-on primer
vs. airbrush — thicker coats fill lines
Airbrush zenithal
vs. slap chop — softer transitions
Horizontal drybrushing
vs. vertical — avoid emphasizing lines
Varnish before washes
Prevents wash pooling in layer lines
Layering
vs. glazing — both valid, different effects