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Negative Stereotypes
It is a matter of perception. Anything can be a toy, any toy can be something more. But by-and-large all stereotypes have a starting point. With toys it is a cultural stereotype. Just the word "toys" denotes images of children and objects of play. But there is a niche, a growing niche, of adult collectors breaking the classic stereotype, and applying serious money to it. Tools of the niche: photography, 3D printing, resin casts, photo editing, and an active community that is growing around the world. And here is what I am doing with this niche: I am doing 3D printing. |
Setting a Foundation
There appears to be a lot of stereotypes when mentioning the topic of toys. A lot of folks might just assume toys equate to play and children. But there are a lot of hobbies out there in the world that involves miniature sets, vehicles, and people. And a lot of those hobbies are viewed with respect -- model rail roads, for example, and fine scale models of WWII airplanes, battleships, and tanks.
My primary interest is the aspect of a diorama -- capturing a moment of time using miniatures. Museums use diorama's to educate visitors -- a wax museum, for example, or an anthropology department in a university may use a diorama to display how a culture of the past might have lived. Dioramas are also common in the entertainment industry. Film-makers use miniature models, traditionally physical, but increasingly now renderings of 3D computer models. My specific interest is the 1/18 scale diorama which is common in the realm of action figures.
Toy Photography
People are social creatures. It is in our nature to seek groups and join them. We want to belong. From families to sport teams, to working in a company, people are social -- birds of a feather flock together. Socialists call this "in-groups." We seek out in-groups or make our own.
In the niche world of toy collectors there is a sub-niche of toy photography -- enthusiasts who enjoy taking snap shots of their toys and sharing for others to see. There are many kinds of toy photography enthusiasts. Some don't care for anything other than photographing a collection to show the size. Others get artistic and recreate a scene from a movie, comic book/manga or anime. But most common are those who just like the way the toy looks. This last type is me and it is what I do with my own toy photography. I find a place outdoors with a nice miniature feeling or build a set indoors, place figures and accessories, and snap shot a scene.
This hobby I find entertaining. It combines various skills, the obvious is photography. But it also combines lesser assumed skills for photo editing. Smart phone apps make altering a photo simple and hassle free. But photography is only one side to the art. The other is the posing of the figures, the placement of the camera, lighting, but still other skills are building a set, modifying a toy to make it more real looking. Toy photography isn't just about photographs and digital editing, it is also about building and modification.
In the niche world of toy collectors there is a sub-niche of toy photography -- enthusiasts who enjoy taking snap shots of their toys and sharing for others to see. There are many kinds of toy photography enthusiasts. Some don't care for anything other than photographing a collection to show the size. Others get artistic and recreate a scene from a movie, comic book/manga or anime. But most common are those who just like the way the toy looks. This last type is me and it is what I do with my own toy photography. I find a place outdoors with a nice miniature feeling or build a set indoors, place figures and accessories, and snap shot a scene.
This hobby I find entertaining. It combines various skills, the obvious is photography. But it also combines lesser assumed skills for photo editing. Smart phone apps make altering a photo simple and hassle free. But photography is only one side to the art. The other is the posing of the figures, the placement of the camera, lighting, but still other skills are building a set, modifying a toy to make it more real looking. Toy photography isn't just about photographs and digital editing, it is also about building and modification.
Enter the World of 3D Printing
3D printing changes the world in more ways than might be assumed. 3D printing enables a person to have complete manufacturing capabilities at home. No need to outsource an idea, just make it into reality right in the living room. If it is an original idea all that is needed is some skill to design a 3D model and send it to the 3D printer. Things are even easier if someone gives you a file of a 3D model -- skill to design the model need not be a factor.
Home 3D printers tend to print an object by extruding layers of melted plastic onto a platform. The printing mechanics move in the X, Y and Z directions over-and-over. When one layer of melted plastic hardens, and they harden very quickly, another layer is applied on top. This activity continues until all of the model is done. The value of a 3D printer is so varied that new industries are developing every day. This includes the industry of the toy collector.
But before the availability of 3D printers, building a diorama has been to use traditional craft materials: foam board, epoxy resins, plaster, wood and glue. The process to build an alley or a mechanics garage would take weeks and the skill to make a believable scene largely depended on the skill of the builder. Some builders would sell their diorama set online on ebay, and these tended to be one time builds. The process for replicating multiple diorama sets using traditional methods just doesn't efficiently exist. But that changes with 3D printers.
3D printers can be used to make just about anything that exists in the mind of the enthusiast. Existing toys can be modified with components that they did not come with. Entire diorama sets can be made in a style completely unique and even completely new toys can be made. 3D files can be shared among other enthusiasts for printing, or any of the printed models can be re-printed over-and-over and sold or given away to others. Furthermore 3D printing is not limited to the intended scale. Depending on the software a 3D model can be increased in dimension or reduced. The same 1/18 scale model of a mechanics garage or side-street alley can be re-scaled to 1/6, 1/12, 1/72 or even HO or N scales for use with model rail roads.
Conclusion
3D printing has been around for a while since the 80's, but only within the past decade has 3D printing become both affordable to the average user and available. The technology is getting easier also. 5th generation printers are just beginning to hit the market promising wi-fi convenience and streamlined set up process for printing right out of the box. The technology is still new, but as more and more toy enthusiasts try their hand at extending their toy collections with modifications or new creations using 3D technologies -- modeling or printing -- anything can be made. And this will only serve to excite new toy enthusiasts to start new creations, and ultimately new toy lines.
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For more information or just to look at my latest adventures with toy photography, please have a look at the DioWarriors web site: www.diowarriors.com
3D printers can be used to make just about anything that exists in the mind of the enthusiast. Existing toys can be modified with components that they did not come with. Entire diorama sets can be made in a style completely unique and even completely new toys can be made. 3D files can be shared among other enthusiasts for printing, or any of the printed models can be re-printed over-and-over and sold or given away to others. Furthermore 3D printing is not limited to the intended scale. Depending on the software a 3D model can be increased in dimension or reduced. The same 1/18 scale model of a mechanics garage or side-street alley can be re-scaled to 1/6, 1/12, 1/72 or even HO or N scales for use with model rail roads.
Conclusion
3D printing has been around for a while since the 80's, but only within the past decade has 3D printing become both affordable to the average user and available. The technology is getting easier also. 5th generation printers are just beginning to hit the market promising wi-fi convenience and streamlined set up process for printing right out of the box. The technology is still new, but as more and more toy enthusiasts try their hand at extending their toy collections with modifications or new creations using 3D technologies -- modeling or printing -- anything can be made. And this will only serve to excite new toy enthusiasts to start new creations, and ultimately new toy lines.
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For more information or just to look at my latest adventures with toy photography, please have a look at the DioWarriors web site: www.diowarriors.com
