The Shapeways Blog: 3D Printing News & Innovation
Entries from September 2012
Monday, September 24. 2012
Renders vs Photographs, Concepts vs Reality, Ikea vs Kickstarter
As Ikea starts to use more 3d renders of products in it's catalogues Kickstarter has changed it's guidelines on new product and hardware projects stating the product renderings are prohibited and that product images must be photos of the prototype as it currently exists.
This is interesting from a number of angles:
- Ikea is using 3D Renders as it is faster and cheaper than photographing an object in different settings, it also means they can prepare the catalogue artwork before the product is in production. Ikea as a brand is reliable enough that we understand the basic quality of product we will receive if we purchase from the catalogue.
- Kickstarter is moving away from 3D renders so backers can better understand the quality of the product they will receive. The projects on Kickstarter are not (often) from a reliable brand, so people are taking a risk that they can actually deliver the product they promise, to an acceptable quality, in a timely manner.
- 3D Printing your Kickstarter project with Shapeways, either as a prototype like the Glif, or as the final product as Joshua Harker has done gives you the opportunity to show that you have a better chance of delivering a viable product.
- Shapeways renders your 3D model as soon as you upload it so you can preview your design before you 3D Print it for yourself. We recommend that you do 3D Print and photograph any product you would like to sell so that your customers can see exactly what they will get. Like Ikea, uploading photorealistic renders is often faster and cheaper than taking photographs but like Kickstarter potential buyers of your designs are relying on these images to determine the look, feel and scale of the design as proof that your design will work. This is the reason we only promote products that have photographs, not renders to ensure that your customers have a better understanding of what they will receive.
We would love to get your thoughts, are there any scenarios where you think a render is suitable?
via Solidsmack Image Cunicode
Wednesday, September 12. 2012
Designer Spotlight: Susan Marie Kosor
This weeks Designer Spotlight focuses on Susan Marie Kosor, an architect and designer who turns her fascination of the 50's Mod Era into textile-inspired jewelry.
Tell us a little bit about yourself: Who are you? Where are you located?
I would just go larger and create furniture. It would be so much fun!
Check out Susans jewelry on her Shapeways shop or on her website.
Tuesday, September 11. 2012
Shop Owner Payments Changing
With the majority of 2012 behind us, we're excited to announce one of the first of many benefits of our new site architecture, which are improvements to shop owner payments. We've created a simpler payment method, designed to make sure shop owners get paid faster for your sales and the details are easier to understand. Payments to shop owners still go out on the 15th of each month, along with a report of all your sales.
What is changing:
Your markup is ready for payment to you as soon as items that you've sold are shipped. That means we are getting rid of the 30 day freeze period and paying you faster! For example, if your item ships on the 14th you will get paid the markup for that item the very next day on the 15th. If your item ships on the 16th, you will be paid the following month on the 15th. Please be aware that until you earn more than US$30 in markups, no payment will be made.
For this month only, we will pay EVERYONE, regardless of whether you met the $30 minimum, in order to clear the books and start fresh.
For those of you wondering about the details, we have compiled a Shop Owner Payment FAQ with specific scenarios and examples. Please feel free to share any thoughts and questions there! Ultimately, we hope that many of you will be able to run your business on Shapeways, and this is a step to making that seamless.
