It took me a while to get my textures to show correctly uploading an X3D with my images (.png) included all in a .zip The first preview picture looks how my project should but the 3D preview differs. https://www.shapeways.com/model/1005285/ I'm using blender 2.66a on osx lion, thanks.
Okay, thanks for your response! For future reference is there any way to fix this? I checked out https://www.shapeways.com/tutorials/errors but it doesn't mention anything about textures.
The tutorial naturally concentrates on things that might go wrong due to errors in the model data or wrong choices made during upload. (Also I am not sure how current it is with respect to error messages returned etc). The 3d preview issue has been acknowledged here and there has not been a corresponding entry in one of the semi-regular site update notices over in the "official announcements" forum as far as I know. (Of course it cannot hurt to check your vrml/x3d files with meshlab or a vrml/x3d viewer)
Okay thanks for all the great info! I have one more question. I want to print my model in colored sandstone, its size is: cm: 0.8 w x 0.9 d x 0.8 h. It says it cost .75 per cm^3 but the cost comes out to 3.34. Also the shipping is more than 3.00 like it says, its 6.50 and I live in the US, so my total is 9.84.. Why is this?
The $3 "handling fee" stated on the materials page does not refer to shipping, it is the base price for "colored sandstone" models. Shipping costs for various regions are listed in the Shipping link on the bottom of the website - these are independent of the size of your order. So while the $6.50 is the cheapest you can get (I pay $9.50 for what is probably a much smaller distance), it would certainly be more efficient for you to order several small pieces together, once you are confident that your designs print correctly.