If you have started looking for a custom figurine made from your photo, you have probably noticed that makers talk about 3D printing without saying which kind. It matters more than you would think. The two most common methods, FDM and resin printing, give very different results, especially on small, detailed pieces like a figurine of a real person's face.
What is FDM printing?
FDM (fused deposition modelling) melts plastic filament and lays it down in layers through a nozzle that is typically around 0.4 mm wide. It is the method behind most desktop 3D printers, and it is excellent at what it does best: strong functional parts, prototypes, larger objects and low-cost prints.
What is resin printing?
Resin printing (SLA, DLP or MSLA) uses light to cure liquid resin one thin layer at a time. Layers are commonly 0.025 to 0.05 mm, several times thinner than a typical FDM layer, and each layer is formed by light, not traced by a nozzle. The result is a smoother surface and far finer detail.
Why detail matters so much for figurines
A custom figurine succeeds or fails on small features: the shape of the eyes, the curve of a smile, strands of hair, fingers, the folds of a saree, the badges on a uniform. On an 8 to 15 cm figurine, many of these features are only a millimetre or two across. A 0.4 mm nozzle struggles to reproduce them cleanly, and visible layer lines can cut straight across a face. Resin printing captures them far more faithfully.
Resin vs FDM at a glance
- Fine detail: resin is much better for faces, hair, jewellery and clothing texture.
- Surface finish: resin prints come out smooth and take paint evenly. FDM prints show layer lines unless they are heavily sanded.
- Strength: FDM plastics are tough and great for functional parts. Standard resins can be brittle, which is why the type of resin matters.
- Size and cost: FDM wins for large, simple, low-cost objects.
- Finishing: resin prints need washing, curing and careful finishing, so the quality of the maker matters.
The honest drawback: brittleness
Ordinary hobby resin can be brittle, and a fragile figurine is no good as a keepsake. That is why we print in tough resin from Elegoo and Anycubic, made for durable parts, and finish every figurine with a protective varnish coat. Our FAQ covers durability in more detail.
Printing is only half the story: painting
How a figurine is painted matters as much as how it is printed. Hand-brushed paint on a layered print can leave brush marks and show the layer lines underneath. At Boo Customization, every figurine is sanded and hand-painted by our artists after printing, using professional Vallejo and Mont Marte paints. We use airbrushing for smooth colour transitions, masking for clean, sharp edges, layered detailing for facial depth and a final varnish coat for a glossy finish.
So which is right for a custom figurine?
FDM is a great technology for brackets, prototypes and large models. But for a small, detailed figurine of a real person, couple or pet, resin is the better choice because it holds the detail that makes the figurine look like them.
Want to see the difference? Browse our custom figurines from photo, read the FAQ, or start with our custom person figurine.