3D publishing

3D publishing concerns the production and distribution of content for 3D printers. 3D publishing holds the promise of an industry for the creation and distribution of files for the production of 3D objects, or physibles.

Any individual or organisation producing files for 3D printers can be considered a 3D publisher. With the advent of specialist software, scanners and cloud based tools, access to 3D publishing is spreading fast. The development of online tools to facilitate and monetize publishing is bringing a new industry to fruition. Boundaries between value chains are disappearing, leading to new business models. While 3D publishing and 3D publishers are fairly new concepts, the space is developing rapidly along with related 3D printing technology.

Business models
  • Free distribution

Anyone can upload 3D models to a site and anybody can download the model and 3D print at home for free. For example: Thingiverse, Pinshape, Youmagine, MyMiniFactory, Clara.io, Threeding.

  • Shopfront

Shopfront services allow anyone to open a shop and upload their 3D models. Customers pay to get the 3D model printed via the 3D print services of these companies. The designers of the selected 3D models will get a fee.

Examples: Shapeways, Ponoko, i.materialise, Sculpteo, MyMiniFactory, Threeding.

  • Paid distribution

Designers can upload designs and make them available for paid download for profit. For example: Pinshape.

  • Hybrid

In a hybrid model, the designer or company might make use of any of the above services and/or local 3D print bureau to create print to order models.

Ecosystem

There are many 3D content strategies being developed as part of the growing industry of 3D printing. Companies that are not 3D printing specialists are entering the field. These may be companies who have existing content and brands that can be distributed as 3D models, or they may need tools that enable the secure and efficient distribution of content. Employees will be needed to create, select, edit and market 3D content as part of these companies' marketing strategies. In the near future, companies like IKEA may offer a database with accessories where the customer could pay, download and 3D print.

A conference on 3D publishing was first held in the Netherlands in March 2013.[1]

Software tools

In order to create 3D models, one needs 3D software tools. There is a broad range of tools available from very simple tools on an tablet to very sophisticated engineering tools.

Examples

Hasbro, the brand behind My Little Pony and Transformers, has joined with 3D Systems for a new 3D printing project.[2] Children will be able to 3D print their own toys.

A book called LEO the Maker Prince,[3] which is the First Children’s Book On 3D Printing. The book was made in order to give young children a chance to get involved with this new way of producing objects.

Trobok Digital Toy Store[4] has opened their website with their own designed toys with fancy names like SPIKE, 21st Century Bear, Pig Corp! and SCOUT. The customer has to pay for the design, than download it and 3D print it at home.

Amazon has opened a 3D Printing Store[5] for the sale of models for 3D printing. Designers can use the store to sell printed models.

Cults is a Paris based marketplace which appeared in 2014, that offers to connect designers and people who want to download or buy 3D models ready for 3D printing.[6]

See also

References
  1. "3D Publishing Conference". Jakajima. Archived from the original on 6 August 2014. Retrieved 3 August 2014.
  2. "Hasbro".
  3. "Leo the Maker Prince".
  4. "Trobok".
  5. "Amazon 3D Print Store". Amazon. Retrieved 3 August 2014.
  6. "About Cults". cults3d.com. 13 February 2019. Retrieved 13 February 2019.
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