As evidenced by the Google Arts and Culture portrait app that recently went viral, the practice of portraiture will always be alive and kicking for as long as human beings remain sentient on this planet. As the social media boom of the past two decades transformed how we present ourselves both online and off, the desire to remain in control of our own narratives through digital storytelling remains one of the most pervasive and impenetrable social forces at work in today’s world.
Recent technological advancements in the 3D printing industry signal a period of rapid market growth.
As we’ve mentioned in the past, the 3D printing industry is about to undergo a fascinating transformation, skyrocketing to ensure endless opportunities for partnerships and technological integrations that will keep hardware like our full body 3D scanner current for years to come. As software and 3D scanning technology continues to evolve, we’ll likely see 3D printed figurines become a veritable art form akin to digital portrait photography today.
Customers are sick of their entire memory bank living on the cloud.
As the damaging effects of prolonged “screen time” exposure comes to light, customers will begin seeking more tangible ways to commemorate their lives in the coming years. We are already seeing this trend bubble up through younger generations still in high school and below, as they continue to reject the social media platforms of their parents’ generation in droves and elect for more ephemeral forms of self-expression that are less likely to haunt them in a job interview or a race to the Senate years down the line. The concept of a “3D printed selfie” could be an interesting creative outlet for younger generations as they navigate the complicated waters of digital self-preservation.
3D full body scanning is photography and “quantified self” rolled into one.
Another fascinating aspect of 3D printed portrait photography is that currently they require a full body 3D scanner like Twinstant Mobile to execute properly. While the scans are perfect for the explicit purpose of portraiture, 3D figurines are just the tip of the iceberg of what 3D scanner data can tell us about ourselves. In the same way that companies like 23 and Me have made ancestry and DNA research accessible for less than $200, 3D scanning technologies could provide a wealth of useful data about physicality that future generations can use.
The reality is, these reasons are just the tip of the iceberg. Our team would love to discuss which 3D printed portrait business model is right for you. Let's get some time on the calendar.