HERO FORGE

3D PRINTED MINIATURE CARE AND PAINTING GUIDE

Thank you for using Hero Forge, the internets home for customizing tabletop miniatures and statuettes. 3D printing and 3D on the
web are both exciting new technologies that will change the way people shop online. The age of bespoke, made-to-order products is
just beginning, and were thrilled to be bringing that revolution to the tabletop.
We have provided this guide in an effort to briefly cover the features of our 3D printed materials, offer tips for how to get the most
out of your mini, and provide advice for the painting process. 3D printing, also known as additive manufacturing, offers many
advantages over traditional injection mold process used to produce most other miniatures. The ability to provide one-off prints on
demand and to offer multiple materials and scales are just some of the benefits of this process. While injection molds are subject to
certain restrictions in details and shapes due to the limitations of casting from molds, we are free to do what other miniatures cant:
articulated parts, and recessed or interior detail are all easy with 3D printing, and would be difficult or impossible with traditional
manufacturing methods. However, 3D printed materials also have their own sets of limitations and best practices for handling and
care, so read on for some more in-depth descriptions of our material offerings and advice on what to expect and how to care for
your new 3D print.
Regards,
The Hero Forge Team

OUR MATERIALS
We offer two 3D printed materials, each with its own strengths and limitations. What follows is a summary of the material
properties. We have shared our experiences and impressions about the materials, but note that Hero Forge does not give any
warranty about the models and does not guarantee that the model will be fit for any particular purposes.

Ultra Detail Plastic:

Our Ultra Detail Plastic arrives a relatively translucent, frosted glass-like
appearance that may vary in tint. It is very light and somewhat brittle, but captures
very fine detail which can include things like bold facial expressions, even at 28mm30mm scale. This material is ideal for users who want the maximum level of fidelity
to their 3D design, or have created smaller character or chosen equipment with
subtler detail. This material is heat resistant up to 80C / 176F degrees, and is not
food safe or recyclable.
These minis are printed using the MultiJet Modeling (MJM) process, where
miniatures are printed from a pool of liquid plastic that is hardened, layer by layer,
with a UV light. They are printing with a secondary, wax-like support material to
allow for overhanging parts or recessed detail. Once completed, the support
material is cleaned away, and the print is shipped to you. Note that ultra detail
prints may occasionally have rougher, more frosted texture patches where it was
in contact with this support material. This can range from a minor aesthetic
difference which vanishes beneath a layer of primer or paint, to a slightly rough
texture which may obscure some detail.
Summary: A higher detail plastic option. Less durable that our strong plastic, but
smoother in texture and with sharper details. It is more suitable for painting and
for high-quality display pieces. It should be handled gently during tabletop play.

A 30mm miniature printed in ultra detail plastic.

It has been sprayed with a layer of white primer.

Strong Plastic:
Our Strong Plastic miniatures arrive an opaque white color with a light
sandpapery texture. They are made of a very light, nylon-based plastic which is
more flexible and stronger than our ultra detail plastics. This plastic is porous, and
is not watertight. This makes them more difficult to paint with a brush, as the
material tends to soaks up paint. Compared to our Ultra Detail Plastic, details will
be softer. Armor sets and characters with larger and sharper features will generally
read better than smaller, more subtle figures. This material is not food safe or
recyclable, and is heat resistant up to 80C / 176F degrees
These minis are printed using the Selective Laser Sintering (SLS) process: it is built
up from very thin layers of nylon powder which are hardened layer by layer with a
laser. This can sometimes result in a faint stair stepping pattern. This material
tends to have a very consistent finish and texture. Once the print is finished, it is
pulled from the surrounding layer of unhardened nylon powder, cleaned, and then
shipped to you.
3 and 6 statuettes printed in this material undergo an additional polishing
process to smooth out the surface roughness and minimize the appearance of
stair stepping patterns.
Summary: A cheaper, stronger plastic option for hobbyists who do not mind softer
detail, do not plan to paint their miniatures, or want a more robust, flexible plastic
for tabletop play.
A 30mm miniature printed in "strong plastic."

CARING FOR YOUR MINI

Caring for your 3D Printed Miniatures
Upon Receiving Your Miniature: Our miniatures will arrive with an order number printed on the bottom of the models base or, in
the cases where a model is printed without a base, on a tab attached to the bottom of your models foot. This order number is
included to ensure that all prints are easily sorted into their correct shipments. Tabs may be removed or broken off. Removing the
tab can be easily accomplished with a wire cutter, scalpel, or carefully twisting it off. Generally, ultra detail plastic prints will snap
off cleanly, while strong plastic is more flexible and may need to be twisted several times.
Ultra detail plastic miniatures may arrive with a light waxy residue left over from the manufacturing process. This is best removed
by gently washing them with dish soap or de-greasing cleaner. Our painters have found that they often prefer to use a toothbrush
for this process, allowing the bristles to reach into recessed areas like the underside of skirts or areas between the arms. This is
especially important to do before painting so paint can better adhere to the surface of the model.
Should your miniature arrive with structural damage, we advise you to contact our printing partner regarding the possibility of
replacement. What follows is their Return Policy (as provided by them):
Shapeways warrants only that the model manufactured by us will substantially meet
the features of the indicated 3D model within the limitations of the 3D printing
technology. Shapeways does not give any warranty about the models and does not
guarantee that the model will be fit for any particular purposes. Please inspect the
model upon receipt immediately. If the model is faulty when you received it and you
believe you are entitled to a replacement in accordance with the warranty above,
please contact us within 10 days after receipt of the model. Such warranty claim can
be made only within 10 days after receipt of the model by you. Do not return the
model unless we require you to do so. We will confirm whether you are entitled to a
replacement or refund. Transportation costs in respect of a faulty product will be borne
by us.

Durability: 3D printed plastics tend to be lighter and less durable than injection molded
plastics, and should be handled with care. Though they can be used for gentle tabletop play,
throwing 3D printed miniatures into ones dice bag for transportation is not advisable. Our
strong plastic is more flexible and durable than out ultra detail plastic, but can be bent or
broken if treated roughly. Our ultra detail plastic can be slightly brittle, especially for long,
thin features like swords. If dropped onto tile from high up, for example, it may break. As
such, we recommend strong plastic for those who want to be a little more carefree with their
handling during play, and ultra detail for those who want high quality display pieces or dont
mind handling their print more gently. Note that our ultra detail material tends to break by
snapping cleanly rather than shattering, so it is often possible to make repairs with glue.

Production Process Artifacts

All production methods have their own quirks. The traditional injection mold technique used for most
miniatures can have artifacts like flash lines or air bubbles. 3D printing, though it afford many
advantages over the injection molding process, is subject to some manufacturing artifacts as well.
Ultra detail plastic miniatures may have patches with a more frosted texture from where
the print was in contact with its support material. This can range from being primarily an
aesthetic variation which becomes indistinct once sprayed with primer or painted, or
it some cases it may result in a rougher texture that obscures some details.
Strong Plastic may have a noticeable stair stepping effect from the
layer-by-layer printing process. Gentle sanding with very fine grit paper
may reduce the appearance of these lines or remove mass, though it generally results
in a rough, scored texture and should be done with caution.

PAINTING

3D printed materials are still new, and few comprehensive painting guides exist. We are continuously researching best
practices for painting our 3D printed miniatures and will update and expand upon this guide as we learn more.
Remember that this tutorial is intended for adults, and that painters should always take full precautions to ensure they
work in a well-ventilated area, and have a safe, clear, and clean work space.
Before you begin painting, we advise applying a light layer of miniature paint primer (the very same kind one would use
on any other miniatures) to help additional layers of paint to adhere to your model. This is especially important for those
would choose to paint their Strong Plastic miniatures, as paint is very quickly absorbed by the porous surface. Other
techniques that some have used include painting on a light layer of varnish, or using a gesso dip. This can help smooth
out the frosted or porous texture, though it may result in a slight loss of detail. Also note that 3D prints tend to be more
textured and a less smooth than injection molded plastics. As a result, techniques like ink washes tend to be less
effective. Allowing your figure to dry and then applying a second layer of paint can improve smoothness and color
depth, but at the cost of
Hero Forge prints are not subject to the
limitations to pose and posture that an
injection molded mini might be, allowing for
more natural, human poses, and more
realistically shapes clothes. We believe this
provides a level of realism that has been lacking
in miniatures for some time! Take note, though,
that Hero Forge allows users to print their
miniature connected to a base of your choice.
This can make it difficult to paint the underside
of the miniature. If your character is wearing a
long skirt or has recessed detail between the
legs, having an attached base may make these
features difficult to reach with a brush.
We wish you luck! If you have any tips of your
own, contact us at support@heroforge.com!

We have had great success using the same miniature primer and acrylic paints one might
use on any other brand of minis!