Toy prototyping: how a figure prototype is made and what it is for

A character can look perfect on screen and disappoint in real life: a head too heavy, a hand too thin, a detail that vanishes at 10 cm. The prototype is when you discover these surprises, while they are still cheap to fix. Here is how we prototype our own figures and those of the brands we work with.

What is a toy prototype for?

• Approving volumes and proportions: what works in an image does not always work in the hand.
• Checking balance: does the figure stand up, with or without a base?
• Checking details: are they large enough to be moulded and painted?
• Preparing colours: the prototype is the basis for the colour references (Pantone) and the paint plan.
• Showing the project: to your team, your customers, or your future backers if you crowdfund.

How is a figure prototype made?

1. The production 3D model: the character is split into parts, with even wall thickness and no undercuts, exactly as it will be for the moulds.
2. 3D printing in resin: each part is printed with high precision. Allow about 3 days of printing.
3. Finishing: removing supports, sanding, assembling the parts.
4. Approval: we check, adjust the 3D model if needed, and reprint the parts concerned.
5. Colours: once the shapes are approved, we lock the colour references and the paint plan.

Prototype vs pre-production sample

	Prototype	Pre-production sample
Made	3D-printed in resin	With the real moulds, at the factory
When	Before the moulds	After the moulds, before the run
Used to approve	Shapes, proportions, balance, details	Material, paint, assembly, final look
Typical timing	About 3 days of printing, plus corrections	About 2 weeks

Both are essential: the prototype stops you paying for moulds for a character that cannot stand; the pre-production sample, approved in writing, stops you producing hundreds of pieces with a paint defect.

What to check on a prototype

• Does the silhouette read from every angle?
• Is the figure stable?
• Are the thin parts (fingers, antennae, accessories) thick enough?
• Do the joins between parts fall in the right places, where they will barely show?
• Does the size fit the planned box?
• And above all: do you want to keep it?

How long does it take and what does it cost?

Printing takes about 3 days, plus time for corrections: several versions may be needed for a complex character. The prototype is often invoiced with the tooling (the moulds). The biggest upstream cost is the production 3D modelling: €300 to €1,000 per working day, from 3 days for a simple character to more than 6 days for a complex one. Every cost line is detailed in our guide to custom figure costs.

Prototypes and crowdfunding

If you launch your project on a crowdfunding platform, a real prototype reassures backers far more than a render. Our first EQSO figures were 3D-printed resin prototypes, made before our Kickstarter campaign in February 2024. Our whole journey is in the guide on how to make your own art toy.