{"id":4313,"date":"2026-10-09T12:02:32","date_gmt":"2026-10-09T10:02:32","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.popterror.com\/?post_type=pt_guide&#038;p=4313"},"modified":"2026-10-09T12:05:37","modified_gmt":"2026-10-09T10:05:37","slug":"toy-prototyping","status":"publish","type":"pt_guide","link":"https:\/\/www.popterror.com\/en\/studio\/guides\/toy-prototyping","title":{"rendered":"Toy prototyping: how a figure prototype is made and what it is for"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">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.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 id=\"what-is-a-toy-prototype-for\" class=\"wp-block-heading\">What is a toy prototype for?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><strong>Approving volumes and proportions<\/strong>: what works in an image does not always work in the hand.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Checking balance<\/strong>: does the figure stand up, with or without a base?<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Checking details<\/strong>: are they large enough to be moulded and painted?<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Preparing colours<\/strong>: the prototype is the basis for the colour references (Pantone) and the paint plan.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Showing the project<\/strong>: to your team, your customers, or your future backers if you crowdfund.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<h2 id=\"how-is-a-figure-prototype-made\" class=\"wp-block-heading\">How is a figure prototype made?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<ol class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><strong>The production 3D model<\/strong>: the character is split into parts, with even wall thickness and no undercuts, exactly as it will be for the moulds.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>3D printing in resin<\/strong>: each part is printed with high precision. Allow about 3 days of printing.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Finishing<\/strong>: removing supports, sanding, assembling the parts.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Approval<\/strong>: we check, adjust the 3D model if needed, and reprint the parts concerned.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Colours<\/strong>: once the shapes are approved, we lock the colour references and the paint plan.<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-group g-fig vertical cid-bi2cfy22 figure-as-group\"><div class=\"wp-block-group__inner-container is-layout-flow wp-block-group-is-layout-flow\">\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large pic\"><img decoding=\"async\" width=\"1659\" height=\"1781\" src=\"\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/09\/modele-3d-eclate-figurine-eqso-the-crew.jpg\" alt=\"Exploded 3D model of an EQSO The Crew figure, part by part\" class=\"wp-image-4056\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.popterror.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/09\/modele-3d-eclate-figurine-eqso-the-crew.jpg 1659w, https:\/\/www.popterror.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/09\/modele-3d-eclate-figurine-eqso-the-crew-279x300.jpg 279w, https:\/\/www.popterror.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/09\/modele-3d-eclate-figurine-eqso-the-crew-954x1024.jpg 954w, https:\/\/www.popterror.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/09\/modele-3d-eclate-figurine-eqso-the-crew-768x824.jpg 768w, https:\/\/www.popterror.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/09\/modele-3d-eclate-figurine-eqso-the-crew-1431x1536.jpg 1431w, https:\/\/www.popterror.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/09\/modele-3d-eclate-figurine-eqso-the-crew-800x859.jpg 800w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1659px) 100vw, 1659px\" \/><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"cid-bi2cfy22 figcaption-as-p as-p wp-block-paragraph\">Exploded 3D model of an EQSO The Crew figure: the prototype uses exactly these parts.<\/p>\n<\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n<h2 id=\"prototype-vs-pre-production-sample\" class=\"wp-block-heading\">Prototype vs pre-production sample<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-table has-fixed-layout\"><table class=\"has-fixed-layout\"><thead><tr><th><\/th><th>Prototype<\/th><th>Pre-production sample<\/th><\/tr><\/thead><tbody><tr><td>Made<\/td><td>3D-printed in resin<\/td><td>With the real moulds, at the factory<\/td><\/tr><tr><td>When<\/td><td>Before the moulds<\/td><td>After the moulds, before the run<\/td><\/tr><tr><td>Used to approve<\/td><td>Shapes, proportions, balance, details<\/td><td>Material, paint, assembly, final look<\/td><\/tr><tr><td>Typical timing<\/td><td>About 3 days of printing, plus corrections<\/td><td>About 2 weeks<\/td><\/tr><\/tbody><\/table><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">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.<\/p>\n\n\n<aside class=\"guide-cta sim cid-qhrug727\"><p class=\"gc-title cid-qhrug727\">What comes after the prototype?<\/p><p class=\"gc-text cid-qhrug727\">Moulds, production, shipping: estimate the full budget and lead time of your figure in two minutes.<\/p><a class=\"s-btn cid-qhrug727\" href=\"\/en\/studio\/figure-cost-estimator\"><span class=\"cid-qhrug727\">Estimate my budget<\/span><\/a><\/aside>\n\n\n<h2 id=\"what-to-check-on-a-prototype\" class=\"wp-block-heading\">What to check on a prototype<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Does the <strong>silhouette<\/strong> read from every angle?<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Is the figure <strong>stable<\/strong>?<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Are the <strong>thin parts<\/strong> (fingers, antennae, accessories) thick enough?<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Do the <strong>joins<\/strong> between parts fall in the right places, where they will barely show?<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Does the <strong>size<\/strong> fit the planned box?<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>And above all: do you <strong>want to keep it<\/strong>?<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-group g-fig vertical cid-bi2cfy22 figure-as-group\"><div class=\"wp-block-group__inner-container is-layout-flow wp-block-group-is-layout-flow\">\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large pic\"><img decoding=\"async\" width=\"1500\" height=\"2000\" src=\"\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/09\/production-eqso-the-crew-pieces-violettes.jpg\" alt=\"Painted purple heads and bodies of EQSO The Crew figures, before assembly\" class=\"wp-image-4058\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.popterror.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/09\/production-eqso-the-crew-pieces-violettes.jpg 1500w, https:\/\/www.popterror.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/09\/production-eqso-the-crew-pieces-violettes-225x300.jpg 225w, https:\/\/www.popterror.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/09\/production-eqso-the-crew-pieces-violettes-768x1024.jpg 768w, https:\/\/www.popterror.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/09\/production-eqso-the-crew-pieces-violettes-1152x1536.jpg 1152w, https:\/\/www.popterror.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/09\/production-eqso-the-crew-pieces-violettes-800x1067.jpg 800w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1500px) 100vw, 1500px\" \/><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"cid-bi2cfy22 figcaption-as-p as-p wp-block-paragraph\">After the prototype come the moulds, then production: here, painted EQSO The Crew parts before assembly.<\/p>\n<\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n<h2 id=\"how-long-does-it-take-and-what-does-it-cost\" class=\"wp-block-heading\">How long does it take and what does it cost?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Printing takes about <strong>3 days<\/strong>, plus time for corrections: several versions may be needed for a complex character. The prototype is <strong>often invoiced with the tooling<\/strong> (the moulds). The biggest upstream cost is the production 3D modelling: \u20ac300 to \u20ac1,000 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 <a href=\"https:\/\/www.popterror.com\/en\/studio\/guides\/custom-figure-cost\">custom figure costs<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 id=\"prototypes-and-crowdfunding\" class=\"wp-block-heading\">Prototypes and crowdfunding<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">If you launch your project on a crowdfunding platform, a <strong>real prototype<\/strong> 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 <a href=\"https:\/\/www.popterror.com\/en\/studio\/guides\/how-to-make-your-own-art-toy\">how to make your own art toy<\/a>.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Toy prototyping explained: 3D-printed resin prototypes, what to check, how they differ from the pre-production sample, timeline and cost. By a figure studio.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":4057,"menu_order":15,"template":"","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"_yoast_wpseo_focuskw":"toy prototyping","_yoast_wpseo_title":"Toy Prototyping: How a Figure Prototype Is Made | Popterror","_yoast_wpseo_metadesc":"Toy prototyping explained: 3D-printed resin prototypes, what to check, how they differ from the pre-production sample, timeline and cost. By a figure studio.","_yoast_wpseo_meta-robots-noindex":"","_yoast_wpseo_opengraph-image":"","_yoast_wpseo_opengraph-image-id":"","_yoast_wpseo_schema_page_type":"","_yoast_wpseo_schema_article_type":"","inline_featured_image":false,"popterror_auteur":"romain","popterror_schema":"","footnotes":""},"themes-guide":[63],"class_list":["post-4313","pt_guide","type-pt_guide","status-publish","has-post-thumbnail","hentry"],"acf":{"popterror_auteur":"romain","guide_pilier":false,"reponse_directe":"A figure prototype is a first piece 3D-printed in resin from the production 3D model. You hold the character in your hand to approve its volumes, proportions and balance, before locking the colours and launching the moulds. Allow about 3 days of printing, plus time for corrections. Do not confuse it with the pre-production sample, which comes out of the factory just before mass production.","faq":[{"question":"What is a toy prototype?","reponse":"It is a first piece 3D-printed in resin from the production 3D model. It is used to approve volumes, proportions, balance and details before the moulds are made."},{"question":"How long does it take to make a prototype?","reponse":"About 3 days of printing, plus time for corrections: several versions may be needed for a complex character."},{"question":"How much does a figure prototype cost?","reponse":"The prototype is often invoiced with the tooling. The biggest upstream cost is the production 3D modelling: \u20ac300 to \u20ac1,000 per day, from 3 days for a simple character to more than 6 days for a complex one."},{"question":"What is the difference between a prototype and a pre-production sample?","reponse":"The prototype is 3D-printed before the moulds, to approve the shapes. The pre-production sample comes out of the factory with the real moulds, just before the run, to approve material, paint and assembly."},{"question":"Can we go straight to production without a prototype?","reponse":"It is risky: a defect found after the moulds are made costs much more to fix. The prototype is a short step that prevents nasty surprises."}],"guides_lies":[4117,4123,4133],"liens_utiles":[{"lien":{"title":"Custom figure design and production for brands","url":"https:\/\/www.popterror.com\/en\/studio","target":""},"description":"all our services"},{"lien":{"title":"Figure manufacturing","url":"https:\/\/www.popterror.com\/en\/studio\/custom-figure-manufacturing","target":""},"description":"Already have a character or a 3D file? We turn it into figures produced in series."},{"lien":{"title":"Custom figure cost estimator","url":"https:\/\/www.popterror.com\/en\/studio\/figure-cost-estimator","target":""},"description":"a budget range in two minutes"},{"lien":{"title":"Glossary of art toys and figure manufacturing","url":"https:\/\/www.popterror.com\/en\/studio\/glossary","target":""},"description":""}]},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.popterror.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/guides-studio\/4313","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.popterror.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/guides-studio"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.popterror.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/pt_guide"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.popterror.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"version-history":[{"count":2,"href":"https:\/\/www.popterror.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/guides-studio\/4313\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":4390,"href":"https:\/\/www.popterror.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/guides-studio\/4313\/revisions\/4390"}],"acf:post":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.popterror.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/guides-studio\/4133"},{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.popterror.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/guides-studio\/4123"},{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.popterror.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/guides-studio\/4117"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.popterror.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/4057"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.popterror.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=4313"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"pt_theme_guide","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.popterror.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/themes-guide?post=4313"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}