It Works Even on Your First Try
Thinking “I would love to see my drawing in three dimensions, but 3D looks hard”? With Figmee all you need is a browser: from an illustration you drew yourself, or from a drawing your child made, you get a figurine-style image and a 3D model. No knowledge of 3D software is required. This article walks you through everything from creating an account to downloading your 3D model, in five steps.
Note: Figmee currently provides figurine-style image generation and 3D model data (GLB / 3MF) downloads. Ordering a physical 3D print is in preparation (Coming Soon).
Step 1: Create an Account (about 1 minute)
Start by creating your Figmee account. All you need is an email address and a password, and signing in with a Google account is supported as well.
Key points about the free allowance:
- As a sign-up bonus, your first 5 figurine-style image generations are free (valid for 3 months from registration, and only for the first registration with a given email address)
- 3D model generation is free for the first model on each account (if a generation fails, the free allowance is returned)
- After that it is 550 yen for 5 tokens: 1 image generation = 1 token, and 1 3D model generation = 5 tokens (how many tokens an image generation consumes depends on the quality tier)
Step 2: Pick One Drawing (about 5 minutes)
Choose a single drawing you would like to see in three dimensions. A digital illustration works, and so does something drawn on paper.
Drawings that tend to work well:
- A character or person facing forward and drawn large in the frame
- Clear, well-defined outlines
- Colors filled in solidly
Line art and very simple drawings also come out as figurine-style images that keep the feel of the original hand-drawn strokes. Very fine lines and small lettering are not always reproduced when the model is built in 3D, so it is best to start with one drawing whose main subject is unmistakable.
Step 3: Photograph It and Upload (about 1 minute)
For a drawing on paper, shoot it straight from directly above in a bright place. The trick is to keep shadows off the paper. A digital illustration can be uploaded as an image file exactly as it is.
How to upload:
- Open your Figmee workspace
- Tap the Create New button
- Take a photo with the camera, or select an image
- Check the image and continue
The supported file formats are PNG, JPEG, WebP and GIF.
Step 4: Generate the Figurine-Style Image (about 1 to 2 minutes)
Once the image is uploaded, just press Generate. The AI reads your drawing and produces a figurine-style image that keeps the character of its lines and colors.
- Keep the screen open while it is generating (timing shifts depending on how busy the service is)
- When it is finished, it appears in your list of works
- If you are not happy with the result, change the drawing or retake the photo and generate again (this uses your free allowance or tokens)
Step 5: Generate a 3D Model and Download It (a few minutes)
From a figurine-style image you like, generate a 3D model. You can spin the finished model 360° right in your browser to check it, and download it in GLB / 3MF format.
What to do with the 3D model you downloaded:
- Share on social media: post the rotating view as it is
- Show it in the gallery: line your pieces up in the Figmee gallery as a portfolio
- Edit it: import it into Blender or similar software and refine the details
- Print it as an image: print the figurine-style image and put it in a photo frame
- Physical 3D printing: in preparation (Coming Soon). Until then, you can take the downloaded data to an outside 3D printing service
Common Questions
What if I am not good at drawing?
That is completely fine. Figmee builds the three-dimensional version while keeping the personality of your hand-drawn lines and colors. The drawing does not need to be “good” at all.
Can I redo it as many times as I want?
Yes. You can generate from the same drawing as often as you like. Within the sign-up bonus free allowance (your first 5 generations, valid for 3 months) there is no extra charge. Once the free allowance is used up, each generation consumes tokens.
Can I get a physical figurine?
Ordering a physical 3D print is in preparation (Coming Soon). What we offer today is the generation and download of figurine-style images and 3D model data (GLB / 3MF).
Summary
Going 3D with Figmee takes five steps: pick a drawing → upload it → generate the figurine-style image → generate the 3D model → download. If you want the whole flow of turning an illustration into 3D and more detail on which drawings work best, read the complete guide to turning an illustration into 3D. And if you are weighing up price, turnaround and finish across providers, our service comparison covers that too.
