To turn your TTRPG character art into a 3D model, take one full-body portrait of your investigator or player character (PC), load it into a service that builds 3D models from illustrations, and create a 3D image and then a 3D model. You don't need a turnaround sheet or expression variants. If the art came from Picrew or was commissioned from an artist, though, check the image maker's usage terms or get the artist's permission first. And if you want to make a 3D gift of another player's character, the starting point is asking the player who created that character.
Below we cover what a 3D version of character art gives you, how to check Picrew and commissioned art, the steps and timings in Figmee, what to watch out for when gifting to people in your group, and how character miniatures are made in English-speaking TTRPG communities.
Note: Figmee currently offers figurine-style images made from your drawings, 3D model data (GLB / 3MF), and turntable videos of your 3D models. Ordering physical 3D prints is Coming Soon. Photos of real people, animals, objects, or scenery, and images that look like photos, cannot be turned into 3D.
What can you do with a 3D version of your character art?
From one portrait, you get a 3D model you can rotate 360° to see the profile and back, plus a turntable video that spins the model twice in about six seconds. You can use them to announce a game, look back after a session, or share with your group. What you get is shape and color in 3D, not a rigged model you can animate.
Character portraits are usually a single front view, and even the person who drew it may not have decided how the gear on the back or the back of the hair looks. When you spin the 3D model, you see a back view the AI has inferred, which can be a useful hint: "maybe this is what my character's back looks like." It is a guess, so if it contradicts your character's design, the design wins.
Here is what Figmee can do:
| Feature | Details |
|---|---|
| 3D image (figurine-style image) | Turns your portrait into a single image with a sense of depth. 1–3 tokens depending on quality |
| 3D model | Builds a 3D model from the 3D image that you can rotate 360° in your browser. Save as GLB or 3MF. 5 tokens (your first model is free, one per account) |
| Turntable video | A square video of the model spinning twice in about six seconds (Figmee logo in the bottom right). Uses no tokens |
| New poses | Register the character, describe a pose or scene in up to 200 characters, and get a 3D image in a new pose that aims to keep the character's look. 1–3 tokens depending on quality |
| Sharing | Publishing a piece creates a share link (published pieces also appear in the public gallery) |
It suits people who want to see their investigator or PC in 3D using art they drew themselves or have permission to use, and people who want to show their group a turntable video. It doesn't suit people who need a model that moves in online sessions (rigging and animation aren't supported) or people who want a physical miniature (physical 3D print orders are Coming Soon).
Can you turn a Picrew portrait into 3D?
Picrew images can be used only within the usage terms each image maker's creator sets. Most makers don't say clearly whether 3D conversion is allowed, so if the maker's description doesn't give explicit permission, the safe choice is not to. Picrew's own help says, in effect, "if there is no clear permission and it's hard to judge, please refrain from using it."
Picrew's "Things we'd like you to follow" page divides usage into "personal," "non-commercial," "commercial," and "modification." "Modification" is described as being able to "change colors, draw additions, and make similar modifications," and it doesn't say whether turning an image into 3D counts. Besides use in content that is offensive to public order and morals, the page also prohibits the following, among other things (quotes are our translation from the Japanese):
- "Redistributing images made with Picrew, either as they are or modified"
- "Acts that create the misunderstanding that an image made with Picrew is the work of someone other than its creator"
- "Selling or distributing products or works whose main feature is the image" (examples include goods such as postcards and button badges, phone wallpapers, and design templates)
It also states that "if an image maker's description includes notes on usage scope, those take priority." Source: Picrew, "Things we'd like you to follow" (in Japanese), checked November 7, 2026.
Applied to 3D, check in this order:
- Read the image maker's description: if it mentions 3D, AI modification, or physical objects, follow that
- Check the usage categories: if "modification" isn't allowed, don't make it 3D
- Think about whether you'll publish or hand it out: publishing a 3D model or turntable video may count as redistributing a modified image, and printing the 3MF to give to someone may count as distributing a work whose main feature is the image
- If you can't tell, don't use it: without clear permission from the creator, hold off
Picrew's FAQ also covers drawing your own illustration based on a character design made with an image maker: the permitted usage scope basically applies to "images created using the image maker," and if the creator explicitly allows other uses in the maker's description, follow that (source: Picrew FAQ, "Based on the character designs of Picrew image makers, can I create a new piece of work, such as illustrations?", checked November 7, 2026). Redrawing a Picrew look yourself and then making it 3D needs the same check.
What about portraits you commissioned from an artist?
The copyright in a commissioned portrait generally stays with the artist who drew it. What you as the client may do is set by the commission platform's terms and your agreement, which rarely say anything specific about 3D, so ask the artist before making it 3D. If you haven't commissioned yet, the reliable route is to write "I'd like to make a 3D model of this" into your request.
Skeb's terms, for example, limit the client's use to things like "personal viewing" and "a profile picture on social media." The relevant clauses from Skeb, Coconala, and SKIMA, plus sample messages for asking the artist, are in Can I Make a 3D Model of Commissioned Art?.
How do you turn one portrait into 3D?
Check the portrait, upload it to make a 3D image, then generate the 3D model and spin it. Plan on roughly 10–20 minutes in total. You don't need a turnaround sheet or expression variants, but the AI will infer the back, which isn't in the drawing.
- Choose the portrait (5 minutes): full body, facing the front or slightly angled, with a near-plain background works best. If you crop it from a character sheet, leave out text and frames. A photo or scan of a paper drawing is fine (PNG, JPEG, or WebP, up to 20 MB per image)
- Confirm you may use it (5 minutes): if you drew it, go ahead. For Picrew images or commissioned art, check as described above
- Upload and create a 3D image (2–3 minutes): choose Standard, Pro, or Max quality to make a figurine-style image. Check that the face, hair, outfit, and gear match the portrait
- Generate the 3D model (a few minutes): rotate it 360° in your browser and check the sides and back
- Export a turntable video (2 minutes): use the 360° video option on the piece's page. Chrome and Edge on computers and Chrome on Android support it; Safari (including iPhone and iPad) and Firefox may not
- Make another pose (optional, a few minutes): register the character and describe a pose such as "holding up a flashlight while investigating" to get a 3D image in a new pose that aims to keep the character's look
Pricing: new accounts receive 5 free tokens (valid for 3 months from sign-up; first sign-up with an email address only). A 3D image costs 1–3 tokens depending on quality, and a 3D model costs 5 tokens. Your first 3D model is free (one per account), and additional tokens cost $5.99 for 5. If a generation fails, the tokens are refunded automatically.
The full workflow and tips for drawings that convert well are in How to Turn an Illustration into 3D (2026 Guide).
What should you watch out for when gifting it to someone in your group?
Don't make it as a surprise. Ask the player who created that character first. Also check with whoever drew the portrait (the player, a commissioned artist, or a Picrew creator) and with the rules of the game system or scenario. When you give it, choose a form the other person actually wants, such as a turntable video or the 3D data.
On the Japanese Q&A site Yahoo! Chiebukuro, someone asked (February 23, 2022) about turning a fellow player's character into merchandise as a gift. The best answer listed three sets of rights to check: "the rights of the system's author," "the rights of whoever made the character portrait," and "the rights of the player who created that PC." Another answerer wrote, "Whatever you do, never think of making it as a surprise" (our translations; source: Yahoo! Chiebukuro question (in Japanese), checked November 7, 2026). Each is one person's opinion, but together they make a handy list of whom to check with before you give a gift.
| Whom to check with | What to check |
|---|---|
| The player who created the character | Whether they're okay with a 3D version, and who may see it (just them, the group, or the public) |
| Whoever drew the portrait | The player, if they drew it; the artist's permission for commissioned art; the maker's usage terms for Picrew |
| The game system or scenario's rules | If scenario-specific outfits, NPCs, or logos appear, the fan content guidelines for that system or scenario |
Here's a sample message to the player:
That last session was so much fun! I'd love to turn [character name]'s portrait into a 3D model with an AI tool and make a little turntable video. Would that be okay with you? I'd only send it to you and won't post it anywhere. I'll also check with whoever drew the portrait. If you'd rather I didn't, just say so, no problem at all.
There are three ways to give it:
- Send the turntable video: it costs no tokens, and the other person only has to watch a video. The easiest option
- Send a share link: they can rotate the 3D model in their browser. But a share link is created when you publish the piece, which also lists it in the public gallery and shows the original portrait on the share page. Check with the other player and the portrait's creator before publishing
- Hand over the 3D data (GLB): they can open it in a 3D viewer or 3D software. Whoever receives the data can copy and modify it, so confirm first that it's okay to share
You can't currently make a physical miniature to give with Figmee (physical 3D print orders are Coming Soon).
How do TTRPG players in English-speaking communities do this?
For TTRPGs such as D&D, there are services like Hero Forge, where you customize your character in the browser and get a miniature. Its starting point differs from Figmee's, which starts from your character art, so choose based on what you want to keep.
The gaming site Wargamer describes Hero Forge as letting you "create customized tabletop RPG miniatures from the comfort of your browser," and notes that "the cheapest option is to get a downloadable STL file you can print at home" (source: Wargamer, "Hero Forge", updated September 29, 2023, checked November 7, 2026).
| Approach | Starting point | Main result |
|---|---|---|
| Miniature services (Hero Forge, etc.) | Customizing a character in the service's editor | Miniature data (STL) or a printed miniature |
| Commissioning a sculptor | Your portrait and character details | Depends on the commission (cost and timeline are quoted) |
| Figmee | One drawn portrait | A 3D model based on the portrait's look (GLB / 3MF), turntable videos, and 3D images in new poses |
If you want to see the portrait's art style and coloring in 3D, Figmee fits; if your goal is a miniature to play with, a miniature service or a sculptor fits better. The 3MF you can save from Figmee is data for your own 3D printer or a printing service, and whether it prints as is and how much fine detail comes through depends on the printer and software.
Frequently asked questions
Q. Can I make a 3D model without a turnaround sheet or expression variants? A. Yes. One full-body portrait is enough. The AI infers the back, which isn't drawn, so if the result contradicts your character's design, go with the design.
Q. I want to surprise a party member with a 3D version of their character. A. Ask the player who created the character first. People feel very differently about how their characters are handled. Check with whoever drew the portrait, and agree on who may see it, at the same time.
Q. Can I use the 3D model as a miniature at the table? A. Figmee can't make physical miniatures (physical 3D print orders are Coming Soon). The 3MF you can save is data for your own 3D printer or a printing service, but whether it prints as is and how much detail comes through depends on the printer and software.
Summary
With one full-body portrait of your investigator or PC, you can go from 3D image to 3D model to turntable video in about 10–20 minutes. If you drew it, you can start right away; for Picrew images, check the maker's usage terms, and for commissioned art, get the artist's permission first.
When gifting to someone in your group, skip the surprise: check with the player, the portrait's creator, and the system or scenario's rules, then give it in a form that's easy to receive, such as a turntable video.
