A large part of the appeal of 3D printing is its ability to personalize products so that they are designed specifically for the individual. Instead of purchasing mass produced goods, consumers can easily design what they want via a program and then "print" it. We're not all designers or programmers, however, so what if there was a simpler, more accessible way to have your ideas come to life?
The 3D printing and design company Sculpteo has developed an app available for the iPhone and iPad that will let users submit their smartphone photos to be used for design inspiration and to create added level of personalization. That is to say, instead of actually getting a printed mold of your head from one of your photos, the app will incorporate a user's facial features to form the shape of something like a vase. It enhances the level of ownership over the goods produced and makes the concept of personal production more accessible to those of us who aren't necessarily technologists or designers.
Sculpteo offers a series of preset designs of different types of user-submitted photos, including self-portrait vases and cups made from hands of family members.
