Designers and publishers · 2026
Miniature production for crowdfunding campaigns
Can a campaign's miniatures be produced with 3D printing?
Yes, for runs of dozens up to a few thousand resin miniatures, without paying for a mould. A 28 mm miniature costs €8–€23 on its own, but in a run of 100 it drops to about €4.06 each and in a run of 500 to about €3.91, excluding VAT and shipping (Fabrishare calculator estimate). The key is consistency: an approved sample, the same resin and the same settings if the run is split between several makers. On Fabrishare you post the project for free and get offers within 24–48 hours; the files remain yours.
What gets printed at each stage of the campaign
Campaign prototypes
The first copies to photograph, paint and show on video before launch. Few units, maximum detail.
Miniature painting serviceRewards
The run for backers: from dozens to thousands of copies of each miniature, unpainted or primed.
High volume 3D printingRestocks and shop
Late pledges, parts broken in shipping and sales after the campaign, without repeating a mould.
Small publishers and shops
Your own miniature line, restocked in short runs as it sells.
Small batch 3D printing
Price per miniature by run size
Fabrishare calculator estimate for a 28 mm resin miniature, unpainted, excluding VAT and shipping. Each maker sets their own price in their offer.
| Units | Guide total | Per miniature | Machine time |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | €8 – €23 | €8–€23 | about 40 minutes |
| 10 | €57 | €5.73 | about 40 minutes |
| 100 | €406 | €4.06 | about 3 hours |
| 500 | €1,957 | €3.91 | about 15.5 hours |
Machine time grows slowly because resin prints a whole plate at once; what grows is the work on each part: removing supports, washing, curing and checking. That's why, above a few hundred, the price per miniature barely drops and it's worth splitting the run.
Miniatures and figures are the second most requested group on Fabrishare: 28 of the 110 requests registered between May and October 2026. The largest run requested from the network was 5,000 pieces.
How to get every copy the same
An approved sample
Before the run, order one or two copies of each miniature and approve them: detail, supports, marks and resin colour. That sample is the reference for every maker who prints.
Same resin, same settings
If the run is split, ask everyone to use the same resin and colour, and share files with supports already placed. That keeps differences between batches to a minimum.
Production-ready files
Files with tested supports and parts already split for failure-free printing save time and waste on every copy. If you don't have them, an experienced maker can prepare them once for the whole run.
Checks before shipping
Agree what's checked on each part (no breaks, no support remnants, no bubbles) and how defective ones are replaced.
Printed resin or injection moulding?
It isn't one or the other forever: many campaigns print the prototype and the first runs, and only move to a mould when volume justifies it.
Printed resin
- No mould, no upfront investment.
- Fine detail at 28–32 mm.
- Design changes until the last minute.
- Runs from dozens to a few thousand.
- Restocks whenever needed.
Injection moulding
- You pay for a mould and wait weeks.
- Cheaper per unit in very large runs of identical parts.
- Plastic that takes knocks better.
- Every design change means a new mould.
Lead times: how to plan it
- 1
Prototypes
Order them weeks ahead of the campaign photos; more if they're painted.
- 2
Production sample
When the campaign closes, a sample of each miniature from the final files.
- 3
The run
Split it into batches and dates: partial deliveries are easier to meet than one huge delivery.
- 4
Packing
Say in the project whether you want them bagged, by reference or by reward tier: it changes time and price.
Your files stay yours
Whoever designs the miniatures owns the files. Makers first see the project's technical brief, without your details or the file, and the file only goes to the maker whose offer you accept. They print for you, not to sell them themselves.
How to produce your campaign's miniatures on Fabrishare
- 1Post the project for free: the design files or photos, how many miniatures, the run size and the dates.
- 2Get offers from makers within 24–48 hours and ask for a sample.
- 3Approve the sample and plan the run in batches; if it's large, with several makers.
FAQ about producing miniatures for crowdfunding
How much does it cost to produce 100 resin miniatures?
About €406 in total, about €4.06 per 28 mm miniature, unpainted, excluding VAT and shipping (Fabrishare calculator estimate). Each maker sets their own price in their offer.
From how many units does an injection mould pay off?
It depends on the design and the mould; there's no single figure. For runs of dozens to a few thousand, printed resin avoids the mould investment and lets you change the design. For very large runs of identical parts, injection is usually cheaper per unit.
Can the run be split between several makers?
Yes. With an approved sample, the same resin and files with tested supports, differences between batches are minimal.
Can they be delivered painted?
Yes, especially the campaign prototypes. Painting is quoted separately; large runs are usually delivered unpainted or primed.
Who owns the files?
You, as the designer. The maker only gets the file when you accept their offer, and prints for you.
What's the largest run requested?
The largest requested from the network was 5,000 pieces. Beyond a few hundred, it's normally split between several makers.