Eric Binnion

As my wife and I prepare for our first Dungeons & Dragons game, we’ve been exploring options for miniatures. It’s a fun way to bring our characters to life and immerse ourselves in the experience.

Initially, we considered 3D printing and painting a model. While this seems like the best way to get a high-quality, customized mini, it’s not exactly budget-friendly. Our local shop quoted us $25 per mini, which feels reasonable given the effort involved but isn’t something we want to spend every time we change characters.

After some research, we landed on a more affordable and flexible option: printed paper characters displayed in acrylic holders. Here’s how we made ours:

1. Designing the Character:
   We used Hero Forge, which is fantastic for designing D&D and other tabletop RPG characters. It offers countless customization options, including races, clothing, accessories, poses, and color schemes. With a paid subscription, you also gain access to screenshot functionality, allowing you to capture high-quality images of your 3D character from any angle.
2. Enhancing the Image:
   After capturing a screenshot of the character, I enhanced the image using Topaz Gigapixel AI. This tool upscales the image to ensure it looks sharp and clear when printed.
3. Printing the Character:
   I sent the final image to my local Walgreens for printing. It was quick and cost-effective, with the total coming to just a few dollars.
4. Assembling the Mini:
   Once I picked up the print, I trimmed the character and placed it in an acrylic holder from Amazon. While the holder instructions suggested using glue, I opted for tape—it worked just fine and was conveniently on my desk.

All in all, I’m thrilled with the result. For about $3, I have a mini that’s both visually appealing and easy to update when I want to try out a new character. This approach strikes the perfect balance between quality, cost, and flexibility.