Ever since I saw Han Solo get encased in carbonite in The Empire Strikes Back, I’ve always wondered what it would be like to have a plastic mould of my friends and family, albeit without sealing them inside the stuff…
Thanks to a little company in Japan called Omote 3D Shashin Kan, though, my dream may be about to become a reality!
Using both 3-D scanning and 3-D printing technology, the ingenious company has made it possible to turn yourself or those you love into a tiny, ultra-detailed figure, with three sizes to choose from.
You’ll have to excuse me if I’m jumping the gun slightly when I say this, but this is clearly the best thing ever!
Omote 3D Shashin Kan is opening its doors on November 24 in trendy Omotesando, Tokyo where it will begin churning out the frighteningly-detailed original figures. Customers are welcome to dress as they please and can be photographed either individually or as a pair, which would probably make a neat little memento for couples.
▼Everything from creases in clothes to the outline of veins is reproduced
The figures are available in three sizes:
-Small (10cm) 21,000 yen (US$260)
-Medium (15cm) 32,000 yen ($400)
-Large (20cm) 42,000 yen ($520)
Although they don’t come cheap, we think that the level of detail and quality of finish, not to mention the sheer novelty factor of the figures, makes them worth the asking price.
The entire process sees the model (you!) take centre stage in Omote 3D’s studio where a skilled technician uses a 3-D scanner to capture every inch of your ( hopefully clothed!) body…
That data is then fed into a 3-D printer which produces a plain white 3-D model, which is then hand painted using the original image data as a reference to ensure that the colours of skin, hair and clothing are 100% accurate.
From the day of the scan to the moment you’re facing yourself off against a ninja turtle figure, you’ll have about four weeks to kill, but we’re sure that, knowing a tiny version of yourself is about to arrive in the post, you’ll be excited the entire time.
Omote 3D’s website is already open and taking reservations (Japanese language only, sorry!), but spots are filling up fast, so you’ll have to be quick if you want to be among the first to creep people out by carrying a mini you in your pocket!
I don’t know about you guys, but I think I know what I want for Christmas now!
Source: IT Media Images Omote 3D Shashin Kan
