Step-by-Step Guide to Custom D&D Mini Printing in Charlotte

Tabletop nights hit different when your character is sitting on the table in full 3D glory—cloak swirling, sword raised, spell crackling. If you’re in or near Charlotte, NC, you don’t have to wait weeks for an overseas order or gamble on color and scale. You can get custom D&D minis designed, printed, and in your hands locally.

This guide walks you through exactly how custom D&D mini printing works in Charlotte—from idea to finished figure—plus what to expect in terms of cost, timelines, and quality.

Why Go Local for Custom D&D Minis?

Ordering online is fine—until:

• The scale is off and your “dwarf” is taller than the barbarian

• Details get lost in low-resolution prints

• Shipping takes forever or gets delayed

• You want tweaks now, not in three weeks

Local Charlotte printers solve those pain points:

• Faster turnaround: days, not weeks

• Face-to-face collaboration: bring your sketchbook, talk through the look

• Higher quality control: you can see test prints and adjust

• Support local makers & game shops: many are run by gamers for gamers

Plus, Charlotte’s maker scene has exploded since 2020—more resin printers, more hobby stores, and more pros who understand both D&D and 3D workflow.

Step 1: Choose How You’ll Create Your Mini’s 3D Model

The first step is getting a 3D model of your character. You have three main options, depending on your budget, time, and how picky you are about poses and details.

Option A: Use an Online Character Builder (Most Popular)

Tools like:

• Hero Forge

• Eldritch Foundry

• DesktopHero

• MyMiniFactory / TitanCraft (for some systems)

Let you:

• Pick race/species, body type, face, hair, gear

• Pose your character

• Add bases, familiars, spell effects

How it works:

Why this is great:

• No 3D modeling experience needed.

• Very quick—build a mini in under an hour.

• Lots of D&D-friendly assets (wands, greatswords, holy symbols, etc.).

Tip: When you’re done, export at 28–32mm “heroic scale” if you play 5E. You can tell your local printer the base circumference you prefer—typically 25mm or 32mm.

Option B: Download a Model from a Marketplace

If you want something more stylized or you’re into specific artists:

• MyMiniFactory

• Cults3D

• Patreon creators like Loot Studios, Artisan Guild, RN Estudio, etc.

Steps:

Watch for licensing: Most STL packs are sold for personal use only. That’s perfectly fine for getting prints made for your own game. Just don’t resell the prints.

Option C: Commission a Charlotte Artist or 3D Sculptor

If you want your character exactly as you imagine them—scar placement, holy symbol, broken horn and all—this is your route.

You can:

• Hire a local artist who sculpts in ZBrush, Blender, or Nomad Sculpt

• Connect via local channels like:

• Charlotte tabletop Facebook groups

• Local stores like PBG (Panda Bear Gaming), Your Local Game Store (YLG), Atomic Empire’s extended network, or Heroes Aren’t Hard to Find (for comics + connections)

• Charlotte/NC Discord servers for TTRPGs and 3D printing

Typical process:

• Character backstory

• Class, race/species

• Weapon/armor preferences

• Reference art or Pinterest mood board

Cost range:

• A basic custom sculpt: $60–$150+

• Highly detailed, commercial-use sculpts: $250+

For most home gamers, a mid-range custom sculpt is a one-time “this is my forever character” splurge.

Step 2: Find a Charlotte-Area 3D Printing Service

Once you have an STL, you need someone local with a good resin printer—because FDM (filament) printers usually can’t capture tiny facial expressions, chainmail, or jewelry at mini scale.

Where to Look in Charlotte

You can usually find printers through:

• Local game stores / hobby shops

• Some run their own resin printers or partner with local makers.

• Maker spaces & print shops

• Look for Charlotte-area makerspaces or 3D print studios that advertise resin mini printing.

• Etsy or Facebook Marketplace sellers listing “Charlotte pickup”

• Many list “local pickup” options; messages often reveal they’re in Charlotte or surrounding areas.

• 3D printing Facebook groups & Discord servers

• Search for “Charlotte 3D printing” or “NC tabletop 3D printing.”

When you contact them, ask:

• “Do you offer resin printing for 28–32mm minis?”

• “What printer and resin do you use?” (Any recent 8K resin printer is a good sign.)

• “Can I see some example minis you’ve printed?”

Step 3: Share Your Files and Specs

Your printer needs more than just the STL. The more clear you are, the better your mini.

Send them:

• “Standard 28mm D&D scale” or

• “32mm heroic scale”

• 25mm: Medium creatures

• 32mm: Medium but chunkier bases

• 40mm: Large

• 50mm+: Huge / gargantuan

• Just tabletop?

• Painted for display? (Requires crisper detail and smoother surfaces.)

• Some printers will rotate/angle the model for better support and detail.

Step 4: The Printing Process (What Actually Happens)

Here’s what the Charlotte printer does behind the scenes.

1. Slicing & Supports

They import your STL into slicer software (e.g., Chitubox, Lychee). Then they:

• Scale the model to your requested height

• Add supports—thin posts that hold the mini up as it prints

• Choose layer height—commonly 0.02mm or 0.03mm for minis

• Arrange multiple minis on one build plate if you ordered a squad

Good support placement and slicing settings are what keep:

• Fingers from vanishing

• Swords from bending

• Capes from warping

2. Resin Printing on an LCD / MSLA Printer

Most modern mini printing in 2025+ uses MSLA resin printers with 4K–12K screens (Elegoo, Anycubic, Phrozen, etc.). That means:

• Extremely fine detail on armor, faces, and textures

• Crisp edges on bases and weapons

The printer:

• Lowers the build plate into a vat of UV-sensitive liquid resin

• Flashes UV light through an LCD mask layer by layer

• Lifts the model slightly and repeats until the mini is complete

3. Washing & Curing

After printing:

4. Cleanup & Quality Check

A careful printer will:

• Remove support nubs

• Check for misprints (missing fingers, holes, shifted layers)

• Reprint anything that failed

You’ll often see very small contact marks where supports were—these are usually minimized and easy to sand before priming.

Step 5: Pick Materials & Finish

Most custom D&D minis in Charlotte are printed in gray resin, but you have options.

Common Resin Types

• Great for painting

• Shows detail well

• Most affordable

• More impact-resistant

• Good if your minis get tossed in bags or travel a lot

• Slightly more brittle

• Exceptional crispness for faces, details, and filigree

Ask your printer which they recommend for tabletop minis that will be painted and used often. For most players, a tough gray resin is the sweet spot.

Priming & Painting (Optional Services)

Some Charlotte-area printers or hobbyists offer:

• Priming only (usually a neutral gray or white primer)

• Full painting services

If you want to paint:

• Ask them to leave the mini unprimed or primed with a known hobby brand (Vallejo, Citadel, Army Painter).

• Make sure the resin is fully cured and grease-free, or your paint may bead.

Step 6: Cost & Turnaround Time in Charlotte

Pricing varies, but as of 2024–2025 trends, here’s what’s typical around Charlotte:

Typical Pricing for a Single Custom Mini

• Single 28–32mm character mini (you supply STL):

$10–$25 per mini, depending on:

• Resin quality

• Printer’s experience

• Whether cleanup/priming is included

• Squads / parties (4–6 minis):

Often discounted to $8–$18 per mini in a group order.

• Fully custom sculpt + print:

• Sculpt: $60–$150+

• Print: $10–$25

Total for a hero-character can be $70–$175+, but you own a unique model.

Turnaround Time

• Simple print (STL ready, 1–3 minis):

2–7 days is common.

• Crowded plate (large army, dozens of minis):

1–2 weeks.

• Custom sculpt + print:

2–4 weeks, depending on revision rounds.

During big release months (e.g., new D&D book launches, holidays), give yourself extra time—Charlotte printers often get slammed with last-minute rushes.

Step 7: Local Pickup vs. Shipping

If you’re near Charlotte proper (or its suburbs), you can often:

• Pick up in person at:

• The printer’s home workshop or studio

• A partnered game store / hobby shop

• Arrange porch pickup or meet at a neutral public spot if they’re a home-based maker

If you’re just outside Charlotte or can’t make it in:

• Many local printers also ship within NC or regionally.

• Shipping for a few minis is usually $5–$10 in a padded box.

Ask how they pack:

• Bubble wrap

• Small boxes

• Cardboard stiffeners to protect weapons and extended parts

Step 8: What to Expect When You Open the Box

When you finally get your mini:

You may see:

• Very fine support marks (tiny dots or lines) where supports attached. These can be lightly sanded or hidden under primer and paint.

• A slightly chalky texture from the resin and wash. That’s normal.

Before painting:

If there’s a visible misprint, take clear photos and contact your printer promptly. Most local makers will reprint genuinely defective minis—they want you to show off their work at your table.

Current Trends: What Charlotte Gamers Are Printing in 2024–2025

The custom mini world has been evolving fast. In and around Charlotte, players are taking advantage of new trends:

• 8K+ printers everywhere:

Even hobbyists now run 8K–12K machines, meaning sharper details than many big-box manufacturers from just a few years ago.

• Campaign-specific minis:

Whole parties themed to specific settings (Wildemount, Shadowdark-style grimdark, Planescape, homebrew worlds).

• Boss monsters & set-piece villains:

Instead of only heroes, groups are commissioning:

• Vampire lords

• Custom dragon sculpts that match their campaign’s lore

• Final-battle “ascended” villain forms

• Terrain & scatter for Charlotte game rooms:

Once folks see what resin printing can do, they start getting:

• Modular dungeon tiles

• Spell effects and portals

• Tavern furniture, altars, and environmental storytelling pieces

• Paint-ready minis for new players:

With more people getting into D&D (and Pathfinder, 13th Age, Shadowdark, etc.), many are ordering just a couple of super-clean minis specifically to learn painting.

How to Get the Best Results from a Charlotte 3D Printer

To make the most of local options, keep these in mind:

• Avoid broken, hollowed, or corrupted files.

• If you’re unsure, ask if they can quickly check it in their slicer.

• “32mm tall to eye level, 25mm round base” is more helpful than “normal size.”

• “This is my long-term campaign character, I’m happy to pay extra for max detail and a reprint if needed.”

• Many printers are happy to send a quick phone pic so you can spot obvious issues.

• Don’t wait until the night before your big boss battle to print that dragon.

Ready to Bring Your Charlotte Adventurer to Life?

The process to get a custom D&D mini printed in Charlotte boils down to:

Once you see your character in 3D, it changes how the whole table experiences the game—combat feels more tactical, roleplay more personal, and those clutch death saves way more cinematic.

If you’re local to Charlotte, start by:

• Designing your mini on Hero Forge or a similar site tonight.

• Reaching out to a nearby 3D printing service or game store tomorrow with your STL and specs.

Your next session could be the one where your character finally steps onto the battlefield in full, custom detail—printed right here in the Queen City.