Featured image: barrels and boxes from the PrintedByAliens catalog, designed by Vae Victis. Check the product listing for the supplied finish and contents.
A miniature can look identical in two online listings while the purchases are completely different. One listing may ship a model to your door; another may provide a file for a 3D printer. Knowing which you are buying saves you from planning a painting session around a download.
A physical print is a model you receive
The miniature listings in our shop are for physical prints. You do not need to own a 3D printer to buy and use them. The product page explains the material, available sizes and options; many of our tabletop models are supplied as unpainted resin.
A physical model can still be a hobby project. Separate components may need assembly, and an unpainted model needs your chosen preparation and paint finish. Read our guide to receiving unpainted resin miniatures before setting up the paint desk.
An STL is a digital model file
An STL describes a model's surface geometry. Buying a download does not, by itself, mean a printed object will arrive. Turning the file into an object involves a suitable printer, material, print preparation and finishing workflow, or an agreed service that handles those steps.
If you want a printing service to use a file you found elsewhere, check the creator's permissions first. Send the model link and your project requirements when asking for a quote. Our custom print request checklist helps you put that information together.
Read the listing beyond the picture
Digital renders can show a sculpt clearly before it is photographed as a physical print. Painted examples can demonstrate a possible finish. Neither automatically means that painting, scenery or every pictured accessory is included with your selected option.
Designer names are another source of confusion. Our Tiny Furniture collection features physical prints even though the collection name includes “Digital.” Use the item description and purchase options to establish what is being sold.
Use this quick buying checklist
- Format: Does the listing describe a shipped physical model or a downloadable file?
- Contents: Are you selecting one figure, a group, furniture or a complete set? Check the option name as well as the main image.
- Size: Confirm the scale, then ask for actual dimensions if a shelf, base or game space requires a precise fit.
- Finish: Check the material, painting and primer information. “Resin” describes a material, not a paint finish.
- Assembly and bases: Confirm whether parts arrive separately and whether your chosen option includes a base.
For example, the 10-piece barrel and box scatter set is a physical resin terrain listing with 28mm and 32mm choices. Those choices identify the intended scale; they do not mean each crate has that exact height.
Ready to choose a project? Browse the physical miniature catalog, or ask us about a listing before ordering if its contents or size need clarification.