Applications of 3D Printing for Creatives

3D printers have become another tool in the artist’s arsenal—opening up avenues of custom fabrication. For inspiration, we’ve gathered artists who have used this technology in their work, as well as practical printer designs for you to try in your own.

Why 3D Print Anything?

Creators have been using this technology to materialize all kinds of 3D printed projects that were previously all but impossible to make, especially affordably. For artists, the applications are endless–you can create a detailed, scale maquette of a planned project, tricky custom parts you need for a challenging installation, camera equipment, sculptural components of a piece, or as a collaborator in a generative installation–the world is yours to print! 

Artists Using 3D Printing in their Works:

One of the considerations around 3D printing is the environment, it expends energy and produces more material–however, 3D printing sources materials broken down and printed out, can be made of recycled materials. Allowing for new artistic life in plastic.

_{Alicia Framis, The Screaming Room, Madrid 2013}

Alicia Framis

In The Screaming Room 2013, those entering the constructed space are invited to scream, the sounds creating waveforms which are recorded and translated into a 3D object–typically a vessel (appropriate for a vessel containing a scream to create from that scream another vessel). A brilliant, interactive interpretation of embodied emotion, this exhibition evokes wonder in viewers, elevating 3D printing above gimmick. Framis is an early innovator of the potentials of 3D printing in fine art installation.

Rirkrit Tiravanija

Installation artist Rirkrit Tiravanija has been using 3D printer technology nearly since its inception to create elements of his installations, able to execute sculptural pieces that otherwise might have been impossibly delicate or prohibitively expensive to produce.

Phoebe Hui

Using 3D printing to create multiple custom components to her exhibition The Moon is Leaving Us at Art Basel in 2020, some practical in their deployment, others, like the moon-textured framing of an automated drawing robot, are aesthetic and ornamental. Hui made use of this technology in a way that was conceptually and materially aligned.

Getting Started

Califlower Calibration Tool

First things first, to get the most out of your 3D printing, you’ll want to calibrate your device so that there are no surprises, especially in custom fittings that require precision. This tool will ensure your printer is set correctly and your final result won’t suffer from skew.

Projects for Photography

Camera Slider

Photographers know how much these tertiary bits of gear can be. Manufacture your own at a fraction of the price with a little bit of time and dedication. They’re fully motorized and work like a charm.

Pinhole Camera

A fully functional camera made almost entirely out of 3D printed objects. It’s an interesting project well worth your time just to see what these fantastic machines can really do and a great entry point into analog photography.

Camera Arm Mount

Wildly useful for photographers, filmmakers and artists who document flat work, a camera arm mount provides more versatility and distance than a tripod.

Equipment Wall Mounts

Get your lighting gear off the ground and on the wall before you trip over a softbox and live with regret.

SD Card Storage Box

For photographers and filmmakers, organize your SD cards all in one place. With this 3D printed storage box, you’ll keep them safe and sound.

Projects for the Studio

Printing Press, Relief Printing & Stamps

Lino and woodblocks are not the only way to produce relief prints. Enter 3d printers. You can create your hybrid word via this fusion of digital and analog processes.
Consider also simple stamps. Whether print editions, zines, or customize leather and other materials, a custom made stamp can make a bespoke design for your project.

Studio Organizational Elements

Organize your desk, or, more importantly dry your paintbrushes, sort your sculpting tools, with these simple 3D printer designs, you’ll have all you need to generate truly unique organizers that will keep your items where they need to be. Consider it inspiration for making bespoke sectioned organizers for all manner of equipment and materials.

Headphone Stand

Filmmakers and musicians: get your headphones and hardwires off your desk and onto a specially crafted hanger of your own design.

Mitre Box

Mitre boxes are extremely useful when it comes to designing and building. In just a few minutes, your 3D printer can spit one out and have you making exact cuts in your design projects in no time at all. Just add a blade, and you’re golden.

Cable Winders and Holders

For so many creative professionals (photographers, filmmakers, musicians) cords are your albatross. You’re forever tangled and taken down, and it’s probably driving you, and those around you, a little crazy. Get it together and craft something functional for your set up!

Paint Tube Squeezer

Paint is expensive. Get every last bit of precious pigment out of the tube and live without wondering just how much was left in there… While this design was meant for a toothpaste tube, it’s easily applied to all kinds of tube-contained substances.

Bookholder

Taking a break from production and already struggling with a cramped hand? Designed with larger books in mind, this tool is so useful and keeps finger strain at bay.

Amplifier

Drop your phone into these useful little devices to amplify the sound from its speakers. They offer surprisingly high-quality sound.

Projects for Your Art Installations

Custom Moulds

This Post-Box Popsicle is designed to help you send freezable liquids in a mould, but the real creative application is to precisely make moulds for plaster casting, think of this only as a delicious idea of what’s possible.

Record

If you’re an audiophile, you’ll truly appreciate this entry as one of the best things to 3d print. By converting audio files, you can create your own records that will play on turntables.

Drawing Machine

A larger-scale project, the Drawing Machine is unique and its applications versatile: attach a pen and create drawn works from files on your computer–consider the interactive possibilities in an installation. Maybe you program it to write it was the best of times, it was the worst of times all day, every day.

Robot Arm

This is perhaps one of the most advanced projects: a fully-functioning robot arm. It can be programmed and used for a variety of purposes, if you’re looking for a moving component, this is something Phoebe Hui also used in the installation we described above. So, someone is making them.

Costuming

If you’re a photographer or filmmaker who relies on specific props in conceptual or editorial work, consider printing your own bespoke pieces like masks, armour, and accessories. If you’re an artist in need of specific forms for your installation, you can design and print anything you dream up.

Where to find 3D Printers

As technology expands its potential applications, it becomes cheaper and more widely available. If you don’t want to invest in your own, you can find 3D printers at Maker Spaces, Libraries, schools and some artist-run centres. You can also consider contracting a 3D printing company should you have a large-scale project in mind.