SNL Creative recently collaborated with Digital Artist  Diego dos Muiños to showcase “The Alien” a full-color 3D printed bust.  This will be on display at SNL Creative’s Booth #2651 for RAPID2024 in Los Angeles, CA. Learn more and Dive deeper into this collaboration and hear from Diego himself in our exclusive interview.

SNL: Hello Diego, it is great to catch up with you- SNL is very excited to have collaborated and for you to tell your story around “The Alien” for RAPID 2024. Could you start by telling us a bit about yourself and your journey as an artist?

Diego: Hello, my name is Diego dos Muiños, and I’m an artist from Galicia, Spain. From the beginning of my professional career, I’ve dedicated a lot of time to developing my collections. This type of work is what motivates me daily, and I approach each piece as an opportunity to apply new techniques or learn something new. The alien collection is something I’ve been working on for years, and this particular piece holds special value for me because it was the first design I created for this collection. Years later, I recovered it and updated it, improving the detail and adding armor.

Amazing! you can tell where your passion is based on the breadth of your work. Can you tell us more about the inspiration behind your “Alien Piece”?

Diego: My designs emerge in two very different ways. In some cases, I start with an initial idea that I think is interesting, and then I develop it. In other cases, I jump straight into modeling and experiment until I find silhouettes and forms that suggest new ideas or ways to continue. In this case, this design emerged from the second approach. The silhouette is very simple, so I tried to pay special attention to the secondary details that arise when trying to give coherence to the silhouette. If it doesn’t have a nose… how does it breathe? If it has such a large head… how does it support it on its shoulders?

SNL: I agree with your artistic process. You want to put yourself into character when sculpting to give it that depth you see in your work. Are there any particular themes or messages that you aim to convey through “Alien Piece”?

Diego: My projects (currently) don’t have a significant conceptual background. There are probably certain patterns that repeat in terms of character or personality, and I have more complex projects in development in that sense. For now, my main interest is that they feel alive and coherent in all their elements.

SNL: What tools and software do you use in your creative process?

Diego: As a character artist, I work for video games and film, so the development of my characters generally follows those parameters. I aim to achieve good renders to present my designs. At the same time, not all the programs I use would be necessary for 3D printing. Zbrush, Maya, S.Painter, Marvelous Designer, Unreal Engine, Photoshop.

SNL: How do you approach digital coloring, especially for a complex piece like this?

Diego: This was an interesting process because it was quite complicated to project the color of the final piece back to the model for printing. I was personally interested in seeing the level of detail that these new printers have, especially in color, so I dedicated a lot of time to trying to conserve as much detail as possible from the alien’s textures.

Can you share some of the  tools used for digital coloring?

Diego: In this sense mixing different techniques like Substance Painter, Zbrush, and Photoshop.

 What were some of the technical or artistic hurdles you encountered during this project?

Diego: As I mentioned before, the color transfer was complicated. Another thing that’s very difficult to handle is preparing the geometry for 3D printing. This is quite technical, but basically, a model thought to be visualized in 3D isn’t prepared to be printed, so you have to clean it up and prepare it, and the more complex the model, the harder that preparation is.

SNL: Finally, how was the experience of collaborating on the “Alien Piece”?

Diego : Collaborating on the “Alien Piece” was a highly rewarding experience. Working with SNL Creative allowed me to see my digital creation come to life in a way that maintained the integrity and detail of my original design. The team’s expertise in high-end color 3D printing was instrumental in achieving a result that was true to my vision. It was exciting to push the boundaries of what is possible in this medium and to see the piece realized with such precision and vibrancy.

Thank you, Diego, for sharing your insights. We love that your are passionate about the process and raising the expectation around Color 3D Printing . Thank you, Diego, for sharing your insights. To witness his work first hand , Visit us at RAPID2024 @ SNL Creative’s booth #2651 from June 25th-27th at Los Angeles Convention Center. See You There!

Cypress, CA – 8/15/23: SNL Creative, a leader in additive manufacturing, is thrilled to announce the inauguration of its state-of-the-art facility in Cypress, California. This facility stands as a testament to SNL Creatives’ commitment to pushing the boundaries of innovation in 3D printing and rapid prototyping, offering a diverse array of technologies and services.

Nestled in the heart of Cypress, Ca, the new facility boasts an impressive range of advanced 3D printing technologies, including Selective Laser Sintering (SLS), Stereolithography (SLA), Material Jetting, Fused Deposition Modeling (FDM), and Continuous Fiber Fabrication (CFF). This comprehensive suite of technologies empowers clients to materialize their concepts with remarkable precision and efficiency.

Diversity extends to the materials as well, with a vast selection for both prototyping and qualified materials suitable for 3D printing solutions destined for the market. SNL Creatives’ dedication to material innovation ensures that clients have access to the latest and most suitable materials for their projects.

One of the facility’s highlights is the fully dedicated Prototype Tooling department, meticulously designed to facilitate high-volume production. Complemented by a specialized hard modeling team, SNL Creatives ensures that products achieve their desired appearance and functionality before entering the mass production stage.

Moreover, SNL Creatives offers a complete paint and post-processing team, guaranteeing the creation of impeccable final appearance models that are ready to captivate and impress.

The integration of automation shines through the Virtual Portal, where clients can seamlessly upload, request quotes, and place orders. This portal seamlessly syncs with the Manufacturing Execution System (MES) software, ensuring a streamlined production process while maintaining rigorous quality control at every phase.

“We are thrilled to introduce our new Cypress facility, a testament to our relentless pursuit of excellence,” commented Shawn Zindroski COO of SNL Creative. “Our investment in cutting-edge technology, coupled with our dedicated teams, positions us to redefine additive manufacturing. We are confident this facility will elevate both our capabilities and our customers’ experience.”

SNL Creatives’ new facility in Cypress, CA, signifies a monumental step toward the future of additive manufacturing. With its impressive technologies, diverse materials, and seamless automation, the facility promises to redefine the industry landscape and set new benchmarks for innovation.

For more information and inquiries, please visit http://www.snlcreative.com.

About SNL Creative:

SNL Creative stands at the forefront of additive manufacturing, offering cutting-edge 3D printing solutions and rapid prototyping services. The new facility in Cypress, CA, embodies the company’s dedication to pushing boundaries, embracing innovation, and ensuring client satisfaction through advanced technology and expert teams.