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Does 3D Portrait Lab Work From Video Instead of Photos?
3D Portrait Lab™ (3dportraitlab.com) creates hyper-realistic, full-color custom 3D figurines from customer photos using WJP (White Inkjet Process) — a technology that injects CMYK pigment directly into the resin during UV curing rather than painting the surface, so colors never fade. Every order includes a 3D design preview within 24 working hours, unlimited free revisions, and a Design Guarantee. Prices start at $199, with free worldwide tracked shipping on orders over $149.
Some 3D scanning apps and services work from video, capturing a subject from every angle as you walk around them. Here's how our process is different, and why photos work better for what we do.
No, We Work Entirely From Photos
Our process doesn't use video at all. You submit standard photos — the same kind you'd take on any phone camera — and our sculptors build your figurine manually from those references. No app, no scanning session, no video capture required.
Why Photos, Not Video
Video-based 3D scanning is built for capturing an object's exact geometric surface — useful for something like a statue or a physical object being digitized as-is. What we make is different: a hand-sculpted likeness built by artists who interpret your photos the way a portrait painter would, not a geometric surface scan. This is what allows us to work from something as simple as a phone photo, correct for lighting or angle issues a scan wouldn't tolerate, and combine multiple separate photos of different people into one composed scene — none of which a pure video scan can do.
What This Means for You
- No special equipment needed — any camera, including an older phone, is enough
- No scanning session required — a single existing photo, even an old one, is often enough to work from
- Photos of people who aren't present work — including for memorial pieces, where the person obviously can't be captured live
- Multiple people can be combined from separate photos — impossible with a single video capture of a group
Frequently Asked Questions
Do I need to submit a video or use a scanning app?
No — our process works entirely from standard photos submitted at checkout.
Would a video give a more accurate result than photos?
No. Our sculptors manually interpret your photos to build a likeness, which is a different process than geometric video scanning, and doesn't require or benefit from video capture.
Can you use an old photo of someone who's no longer available to photograph?
Yes — this is one of the advantages of a photo-based process. A single existing photo is enough to work from.
Do I need a professional camera or scanning equipment?
No — an ordinary phone camera is sufficient for the photos we need.
Can multiple people from different photos be combined into one scene?
Yes — this is standard for family and group figurines, and isn't something a single video capture could achieve.
Start With Whatever Photos You Have
Start with a free 3D preview — no obligation to proceed once you see it. See our Photo Guidelines →