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Michael.Mkii

@mkii.designs

AI models and Why you should still learn to model

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AI-generated 3D models are advancing rapidly, and for tabletop gaming enthusiasts, particularly those creating Dungeons & Dragons miniatures, the changes are striking. I’ve been tracking AI 3D model development as part of a project to explore how these tools can assist in FDM printing and to demonstrate proper AI attribution when sharing models.

AI 3D Models Are Getting Sharper

Recent outputs from MeshyAI show how much AI has improved. For example, when generating dragon miniatures from a photo prompt, the latest models exhibit better coherence with the original image and significantly sharper details. Previously, AI-generated models often revealed themselves through inconsistencies like extra or missing limbs—but that may soon no longer be obvious if outputs are carefully curated.

If you’re trying to avoid AI-generated content, this is a good heads-up: discerning AI models are becoming harder to spot.

Why Learning 3D Modeling Still Matters

Even as AI tools improve, now is an excellent time to develop hands-on 3D modeling skills. Programs like Nomad Sculpt, Blender, SolidWorks, and Fusion 360 give you capabilities that AI alone cannot match:

Create high-quality OBJ files with individually selectable parts for multicolor printing.
Fully customize models or enhance AI-generated assets.
Explore advanced print techniques beyond what AI outputs are suitable for
Create mechanically precise parts for assemblies or mechanisms

Mastering these programs ensures that, regardless of AI’s progress, you retain creative control and access to advanced printing options.

Learning to 3d print along side these modeling softwares can also help teach you design principals to create supportless or more complex models with different properties.

AI in Competitions

While AI can be a helpful tool, using it in competitions defeats the purpose of the contest. Competitions are meant to showcase human creativity, problem-solving, and skill. Relying on AI undermines the spirit of fair play and diminishes the value of genuinely handcrafted work.

A Note on AI Use and Attribution

I regularly use AI to edit and rewrite text, and I don’t oppose AI in creative work. My main concern is transparency: AI should be properly attributed when it contributes significantly to a model. Using AI without disclosure diminishes the recognition of human effort behind a project. Personally, I balance AI assistance with hands-on creation to focus on my passions while acknowledging the trade-offs.

The evolution of AI in 3D modeling is exciting, but human creativity and skill remain essential. Whether you’re designing your own D&D miniatures or enhancing AI-generated models, learning 3D modeling today will keep your projects versatile, high-quality, and uniquely yours.

Edit: This article was mainly looking at Meshy.

For those interested, MakerLab has a similar Image to 3d AI available that is on par with Meshy 5 or 6 generations as shown using the credits from the Points system. Would recommend

#D&D #Ai #Work in Progress #Dnd #Aigenerated #3D Modeling #Models

(Edited)

Comment (5)

@Loanshark : AI is a good starting point to get a basic figure, but the more you evolve, the less you’ll rely on it. If you enjoy adding details, doing it yourself often gives the best results. Nonetheless, for beginners, it’s a handy and fast tool to go from idea to STL.

@ShenDev : So I regularly generate 3d models from pictures using MakerLab's tool. It does a pretty good job bringing my card art images to the tabletop for the game I'm developing - Shen. I test print them and often have to make multiple modifications, in BamboStudio, like adding supporting structures, negative parts for stray parts, and thickening areas that just don't print well. That requires multiple prints to identify the failure points. Do those type of minor improvements count for anything to the real modelers out here. I'm careful to always attribute the AI tools I am leveraging either way and am moving into Blender to make more adjustments to models, but that's been the extent of my modeling input beyond the conceptual background and universe building I have already done before I started generating images for game components. Thanks for the thoughts.

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@ShenDev : @mkii.designs : That's a good idea to break the models down into component parts. I have just completed one like that for a larger more complex miniature. It will be part of my wave 2 release. Yes, I have been leveraging AI tools to generate the game components that only a skilled artist or a modeler would be able to complete for me. It is exiting to be able to generate those game components that until recently were not possible for me. Hiring them will require a prototype/beta release that can help me fund things, maybe via a Kickstarter, since this isn't my first job. Blender will come with time. I have been making modifications to models within Bambu Studio, but I understand that is a limited toolset. The AI generated models will serve as nice starting points once I am able to develop the skills myself or am able to bring a modeler onto the team. Since I have been using MakerLab's image to 3d model tool I want to just upload my models here on MakerWorld as a way to say thank you.

@mkii.designs : I would say that the bulk of your models are from the AI, however learning Blender to help "fix" the issues is a great step! Also, you could make the tagging a bit more clear but I don't see any issue with your models in terms of mis-representing them as your own wholly created design. One thing that I can recommend is, if you can learning a modeling software to make your designs in the future, you could create the obj files to be kinda like "assemblies" with the eyes, ears, fur, weapons etc seperated and allow you to paint them better for multicolor

@BoneForgePrints : cool! thank you!

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