Coral Dolphin Frame 5in

This 5‑inch Coral Frame started as a follow‑up to my Gothic Rose Frame. After finishing that project, I wanted to explore a more ocean‑themed version—something bright, playful, and full of movement. I asked ChatGPT to generate a coral‑style frame concept, refined the image a few times, and then uploaded the final artwork to MakerLab to generate the base model.

From there, I rebuilt and refined the details by hand. The dolphin in the AI model was too rough, so I sourced a free dolphin from MakerWorld (model 2020987 by the original creator), removed the base, and split it lengthwise to integrate it cleanly into the frame. The lower shells come from a Cults3D model (Sea Shell by Dynasus), which I sealed by shrink‑wrapping a cylinder to create a printable, watertight version. The top shells are from Thingiverse (thing:375328), chosen for their clean geometry and natural shape.

The entire frame prints without supports, including the coral, shells, and dolphin. You’ll see a few fine strings in the center area—just a quick cleanup with snips. The inner opening is 116 mm (4.5 in) so the whole frame fits on a single plate. I’ve included both a cut‑back version and a solid‑back version, depending on whether you want an open or closed frame style.

This project blends AI inspiration, community‑sourced elements, and three weeks of refinement into a clean, support‑free decorative frame. I hope you enjoy printing it as much as I enjoyed creating it.