3dtotal Games Launches New Kickstarter Campaign for 3D Printing Pen Project Manual

With Christmas approaching, I find myself evaluating everything in terms of whether or not it might be a great gift idea, especially for kids. Arts and crafts are always a big hit, and what a great idea to introduce everyone to the new technology of the 3D printing pen–or to help someone further master their new hobby. The first book on the subject is brought to you by UK-based 3dtotal Games, and you could very possibly transform someone’s life by introducing them to the 3D printing pen, most notably the 3Doodler.

Master Your 3D Pen: Tips, Techniques, and Inspiration for 3D Designs has just been launched on Kickstarter with a campaign hoping to raise £8,000 (almost US$13,000) by November 17, 2014. 3dtotal is no stranger to success on Kickstarter, as they have previously led successful campaigns for a card game, anatomical reference statues for artists, an art book, and a sketching solution for beginners.

Featuring 200 pages printed on glossy art paper, this book is a great idea for anyone, obviously, but those involved in digital art would have a special interest in trying something new, or they may already have a 3D pen and need to refine the art they are creating. Kids are a shoo-in for this one, and parents will probably be even more enthralled at what the new technology can do. Master Your 3D Pen could be the perfect inspiration for a teen or adult endeavoring to start a small hobby business.

As the first of its kind, Master Your 3D Pen gives the reader a comprehensive knowledge of how the 3D printing pen works, including:

• The basics, starting with how to hold the pen
• How to set up your work area
• How to use other tools with your projects
• Techniques for layering and mixing colors
• Comprehensive project templates and guides
• 3D-printing pen advice and inspiration

“Our aim is to produce a versatile book,” said 3dtotal Publishing Project Coordinator, Melanie Smith. “Working through the projects, you will gradually build up skills and confidence for working with your new art tool. Simply creating a straight line can pose numerous problems! But the initial preparatory chapters will hold your hand through every straight line, curve, and wobble.”

Master Your 3D Pen treats you to 24 different projects which “range from 3D sculpts of animals, plants, and vehicles to unique jewellery, homeware, and even shadow puppets!” It’s stressed that they want the reader to ultimately learn how to draw without templates and guides, but there are many provided for learning and for understanding scale as readers get started. Included as well are resources for instructional videos for further visual approaches to learning.

Everyone will also enjoy the information on using structures with the 3D printing pen, as so many things can be used for ‘supports.’

“Kickstarter followers will know that we revel in coming up with new resources and tools to help and inspire creative people around the world,” said 3dtotal Publishing Managing Director Tom Greenway. “We came across some of the new 3D-printing pens on Kickstarter ourselves, and instantly knew that this was the ideal platform on which develop a new title to help you all take advantage of this innovative technology!”

If you would like to back this Kickstarter campaign and receive a copy of the book, make a pledge ranging from £18 to £32, with a really cool set of tools and a pen case (in which the tools fit too) thrown in for an extra £12. The tool set includes a metal ruler that won’t melt on you, two sculpting tools to help scrape away plastic from surfaces when you are using a guide, and scissors to help tidy everything up.

For the past fourteen years, 3dtotal Publishing has been creating successful educational books for digital artists, spanning a variety of subjects from digital painting for beginners to sculpting in ZBrush.

If given with an accompanying 3D printing pen, the lucky user won’t even have time to wonder what to do — they can dive right in for hours of fun and projects. Do you use a 3D printing pen? Tell us about some of your experiences and projects in the Master Your 3D Pen forum at 3DPB.com.