Guides

Make something, step by step.

Short, practical walkthroughs for turning photos into real 3D models on your Mac. More are on the way.

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Image to 3D: the complete guide

How image-to-3D works on a Mac, every local AI engine, what makes a good input image, and which export to pick.

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Fabrication

Image to STL for 3D printing

Why a picture is not an STL until AI builds the geometry, and how to get a watertight file your slicer accepts.

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Characters

Turn a photo into a 3D collectible

Stylise a photo into a collectible toy with an AI image tool, then make it a real, printable 3D model. Prompt included.

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Run it locally

How to run TripoSR on a Mac

The DIY Python setup, the Apple Silicon gotchas, and the one-click way to run it fully offline.

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Run it locally

Running TRELLIS.2 on Apple Silicon

Why the official code is CUDA-only, what a Mac port takes, and how to run the full 4B model offline.

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Run it locally

Stable Fast 3D on your Mac

The gated weights, the custom texture and UV steps, and the one-click alternative.

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Run it locally

Hunyuan3D-2 on Apple Silicon

The honest state of Mac support today, the memory it needs, and what is coming to 3D Mate.

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3D printing

Photo to a 3D-printed figurine

From one photo to a figurine you can hold: the right engine, a watertight file, and your slicer.

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3D printing

Photo to a tabletop miniature

Scale tips for 28mm and 32mm, engine choice for sharp geometry, and multi-part printing.

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Reference

3D file formats explained

GLB, USDZ, OBJ, STL, PLY, and 3MF. What each is for, and which to export for your destination.

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Reference

GLB vs USDZ

Web and game engines vs Apple AR, and why you can just export both from one photo.

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Reference

What is a USDZ file?

The format behind Apple's AR Quick Look, and how to make one from a photo on your Mac.

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Reference

What is a watertight mesh?

Why slicers reject some files, and how 3D Mate exports print-ready STL and 3MF.

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Coming soon

More guides on the way

Game-ready assets, product turntables, and multi-angle capture. Want one first? Tell us on the wishlist.

Everything runs on your Mac. The only step that leaves your device is an optional AI image tool, and each guide says so where it applies.