$100 An Hour Making Exclusive 3-D Foto-Figures

This is a creative business in which you can turn your sparetime into big money, and all you really need to get started is afew materials and your existing work shop. If you don't have aworkshop, a corner of your basement or garage will give all thespace you need.
You could have paid $14,990 for a course and setup in thisbusiness. That's what one company has advertised in Entrepreneurmagazine. Why would you want to pay such a high price when thisbrief report will show you virtually everything you will need toknow
WHAT ARE 3-D PHOTO FIGURES?
You may have seen them on display or sold under different namessuch as photo sculptures, photo statues or self-standingfigurines, but the principle is the same. Basically, they arephotographs that have been cut and mounted onto an acrylicbackground, then fastened to a base. And, they sell like hotcakes to those who want something unique and different-especially when it is a likeness of themselves, a relative,their home, or favorite pet.
INVESTMENT NEEDED
If you'll be starting from scratch, your total investmentshould not exceed $200... and it should be considerably less ifyou already have a home workshop in your basement.
EQUIPMENT NEEDED
These are the basic tools you'll need:
Variable speed scroll saw Belt sander (or sand paper)Drill & drill bitsScissorsGogglesSpray adhesiveHand VacuumWork table ( or picnic bench)
HOW MUCH MONEY CAN YOU MAKE?
If you have just a few spare hours available each week, youshould be able to make a nice part time income, a few hundreddollars or more once you get rolling in this business. Here's abreakdown of approximate costs and selling prices for thevarious size photo figures:
Approximate Cost Approximate Size Cost to Make Selling Price----------------------------------------------- 3X5 $1.40 $10.00 5x7 $1.90 $14 to $18 8x10 $3.95 $20 to $25 16x20 $5.00 $30 to $35
Now, figure in your labor and the time necessary to make suchfigure which will be about 15 minutes when you complete a fewpractices jobs and become accustomed to working with thismaterial.
Using the largest size as an example, if you had an assignmentfor jut 4 figures and you completed each in 15 minutes, thisgives you a gross of $120 FOR an hour's work. Now subtract yourproduction cost of $5 each or $20 for the four figures, and youstill come up with $100.
Naturally, all jobs won't be for the larger size, but you could(if you really wanted to) specialize, only in the size to makethe biggest net profits. You might do better, however, if youwill provide all sizes to attract the most customers.
PRACTICE MAKES PERFECT - AND PROFITS
Although this is relatively easy work, a certain amount ofpractice will be needed to become proficient. Just how muchpractice you will need depends on how skillful you are inworking with your handS. If you already have a workshop in whichyou have done creative work, you will probably master 3-DFigures in just a few minutes after getting a "feel" for theacrylic materials. Otherwise, it might take an hour or twobefore you begin feeling comfortable at this job.
HOW AND WHERE TO BUY YOUR ACRYLICS
Check your local Yellow Pages under Plastics. Acrylic isgenerally sold in 4x8 foot sheets, such as wall paneling, butask if they will cut yours into smaller 2 x 4 foot sizes, whichwill make the material easier to handle when you begin cuttingand gluing.
Be sure to check several sources because prices can often varygreatly among suppliers. You shouldn't have to pay more than$100 for a 4 x 8 foot, quarter inch sheet. In fact, ask if theyhave scrap pieces available that you can buy. If so, this couldsave you a lot of money.
YOU'RE NOW READY TO MAKE 3-D FIGURE
Make sure your shop or working area is well lighted andventilated. If you don't already have a scroll saw and have tobuy one, select one with a fast speed because the faster thespeed, the smoother the cut. Always use a sharp blade in yoursaw - a fine blade for cutting small details, a wider blade forlarger area cuts. CAUTION: If the blade isn't sharp, it tends tomelt the acrylic.
Take one of your practice photos and begin cutting out theprimary subject for your figure. The primary subject is what youwant to highlight, such as a head and shoulders figure of aperson, an entire group of people, a car, house, pet, etc. Allbackground areas will be eliminated.
DO NOT cut close to the subject, but allow about an inch allaround making sure your scissors are sharp right to the points.
The size and shape of your acrylic backing will of course dependon the size of the subject. You'll want to pre-cut a section ofacrylic that will accommodate your photo. A good adhesive forthis is a photo mount spray glue, available at most photostores. Before you glue the photo to the plastic, blow away anyremaining dust or plastic chips from the surface or they willshow through the picture.
To mount your photo, first spray your acrylic, then lay one edgeof your photo down and gradually bring it down to the otheredge. You only have one shot at this step, so sure you'repracticing on your own photos before attempting to work forsomeone else.
Keep your glue away from fire and flame, and allow plenty ofventilation to protect yourself from fumes. You can use a rubberroller to smooth out the photo and eliminate air bubbles. Theglue will dry completely in about 15 minutes.
Now you're ready to make final cut around that border you hadoriginally left on. Lay the picture down, face up, and begincutting... moving the acrylic into blade. To make cuts in themiddle of a photo, such as between arms and legs, drill a holewhere you want to cut... then insert the blade in the drilledhole and cut out the portion you want removed.
NEXT, INSTALL THE BASE
The base is what will make your figure stand upright and it canbe either a rectangle shape or cut free form - whichever willmake the picture look best. Be sure to sand all edges beforegluing the base. Super glue will probably be your best choicefor this.
When your figure is finished, examine it carefully to make sureyou have made all the right cuts in the right places, that alledges have been sanded smooth, and that it stands straight onthe base. Now, put the finished figure into a plastic bag forprotection, or have small boxes ready.
At this point it would be a good idea to have small labelsprinted with your name and address to put on the bottom (orback) of each figure. When someone picks it up, they will seewho made it and this can produce a lot of extra business for you.
Don't be afraid to experiment (on your own photos, of course) tocreate new and different ideas that will be saleable. Forexample, acrylic comes in a variety of colors, so you canstandardize on black or white... or experiment with your colorfor the backing and another for the base; or, you might want toarrange your figures on layers of different size and colorbackings. Let your imagination guide you.
SETTING UP YOUR BUSINESS
We've just covered the creative end of 3-D photo figures, butnow we must find an outlet for them, first establishing abusiness. You'll need official stationery for this, so decidewhat you will call your business, or just use your own name;John's 3-D Figures or something like that. Any local quick printshop can print your name and address on letterheads andenvelopes, and it would be a good idea to also include businesscards as well as Statements and Order Forms.
MARKETING YOUR CREATIONS
Check your local photo shops to find out if they offer such aproduct to their customers. If not, you have virgin territory.If they do, see if you can beat the prices they pay and sellfor. Show them a few of your samples and offer to work with themon a 50/50 arrangement. You do all the work, they make sales totheir own customers. If you have 5 or more shops working withyou this way, the business should keep you pretty busy.
Of course, if you would prefer not to share your profits, youmight want to sell directly to the public. To do this, run smallads in your local newspapers, something like this:
YOUR FAVORITE PHOTOS COME TO LIFE
Beautiful Lifelike 3-D Figures. Skillfully crafted and mountedon durable, colorful acrylic. Show off your prize possessions orthose you love on these free-standing 3-D Photo Figures. Aperfect gift for Birthdays, Anniversaries, Christmas and otherholidays. A cherished lifetime gift for as little as $9.95. Phone ______ (Your name & address)
You can enhance the above ad by including a small picture of oneof your 3-D photo figures, or several samples, to show what theylook like for those who don't know.
SELL BY MAIL
These 3-D Photo Figures make an ideal mail order item, so yourmight want to establish your own mail order business. To do thisproperly, however, you should keep your ad small (to reduce thecost) and ask readers to write for information
To those who write, send a friendly letter and circular/brochureillustrating your sample figures. Include an order formincluding your size and prices for the various figures.Naturally, you will have to ask potential customers to send youthe photo they want mounted, with full assurance that it will bebeautifully created into a 3-D Photo Figure that they will beproud to display or give as a gift.
Using the pricing example on Page 1 of this report, you candetermine the price for your customers based on your cost, sizeof the finished product, and the length of time it requires tocomplete.

However you decide to sell your creations, you can quickly buildthis into a very profitable part time (or fill time) business inwhich you can make $100 or more per hour. Even if you work only10 hours a week, $1000 weekly isn't to be scoffed at.