By Erica Liu, posted Jan 6, 2013 at 9:14 AM, 837 views,

China Launch First 3D Photo Printing Station to Challenge Japan (Video)

China’s first ever 3D photo printing service has introduced in Xi’an, Shaanxi province in Northwest China region. A 3D miniature of a customer can be made within 3 hours. First it takes 15 minutes of scanning the customer’s whole body to computer for analyzing data to proceed molding. It takes another two to three hours to print out the carving in 3D printing machine. Printing material can be organic or inorganic, such as plastic, rubber and wax. All finished products can be colored. The shop also prints customized iPhone case and figures, with this cool technology you can pretty much print anything, especially small gifts. Previously we saw the same kind of 3D printing service spring up in Japan as well, we believe the charging price will be more consumer-friendly in China …

3D printing technology was originated in mid 1980s by University of Texas at Austin. The printers were large, expensive and highly limited in what they could produce. Xi’an is not the first to provide 3D printing service to consumer, Japan already have this crazy 3D printer business two months ago. Customers in Japan can make their own portraits using the similar technology like Xi’an is having, but the final product is relatively expensive, a 10 cm 3D miniature costs 21,000 yen (USD$262). We are not too sure how much will it cost to make the same 3D figure in China, but a decent domestic 3D printer is quite affordable over here. Taobao.com, the famous online shopping website, is selling a 3D printing machine in a decidedly good price: 3,588 yuan (USD$575), it has sold more than 700 units last year. The buying groups are educational schools and enthusiasts.

SOURCE: news.163.com, chinanews.com (Chinese content)