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This is not a suggestion that CGL starts to offer that but very much hypothetical what-if question. (While this was prompted by 3D colour 3D printing, I'm asking in a more general sense, so whether it would be pre-painted by 3D printing, painted by a dude or a machine in factory or whatever like the do with kids toys or however they do/did the plastic Pathfinder Miniatures.)
For my sins, my day job is doing 3D printed models. The company I sell my files/models through is sponsoring a show and want to promote pre-painted models. Something I'm not really able to do (even if I was willing), but it made me wonder. While for stuff like RPG figures (most of said companies little companies), I can sort of see benefit for getting pre-painted if you only want one or two and don't really want to paint, on the wargames side, it had been significantly my impression that that the bare majority of wargamers consider painting/collecting to be the main thrust of the hobby, rather than actually playing. (If I believe one impromptu survey, it might be around 50%, possibly even higher.)
So, out of pure curiousity, if in some hypothetical future, CGL was able to offer pre-coloured models (in whatever form that might take, be it painted plastics or 3D colour-prints or whatever), would that hold any appeal?
For myself, even though I regard painting as much a chore as a joy, I wouldn't be bothered. For my wargames stuff, certainly, it wouldn't really appeal to me (especially as it would likely come at greater expense[1].)
Though even I might conside for 28mm RPG figures, since I just can't be arsed to paint them anymore, too much like hardwork. Hell, I when I had my backpack stolen, I had the inusrance cover having someone re-paint replacements and I DID buy some of the aformentioned PF painted minis (at a time when shipping from the US was not bonkers). But I have enough models for roleplaying that I really don't NEED any more.
[1]I mean, just having someone painting it (digitally or otherwise is hard work. Like, I breifly considered the amount of my own produced models and the thought of spending a day or more kludging digital painting for each one and shuddered...)
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