The LEBLOX App Lets You Turn Your Selfies into Pixelated 3D-Printed Avatars
Rahul Kalvapalle — April 20, 2014 — Tech
References: leblox & visualnews
LEBLOX is an app that can help you create pixelated, 3D-printed avatars of yourself, your favorite fictional characters or even your pet. It is the brainchild of Paris-based creatives Mathieu Lecoupeur and Soy Phompraseuth.
LEBLOX can be used in two different ways -- you can either take a photo, or convert and existing photo on your phone to a flat, pixelated version. You can then create a custom 3D pixelated avatar and request LEBLOX to 3D-print your design. The makers of LEBLOX say they hope to provide the service for only 20 euros (including shipping) for French addresses, and are actively searching for a 3D printing partner in the US to help them access potential customers there.
The other noteworthy aspect of the app is that it is social, allowing users to share their design -- dubbed a 'Blox -- with others. “Our goal is to gather all ‘pixel art,’ everything from great designers to the casual user,” says Phompraseuth. “Because once a user publishes a Blox, everyone can 3D print it.”
LEBLOX can be used in two different ways -- you can either take a photo, or convert and existing photo on your phone to a flat, pixelated version. You can then create a custom 3D pixelated avatar and request LEBLOX to 3D-print your design. The makers of LEBLOX say they hope to provide the service for only 20 euros (including shipping) for French addresses, and are actively searching for a 3D printing partner in the US to help them access potential customers there.
The other noteworthy aspect of the app is that it is social, allowing users to share their design -- dubbed a 'Blox -- with others. “Our goal is to gather all ‘pixel art,’ everything from great designers to the casual user,” says Phompraseuth. “Because once a user publishes a Blox, everyone can 3D print it.”
Trend Themes
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3d-printed Avatars — The LEBLOX app is a disruptive innovation opportunity for the 3D printing industry to provide affordable and customized avatars for users.
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Pixelated Photo Conversion — The trend towards pixelated photo conversion can provide opportunities for app developers to create unique and customizable design options for users.
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Social Pixel Art — The LEBLOX app's social aspect showcases a trend towards sharing pixel art designs and provides opportunities for social media platforms to incorporate user-generated designs and expand their content offerings.
Industry Implications
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3D Printing — LEBLOX is an innovation that could disrupt the 3D printing industry by providing a new and unique product for users.
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Personalized Merchandising — The ability for users to create customized 3D-printed avatars can be an opportunity for personalized merchandising startups to develop new products and expand their offerings.
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Graphic Design Software — The trend towards pixelated photo conversion can provide opportunities for graphic design software companies to incorporate this feature into their products and appeal to a wider audience.
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