ShalaMakes
Made with Intention
Behind the Scenes

Custom Projects

A look into the creative process behind custom commissions.

Every custom project tells a story. Here you'll find the journey from initial concept to final delivery — including process photos, print timelapses, design iterations, and the stories behind each unique creation.

Project #001

Custom Articulated Dragon

Commission for @client_instagram

Completed

This commission came from a collector who wanted a unique articulated dragon in a custom color scheme matching their gaming setup. The client requested a black and purple gradient with metallic gold accents — a combination that required careful filament selection and print sequencing.

The final piece features 42 individually printed segments, hand-assembled with smooth ball-joint articulation throughout the body, wings, and tail.

Project Specs
Print Time 18 hours
Material PLA Silk + Matte
Size 14" fully extended
Colors 3 (Black, Purple, Gold)
Parts 42 segments

Featured

Custom dragon final result
The completed dragon in its full glory — photographed in the client's gaming setup.

Print Timelapse

Timelapse
18h
Print Time
0.16mm
Layer Height
215°C
Nozzle Temp
42
Parts Printed

Project Timeline

Day 1 — Initial Consultation
Understanding the Vision
Client shared reference images and color preferences. We discussed size options, material choices, and the overall aesthetic they were going for.
Day 2-3 — Design & Prep
Model Selection & Color Testing
Selected the perfect dragon model and ran test prints with different filament combinations. The silk purple + matte black combo won out.
Color test
Test print
Day 4-5 — Production
Main Print Run
18-hour print session for the main body segments. Used Bambu Lab AMS for automatic color changes between the purple gradients and gold accents.
Day 6 — Assembly & QC
Final Assembly
Hand-assembled all 42 segments, tested joint articulation, and performed final quality checks. Added protective packaging for shipping.

Process Gallery

Process photo 1
Fresh off the print bed
Process photo 2
Color detail close-up
Process photo 3
Assembly in progress
Process photo 4
Quality check station

Videos

Articulation Demo
Showing the full range of motion and pose-ability
0:45
Unboxing Preview
How it looks when it arrives to the client
1:20

Reference vs. Result

Client reference Client Reference
Final result Final Result

The Story

"I wanted something that felt like it belonged in a fantasy world but also matched the purple RGB lighting in my setup."

This project pushed me to experiment with color combinations I hadn't tried before. The silk purple filament has this incredible sheen that shifts between purple and pink depending on the light angle — perfect for catching those RGB reflections.

The trickiest part was getting the gold accents to stand out without overwhelming the design. I ended up using a metallic gold PLA just for the spine ridges and horn tips, which gave it that premium fantasy armor look the client was after.

Final Result

Delivered
Final 1
Final 2
Final 3

The dragon now sits proudly on the client's desk, perfectly matching their gaming aesthetic. Another custom creation brought to life!

Absolutely blown away by the quality. The colors are even better in person, and the articulation is so smooth. Kevin was great to work with throughout the whole process — highly recommend!

— @client_instagram

Project #002

Giant Articulated Serpent

Commission for @another_client

In Progress

A massive 24-inch articulated serpent with rainbow gradient coloring. This project is currently in the printing phase — check back for updates as it progresses!

Project Specs
Estimated Time 28 hours
Material Rainbow Silk PLA
Size 24" length
Status Printing...

Current Progress

In progress
Head section complete
In progress
Body printing now

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