CSRA locals can now get their own mantle-ready mini-me’s, thanks to a novelty concept that arrived in the area, this year.
Based in Charleston and launched in 2019, Shrunk 3D is a mobile studio service that uses full-body high-definition cameras and 3D printing to offer customers full-color nylon replicas of themselves.
Matthew Widener, former owner of Surrey Tavern and former manager of Grateful Paws Mobile Pet Grooming, opened his own Shrunk 3D Augusta franchise in January. Franchisees are generally equipped with a trailer housing a photo booth, carrying some 100 cameras, he explains.
“We can fit up upwards to three to four people at a time… it actually takes 190 pictures within about three seconds,” Widener said. “I pretty much send all those photos to the design team that’s in Charleston, and they render all those photos into a 3-D figurine the size of the customer’s choice.”
Marketing on the company’s website seems to overlap with Widener’s experience since taking his trailer to various events, as both emphasize the photo-and-printing service’s popularity with sports teams and comic book convention-goers.
He recalls his recent visit to Atlanta as a vendor during a cheerleading competition, where most of his customers were students looking to commemorate their last year of cheerleading.
“This way it’s just something different than a regular 2-D picture on your cell phone, or something you may never, ever get developed,” said Widener, noting that the subjects have the option of adding a base on their figurines for logos or other messaging with up to 20 characters. “Mainly people just get them just to sit on their mantle, and they’ll kind of remember how it was when they were that age.”
Wedding cake tops, couples with their pets, families, and of course comic fans and cosplayers dressed as their favorite superheroes and sci-fi characters are frequent requests for those entering the photo booth.
“It’s just an extremely innovative and unique way of capturing a moment in time,” Widener said. “It’s a timepiece, because it’s so extremely detailed. You’ll just remember the experience forever.”
Skyler Q. Andrews is a staff reporter covering business for The Augusta Press. Reach him at skyler@theaugustapress.com.
