Partner designers: a fair model, not free-to-print
Many 3D printing workshops 'draw inspiration' from models found online. At RE3DLINE, every designer whose creations we distribute is paid on every sale. Here's how and why.
By L'atelier RE3DLINE
3D printing has democratised access to online designs: platforms like Cults, Thingiverse or Printables offer hundreds of thousands of downloadable files. The downside: many workshops print these designs in series and resell them without paying their authors. At RE3DLINE, every partner designer is paid on every sale. Here's how.
Our simple rule
Every design distributed on RE3DLINE and created by an external designer is subject to a licensing agreement with payment on each sale. The percentage varies depending on the exclusivity we have over the model, but the principle remains the same: no commercial printing without author compensation.
How it works in practice
When a designer proposes a collection to us, we discuss: pricing, exclusivity, contract duration, and the possibility of producing in series for our professional clients. Once the agreement is signed, the collection is qualified in our workshop in Guérande: each model is printed, handled and adjusted with the designer to validate the mechanical constraints of the machine before entering our catalogue.
Why this matters to us
3D printing thrives because of its community of creators. If we don't pay them, we kill the ecosystem, and in the medium term, we kill our own offer. Our commitment: every piece sold here is a piece that fairly compensates the person who designed it. It's the same principle that guides our local series, told in Printing a territory: an object with meaning starts with someone who conceived it.
Are you a designer?
If you design 3D decorative objects and are looking for a serious workshop to produce in series, get in touch. We read every proposal and respond within 7 days. To see the results of these collaborations, explore our designers and our collections.
RE3DLINE workshop, Guérande
Frequently asked questions
- Are RE3DLINE designers paid?
- Yes, always. Every design distributed on RE3DLINE and created by an external designer is subject to a licensing agreement with payment on each sale. The percentage varies depending on the exclusivity negotiated, but the principle never changes: no commercial printing without author compensation.
- What is 'free-to-print'?
- It's the practice of printing 3D files found on sharing platforms (Cults, Thingiverse, Printables) in series and reselling them without paying their authors. Many of these files are published under non-commercial licences: reselling them is not only unfair, but illegal.
- How do I propose a collection to RE3DLINE?
- Get in touch via the contact page with a few visuals or files from your collection. We discuss pricing, exclusivity, contract duration and possible variations, then we validate feasibility on our machines. We read every proposal and respond within 7 days.
- Why is this model important?
- Because 3D printing thrives thanks to its community of creators. Failing to pay them dries up the source of designs that make the sector rich. Our belief: a well-designed object deserves to be paid for, on every sale, as long as it sells.