The time has come to 3D Print crates.

Boxes are one thing, and for years I've used cardboard and folded paper boxes to fill my dioramas, but there's nothing like having a crate that looks real. An advantage is that being plastic it's certainly stronger and safer for storing. I don't normally keep a diorama display up on a table for very long -- not a lot of space to keep things permanently displayed. So I have to put things away in tote boxes in another room. So constantly the paper boxes get bent and dented. They do last, but after many years they do show signs that they are paper.

In terms of photography, the surface of a 2D printed paper box does seem to be glossy. Sometimes a light shines over the surface and it becomes obvious it's paper.

Making 3D Printed crates are a lot of fun. When they come out of the printer they can be used right away, or painted to look weathered. One day I need to get some decals made with "Shanghai" or "Hong Kong" in both English and Chinese so they look like they are shipments right off of a ship. Great for a warehouse or shipyard diorama.

For storing, the plastic won't warp in the way paper will. Even moisture is a threat to paper boxes, but not so much for plastic. Would be great for an in-the-rain or in-the-mud photoshoots.

Now, I just need to get more filament and set more printers to 3D Print more crates. I like what I'm seeing.
​

Background props are highly important tools to add visual interest to a diorama photo. Strategically they are items used to break up the monotony of a scene, or of simply using the same props what other photographers use.

If you are a toy photography enthusiast you may like taking photos of your toys, especially in a setting -- a diorama. Whether the diorama is a set built up by scratch or outdoors there is always the need to "dress up" the scene with items -- equipment.

An action figure usually comes with gear, and some brands sell action figures with lots of extra gear: ammo boxes, barrels, but very little large gear are included. Boxes and other equipment need to be made by the the photographer. Sometimes the equipment is kitbashed from various toy lines or model kits. In all cases obtaining an interesting background prop is a slow process -- either have to hunt for the prop or have one built. And if many props are needed, it's a much slower process.

At DioWarriors we decided to make a series of generic props designed just for the background -- a background filler. A way to provide an easy solution for visual interest. Need a cluttered table? An office with boxes and stacks of paper? A factory scene with large mechanical structures? It is a lot easier to simply buy the prop than hunt around for it.

The DioWarriors generic props are varied. There are simple models for items that sit on a table. Large items that fill up a wall. We have modular generic props where you can build a machine, making it look as simple or complex as you desire. Maybe you want something with a lot of piping? That is doable.

Our first generic background props are beginning to appear on the store. We can't wait to see what people do with them.