Resin Sizing, Scale & Finish Guide

Resin Miniature Sizing, Scale & Finish Guide

Not sure whether you need a 32mm tabletop miniature, a larger 75mm model, a specific base size, or a particular finish? This guide explains miniature scale, model height, base size, display sizing, and our available resin finish options so you can choose the right model before ordering.

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What Size Resin Miniature Should I Choose?

The best miniature size depends on how you plan to use the model. Tabletop players usually need a miniature and base that work with their gaming system and battle map, while painters and collectors may prefer a larger model that provides more surface area for painting and display.

For Tabletop Gaming 32mm-scale miniatures are one of our most common choices for player characters, NPCs, monsters, and other tabletop models. Shop 32mm Miniatures →
For Miniature Painting Both tabletop and larger display scales work well for painting. Larger models provide more surface area for detailed paintwork. View Our Painted Gallery →
For Display & Collecting 75mm and larger models are popular for painting projects, display shelves, centerpiece models, and collectible figures. Shop 75mm Miniatures →
Always check the scale and base-size options shown on the individual product page. Available sizes vary by sculpt and creator.

What Does 32mm Scale Mean?

32mm scale describes the general scale of a miniature—it does not necessarily mean the finished model will measure exactly 32mm tall.

The actual height of a 32mm-scale miniature can vary because of the character's race or ancestry, pose, stance, horns, wings, weapons, scenic elements, and the proportions used by the original sculptor.

For example, a crouching character and a character holding a sword overhead may both be designed at the same 32mm tabletop scale while having very different overall heights.

Important: 32mm scale is also different from a 32mm base. Scale describes the relative size of the sculpt, while base size describes the footprint underneath the miniature.

What Is Heroic Scale?

Heroic scale is commonly used for tabletop miniatures and typically features intentionally exaggerated proportions such as larger heads, hands, weapons, armor, or facial features. These proportions can make important details easier to see and paint at tabletop size.

Because sculptors use different proportions and design styles, two miniatures sold at the same general scale may not be exactly the same height when placed side by side.

32mm vs. 75mm Resin Miniatures

Many of our resin miniatures are available in both tabletop and larger display-oriented scales. The right choice depends primarily on whether you plan to use the model for gaming, painting, collecting, or display.

Scale Common Use What to Expect
32mm Tabletop gaming & miniature painting Common for player characters, NPCs, monsters, encounter pieces, armies, and traditional tabletop miniature painting.
75mm Painting & display A larger presentation of the sculpt that provides more surface area for painting and makes small sculpted details easier to see.
100mm+ Large display pieces Often used for larger collectible figures, busts, centerpiece models, dioramas, and dedicated display projects.
Scale does not determine a creature's D&D size category. A miniature can be printed at 32mm scale while representing a Tiny, Small, Medium, Large, Huge, or Gargantuan creature depending on the sculpt.

Miniature Scale vs. Model Height vs. Base Size

These measurements describe different things and should not be used interchangeably.

Print Scale The overall scale at which the sculpt is produced, such as 32mm or 75mm scale.
Model Height The actual physical height of the finished miniature. Pose, weapons, wings, terrain, and other features can affect this measurement.
Base Size The physical footprint underneath the miniature, such as a 25mm, 40mm, 50mm, 75mm, or larger base.

A model listed as 32mm scale with a 25mm base, for example, is a 32mm-scale sculpt supplied with a 25mm base. That does not mean the miniature itself is exactly 32mm tall or 25mm tall.

D&D Miniature Base Sizes

For tabletop play, base size determines how much physical space a miniature occupies on the battle map. The appropriate base depends on the creature, sculpt, gaming system, and intended use.

Our individual product listings provide the base sizes supplied with each miniature whenever applicable.

Base Size Common Use
25mm Common for many standard player characters, NPCs, and Medium-sized tabletop miniatures.
40mm Used by some larger characters, creatures, scenic models, and specialty sculpts.
50mm Common for many larger creatures, monsters, mounts, and encounter models.
75mm Often used for Huge creatures, large monsters, bosses, and major encounter pieces.
100mm+ Used for especially large monsters, dragons, centerpiece creatures, and other oversized models.
These are general examples rather than universal rules. Always use the base size listed on the individual product page when determining what is included with a D&K Custom Prints miniature.

Display Miniature Sizes

Larger resin miniatures are ideal when tabletop footprint is less important than painting, detail visibility, or shelf presence. Depending on the sculpt, we may offer larger formats such as 75mm, 100mm, 120mm, 150mm, display busts, or other creator-provided sizes.

Because poses and proportions vary, the scale name does not guarantee an exact finished height. Wings, raised weapons, horns, scenic bases, tails, and other features can significantly change the model's overall dimensions.

If your miniature must fit a specific shelf, display case, diorama, or other space, contact us before ordering and we can help confirm sizing.

Resin Miniature Finish Options

Our finish options let you choose how much preparation, assembly, priming, or painting you would like completed by our studio before your miniature ships. Available options may vary by product.

Finish Level Best For What's Included?
DIY Kit Experienced hobby builders Unassembled resin parts. May require minor support cleanup, sanding, fitting, and hobby assembly before priming or painting.
Raw Prep Painters who want a cleaner starting point Cleaned, cured, inspected, and lightly prepped. You handle assembly, primer, and any additional surface preparation you prefer.
Assembled Customers who want the model built Professionally assembled and checked in our studio. Ships unprimed and ready for your preferred priming and painting process.
Primed Painters ready for color work Assembled, prepared as needed, and coated with a detail-preserving hobby primer so you can move into painting sooner.
Painted Finished tabletop or display pieces Assembled, hand-painted, detailed, and sealed by our studio. Turnaround varies by model size, complexity, and the current paint queue.
Finish availability may vary depending on the sculpt, size, number of parts, and individual product listing.

Resin Miniature Primer Colors

Our Primed finish option uses hobby primer selected to provide a consistent painting surface while preserving the fine sculpted details of the miniature. Primer color can also give you a useful starting point for your planned color scheme.

Resin miniature with black primer Black Useful for dark fantasy, metallic armor, monsters, deep shadows, and high-contrast paint schemes.
Resin miniature with gray primer Gray A balanced, versatile starting point for a wide range of miniature painting projects.
Resin miniature with white primer White Useful beneath bright colors, vibrant clothing, lighter paint schemes, glazes, and translucent paints.
Resin miniature with flat red primer Flat Red A useful starting point for crimson armor, dragons, demons, capes, fire themes, and other red-heavy schemes.
Resin miniature with red-brown primer Red-Brown Works well beneath leather, fur, earth tones, natural textures, warm skin tones, and weathered finishes.
Resin miniature with neutral yellow primer Neutral Yellow A useful undercoat for yellows, golds, warm metals, desert themes, oranges, and other warm colors.
Resin miniature with olive green primer Olive Green Useful for woodland creatures, foliage, military themes, monsters, terrain, and green-heavy color schemes.

Our Resin Printing & Quality Process

Our high-detail resin miniatures are printed and processed in our Missouri studio. Producing a quality resin miniature involves more than simply removing a model from the printer.

  • High-detail 16K resin printing: Our resin printing equipment is designed to reproduce fine sculpted details including faces, armor, weapons, scales, clothing, and creature features.
  • Multi-step cleaning: Models go through an initial and final wash using 99% IPA, additional cleaning in an ultrasonic cleaner, and a water rinse.
  • De-gassing and curing: Depending on the model and its size, prints are typically allowed approximately 24 hours to de-gas before UV curing.
  • Hand inspection: Supports are removed and each model is inspected by hand as part of our production process.
  • Finish-specific preparation: Additional preparation, assembly, priming, or painting is completed according to the finish option selected.
  • Careful packaging: Finished orders are packed with protective materials appropriate for the model before shipment.

Resin Miniature Size & Finish FAQs

Does 32mm scale mean the miniature is exactly 32mm tall? No. 32mm describes the miniature's general scale. Actual height varies based on the sculpt, character, pose, weapons, wings, terrain, and other features.
Is 32mm scale the same as a 32mm base? No. Scale describes the relative size of the sculpt. Base size describes the physical footprint underneath the miniature.
What's the difference between 32mm and 75mm miniatures? 32mm is commonly used for tabletop gaming, while 75mm provides a larger version that is popular for detailed painting and display. Exact dimensions vary by sculpt.
Does D&D creature size determine print scale? No. Tiny, Small, Medium, Large, Huge, and Gargantuan describe creature size within the game. Print scale and physical base size are separate measurements.
Does base size equal model height? No. Base size is the footprint underneath the miniature. The actual model height varies according to the sculpt and pose.
Which finish is best for miniature painters? Raw Prep and Primed are popular choices. Raw Prep gives you more control over preparation, while Primed lets you move into painting sooner.
Will my resin miniature require assembly? DIY Kit and Raw Prep models may require assembly depending on the product. Assembled and Primed finishes include additional studio preparation. Painted models may occasionally ship in separate pieces when needed for safer transit.
Do painted miniatures come sealed? Yes. Painted models are sealed as part of our painted finish process. Matte, satin, or gloss finishes may be used depending on the model and intended final appearance.
Are resin miniatures fragile? Resin reproduces excellent detail, but miniatures should still be handled with care. Thin features such as swords, horns, wings, fingers, and spikes are naturally more delicate.
Can you make a miniature a custom size? In many cases, yes. Contact us before ordering if you need a particular scale, base size, overall height, shelf clearance, or campaign requirement. Custom rescaling starts at $5.00 for re-supporting, plus additional resin costs when applicable.

Need Help Choosing a Size, Scale, or Finish?

Whether you're choosing a miniature for tabletop play, a painting project, a display shelf, or a specific campaign requirement, we're happy to help you determine the best available option before you order.

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