Two Decades of Innovation: Celebrating 20 Years of 3D.sk
What is the story behind your company?
In 2004, Peter Levius and I launched our company with the ambition of building the largest online reference library for anatomy. We started on the vibrant streets of Prague with just a humble 5 MPX Canon digital camera. Peter identified a crucial need for high-quality human references, leading us to establish www.3D.sk, a resource dedicated to serving digital artists and game developers.
“Over the last 20 years, 3D.sk has helped to unleash thousands of imaginative projects to life around the world.”
Richard Polak – CEO AND FOUNDER of 3D.sk
Shortly after our launch Sony Entertainment recognized our potential and open cooperation with us. Since then, we’ve had the privilege of serving many prominent industry leaders as our valued customers, including Ubisoft, Epic Games, Nvidia, CD Projekt Red, Rockstar, Capcom, Electronic Arts, Ritual Entertainment, Bandai Namco, Bluehole, Gate21, Facepunch, and many more.
We’ve grown into a global operation, capturing over 5,000 individuals from diverse backgrounds to enrich our extensive database. This expansion was greatly enhanced by insights from CG artists, painters and sculptors, which led to the development of specialized sister websites like female-anatomy-for-artist.com, human-anatomy-for-artist.com, environment-textures.com and photo references for comic artists
Our images have gained recognition in esteemed publications and books, such as 3D Artist Magazine, Photoshop Creative, Essence: The Face: Modeling and Texturing, and Sculpture/modelage modèle vivant. Building on this success, we introduced photogrammetry services, complementing our extensive 2D reference library. This addition ensures that artists can find everything they need in one place, enhancing their creative processes with both high-quality images and 3D scans.
What does success mean to you and the company?
Success is evidenced by our collaborations with PRO artists and top-tier game studios like Ubisoft, Rockstar, EA, and CD Projekt Red on acclaimed series such as Assassin’s Creed, GTA, Battlefield, and The Witcher. These partnerships validate the quality and relevance of our scanning services and anatomy references in the industry.
What are some examples of how 3D.sk has listened to customer feedback and implemented changes to make users feel more supported and valued??
Based on customer feedback, we’ve recently completed a major update across all our portals, including 3D.sk, Female Anatomy for Artists, Male Anatomy for Artists, and Comic References, significantly enhancing the user experience.
We’ve always valued our clients’ input, and over the years, we’ve developed several robust tools to make our users feel supported and appreciated:
- UNITED CREDIT SYSTEM: Now, your login and credits are unified across all our portals. This means you can purchase credits on 3D.sk and use them on Female Anatomy for Artists or any other associated site. Learn more
- REWARD SYSTEM: Our loyalty rewards are better than ever. The longer you stay with us, the more free credits you’ll earn, allowing you to explore more of our resources without additional cost.
- MONTHLY UPDATES: we provide monthly updates of photo references and 3D scans, typically adding more than 100 new assets to our collections each month. This ensures our users have access to fresh, high-quality resources consistently, helping to inspire new projects and expand creative possibilities.
- ALL AVAILABLE ASSETS: With over 5,000 individuals photographed and 3D scanned throughout our history, we’ve made searching through our vast database easier. Each character now has an “ALL AVAILABLE ASSETS” button below the credit price, directing you to all available assets for that character across all portals. This integration ensures that assets like Elmira’s A-pose can be accessed in 3D scans, photo references, and various poses from different angles seamlessly across our websites.
- WISH-LIST: Create a wish-list to save all the essential assets for your next art project. This feature acts as a mood board and can be shared with friends or colleagues, fostering collaboration. Learn more
- COMMUNITY BUILDING: Leveraging our extensive expertise and history, we are committed to cultivating a vibrant community around our platforms. We offer engaging content through our blogs and active participation on social media channels including Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, Pinterest, YouTube, LinkedIn, ArtStation, and DeviantArt.
Join us and contribute to building a thriving art community. We’re excited to see what you create with our enhanced resources and support systems!
Where do you see the company in 5 years?
Looking ahead, we aim to be a leader in providing detailed references and human scans, creating new digital avatars and worlds. We plan to expand our presence internationally with additional scanning rigs and seek a strong brand as a partner to broaden our reach. The advent of AI and more accessible services presents an opportunity to expand our digital human library further, catering to evolving industry needs.
What gets you out of bed in the morning?
My mornings begin at 6:30 with family time, caring for our three cats, followed by exercise. I am passionate about Spartan races and aim to complete a Trifecta each year. This goal keeps me physically and mentally strong, fueling my daily motivation.
What is the biggest failure in your company history?
Initially, we missed the emerging trend of 3D scanning technology around 2014-2015. Despite this, we pivoted by establishing our first scanning rig in 2017, and by 2019, we developed a custom solution with 130 cameras. Our significant project for Warhorse Studios involved scanning 70 characters and reconstructing over 3,000 scans for FACS, affirming our capability in high-resolution 3D scanning.
What do you love most about your team?
What I love most about our team is the diversity and professionalism that each member brings to the table. It’s more than just working together; it’s about building a passionate community. As we collaborate, we’re not just conducting business—we’re part of something much larger. We contribute to the development of artists, the creation of new character arts, and the birth of entire worlds. It’s truly breathtaking to see how we’ve fueled the creative industry for 20 years, inspiring and elevating the artistic community. This, to me, is the most rewarding aspect of our work.
Who are your target customers?
Our clientele spans film production, game development, traditional and digital artists, and fashion brands. We provide 3D content for immersive experiences online and in AR, helping customers visualize products in their space before purchasing. Notable collaborations include the Big Green Egg and fashion brands, enhancing the customer’s buying process, which studies show leads to higher satisfaction and reduced returns.
What are the greatest challenges for the company this year?
Our main challenge this year is managing our extensive data and ensuring timely delivery to our clients. Finding skilled technical artists who can adhere to our scanning and post-production pipelines has been particularly challenging.
