Forcing us to create waste only to take a picture

MakerWorld
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Hey everyone,

I’m a little (to say the least) bothered by the fact, that Bambulab forces us to print every single design we publish, for the solely purpose of taking a picture - forcing us to create unnecessary waste (in certain scenarios).

Here a simplified example of where I’m going with this:

If I for example design a box, print and upload pictures of it, and then someone asks me to slightly iterate the box (include a partition, lower its height or whatever) I’m usually more than happy to do so, because its an already tested and documented design, so I make the desired changes and upload it with a screenshot of the design.

For me, there is no need to print this box as I myself don’t need it. But he/she wants to have it, maybe someone else wants it too. But by doing so, I’m basically infringing on Makerworlds guidelines which state: “MakerWorld mandates that creators furnish at least one real-life photo of a model printed using this print profile. The objective is to demonstrate its printability.”

I do understand why they want someone to post a picture, but they should consider this scenario as well - because its there!

I don’t know you, but I’m strongly against printing a model for the solely purpose of taking a picture. It’s a waste of time, money and creating unnecessary waste!

What’s you opinion on this…?

PD: I’m basically posting this, because I just got deleted 2 files of a project that was requested on Reddit - which I then uploaded and clearly marked as “untested BETA”. But it already had a few downloads and 5 Star rating.

Therefore It’s proven to work - they got a picture in the comment-section, but still want me to print it although I have no further use for this, just to take a picture and throw the part away…?!

https://www.reddit.com/r/3Dprinting/comments/187feuf/bambulabs_ikea_bror_shelfdesign_structural/

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Maybe you could send the profile to them in a email or something if they print it for you and send you a picture. Then you upload it to makerworld with the picture.

I see what you are saying but it’s just a rule they have.

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I understand your point and frustration in this case, however you might try to look at it the other way - the guidelines were set in place because MakerWorld is more user-centric (so printability of the design is central) and that’s a way to combat problematic uploads/profile spam and so on.

In this case, that’s also the reason for there to be open profile uploads by 3rd party - if you don’t want to print the desing, the person requesting the design can print it, make photo and upload the profile themselves

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Whenever I get asked a slight dimensions adjustment that I can accommodate I’ll upload the STL only, without creating a print profile, you don’t need photos of prints for STLs , just for profiles (which for me makes sense)

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You can actually just send it in Makerworld DMs

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This is your best solution, my only alternative suggestion is sending the file to the person in their Makerworld DMs (which is the only place I’m currently transferring files on Makerworld), and they can upload it as a print profile if they print it and like it.

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I just added a comment in the description of the model, and by doing so and reading again over the terms and conditions, I am actually not sure why they really took down the files.

It could be of pictures (which has already happened to me once before) or in this case due to many other factores, such as being a BETA, not taking responsibility, basically being honest.

They give us the opportunity to “revoke”, but if one does not know the exact cause, how of earth should I revoke correctly? (because they only give you one chance) which again is a slap in the face for those who spend a lot of time on their design, screenshots, description etc etc…

@Foxwood That is a good idea, but if pictures are already present in the comment-section and the model has a 5 star rating - I really don’t see the need to upload any picture, nor to contact anyone. (They would most probably say, Dude… I already postet it in a comment - which is basically an answer I once got asking for more pictures)

@Johnny_Bit I do looked the other way and understand it (in some way) but before people download and print - they should read.
If I upload something as a prototype or beta, they know its on them if something goes wrong. I do my best to mitigate this, but sometimes you don’t know if something will eventually work because use-cases may also vary.

PD: The section: “MakerWorld mandates that creators furnish at least one real-life photo of a model printed using this print profile” was added not so long ago. Prior to that you could upload a screenshot and call it a day.

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But then they get the rewards for something you have designed…

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Yeah, I’ve barely managed to get rewards for things I designed. Between theft, jealousy, and malicious behavior, I don’t actually try to get points here anymore. Worthwhile items go to my Etsy or Patreon instead.

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I’m not sure when that came about, but it’s been in effect since I started uploading in September 2024 or so.

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Yep… That’s actually something I’ve been thinking about for some time. I have a few projects I have not yet made public because of that.

In regards of those guideline changes “need for a pictures”, that was beginning of last year if I’m not mistakes, so yes… quite some time.

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Not so much - when someone posts profile to your model, you still get points for download and prints, while profile creator has the option to grant you the points. Also, the profile creator only gets points IF their profile has more than 4 star rating, while designer gets points for download and prints regardless of profile score.

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Bottom line, the damage from allowing non-photo profile spam is worse than the damage from forcing people to print and take a photo. So yeah, it’s not great, but I’d take it 1000 times over than the ‘super fast profile’ where they’ve completely borked everything to farm for points being the majority of profiles.

Though personally I would use a bounty system for profiles, not a free-for-all. People can put in requests for profiles they would like, and people can fulfil those requests and get rewards if the bidders print and confirm it, and otherwise profiles get nothing. With the rare exception of models that get uploaded with no profile at all, where the top profile should get something extra. Because micro iterations on profiles are the vast, VAST majority of profiles that exist, and they represent a worthless amount of time, skill, and effort. Where a profile actually does a lot (like cutting up differently to size for a mini, for example), publish it as a remix instead. If all you did is click the scale button when nobody asked, you really don’t need a shiny sticker for your work.

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I do understand “why” they implemented the need for a picture, but in many ocasiones this can also be a huge bummer.

I like your bounty system idea and share your opinion on the rest.

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Was recently uploading to makerworld the first time after I uploaded the same stl to thingyverse and printables. And I have to admit I got so annoyed about all the questions and requirements I had to meet over and over again on makerworld that I was thinking: “Next time I skip makerworld, my time is too valuable and my frustration is not worth those internet rubber points I can earn with it. If yomeone needs my model google will find it on the other sites as well”

BTW: I had uploaded a first simple functional print for a very niche issue to thangs3d - and guess what? The process was simpler and faster and already 3 people paid 5 USD to get it and gave it 5 stars.

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Bambu and Makerworld is a consumer focused entity. It’s built for people that aren’t technical, that aren’t going to know how to tweak slicer settings or do mechanical things. It’s built for people that wont have the knowledge to know about what makes a model print well, how to best orientate it, and all sorts of things.

The whole print profile system, the point of pictures. It’s to help build confidence and trust, and to help make things easier for those that want to print, but may not have all the technical knowledge to be able to pull any ol’ model off any ol’ site and make it work.

There’s tons of junk designs on sites like Printables or thingiverse. There’s a lot of great designs too, but with little to no documentation or information on how to best print them.

You know. Like I purchased a model off of cults3d. There was no real instructions on how to assemble it, and no guidance given on how to best orientate the models for printing. The model itself wasn’t designed for 3d printing, so it wasn’t just a straight forward print. It would have been a frustrating project for someone that didn’t know as much. It was a little frustrating as someone that did, and I printed it multiple times before I could get it to half work, and even then it’s still not perfect. Because of the nature of the design, the designer just didn’t put in enough effort to adjust the design to work better with 3d printing.

It’s easy to throw one’s arms up in the air and complain about the steps one has to take here. Take a moment to realize who this site is targeted at though, it’s audience.

They want to tailor a certain sort of experience for a certain sort of audience. That comes with caveats, but we’re rewarded for that too.

Makerworld has provided me more rewards than Printables ever did. I quipped earlier today about how the rewards from Makerworld might actually get me a Prusa XL, but I’m far from that on printables, despite being on there much longer.

This was in response to the previous post to mine. To OP. I think the problem is that the site is at a scale, that it’s hard to maintain exceptions that can be fairly applied. I understand your frustrations. I think people are right that you should send it directly, and ask if they’d provide a photo once printed, so you can inturn provide it to the community as a whole without having to print each variation.

Or, you know, I mean :shushing_face:

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Fixed :shushing_face:

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I see no problew with person havind to print models.
Its a good check and balance method

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I totally understand your frustration but This rule was made necessary by the actions of bad actors and you’re paying the price. The picture is the proof that the file actually prints and isn’t just BS filler that someone is churning out a bunch of profiles just to flood the “new releases” and game the system to earn more points/money with profiles that haven’t been tested and proven with a picture.

Is it a perfect system? no. Is Makerworld infinitely better because of this rule though? Yes

The only suggestions I have is to either email them the file or have them send a pic or create the profile and have them send a pic that you can put in the profile as soon as they’re done with the first print

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Now I’m asking myself if publishing the printed files in the description is even enough… because in many of my projects I showcase the printed parts but then have screenshots as thumbnails to make it aesthetically more pleasing und unified.

Hm… I might have to go over everything.

PD: They eventually took down the profiles as my appeal was not approved.
Even though I had a 5 Star rating on the profile and a picture of the printed model in the comment-section.

1 Like