Start with what you would enjoy displaying
Imagine the finished piece on a shelf or desk. Would you prefer a miniature with relatively natural proportions, or an expressive character with a larger head? For a gift, think about the recipient’s taste, not only your own.
The photographs here show real finished Miniu pieces from different orders. They illustrate possible directions, not a controlled comparison of one person in three styles. Their particular bases and accessories are not automatically included in a standard order.
1. Choose proportions before fine details
Realistic: a more natural silhouette
Consider this direction when the familiar posture, clothing and overall shape of the person are central to the idea. It can suit a couple in meaningful outfits or someone whose stance is instantly recognizable. “Realistic” does not mean a body scan or a promise to reproduce every feature photographically.
Finished Miniu example. Compare the head, torso and shared pose as a whole, not just the faces.
Cute: personality through a softer character treatment
Cute is useful when you want a friendly, stylized figure that still carries the subject’s hair, glasses, clothing or profession. It is a broad visual direction rather than a precise rule for head size. The important question is whether the character feels right to you.
Finished Miniu example. Clothing and professional details can carry the story even when proportions are deliberately stylized.
Chibi: a larger head and smaller body
Chibi puts more visual emphasis on the face and simplifies the body into a playful character. Choose it because you enjoy that exaggeration, not because you expect natural anatomy. Clothing and props still matter, but their shapes may be simplified to fit the design.
Finished Miniu example. The head-to-body ratio and readable pose are part of the character’s appeal.
These are three useful starting directions, not an exhaustive list of every option. If you are wondering how a personal character relates to an Art Toy, the custom Art Toy guide explains that broader idea.
2. Pick the two details you would miss most
A likeness is more than a style label. A particular haircut, red glasses, a familiar jacket or a characteristic pose may tell the story better than a collection of tiny accessories.
- Hair and glasses: choose a photo that shows their shape clearly and identify the feature you want preserved.
- A meaningful outfit: make sure its main colours and silhouette are visible, rather than hidden behind arms or a bag.
- A small essential prop: ask about feasibility before paying if the design depends on a delicate or very small object.
Start with one clear primary photo. A studio portrait is not required; visibility of the important features is. Use the photo-selection guide to choose between candidate images.
3. Choose the style and size together
A full-body face occupies only a fraction of the figurine’s total height. Something readable on a phone screen can become very small on the finished object.
For realistic full-body designs, the Miniu app supports 8 cm as the minimum and recommends 12 or 15 cm when facial detail is important. A half-body or bust composition can give the face more room relative to the overall height. Cute or Chibi proportions do not remove every production limit: subject count, pose and thin accessories still matter.
Read the 4–15 cm size guide alongside the current THB pricing. Do not estimate physical size by comparing differently framed photographs in this article.
Use your Preview to make the final decision
Check the proportions, the details that make the subject recognizable, and the overall pose. If the direction feels wrong, do not assume production will change it automatically. The Preview checklist helps you decide whether to proceed, revise or ask for advice before choosing final options and paying.
The Preview shows the design direction, not a guarantee of every printed detail, colour or surface finish. Another generation may use credits. For questions about likeness or a delicate feature, contact Miniu on LINE @miniu_bkk before ordering; Thai and English support are available.
