How to Create 3D Figurines From Photos For Free With Nano Banana AI

Scroll through your feed lately, and you’ve probably noticed friends, influencers, and even pets popping up as miniature figurines. These aren’t hand-sculpted collectibles. Instead, they’re made in seconds with AI tools like Nano Banana, powered by Gemini 2.5 Flash Image. The reason behind them going viral is how realistic these toy-like renders look. They come with complete glossy finishes and boxed packaging that mimic high-end merchandise. 

In this article, we’ll break down exactly how you can join the fun, why the -Gemini 3D Figure trend caught fire, and how to use Nano Banana step-by-step. 

What Is a “Viral 3D Figurine”?

At its core, a viral 3D figurine is a stylized digital portrait that looks like a collectible toy. Think of Funko Pop or high-end PVC figures, except generated from your own photos. These images usually exaggerate proportions, place characters on pedestals, and add retail packaging for extra flair. 

What makes them shareable is how they balance realistic art style with playfulness. This way, you get the polished feel of a premium product but with the humor of seeing yourself or your cat immortalized as a tiny statue.

Gemini 2.5 and the Rise of “Nano Banana AI”

The technology behind this craze is Gemini 2.5’s Flash Image mode. What it does is transform a normal image prompt or reference photo into a 3D figurine. The best part? It feels three-dimensional, plastic-like, with accurate ambience, and the miniature scale you’d expect from a collectible figure. 

Unlike professional 3D modeling, no kind of sculpting or rigging is involved. All you need to do is simply upload a photo, add a descriptive prompt, and let the model do the major work. The accessibility is what makes it so appealing: anyone can turn a snapshot into a display-worthy piece in less than a minute.

Why the Gemini 3D Figure trend Took Off

Three things fueled this 3D figurine AI trend: simplicity, speed, and style. First, you don’t need to know a single thing about 3D design. Second, Nano Banana is lightning fast! It generates images almost instantly. Third, the results feel authentic enough to trick the eye. 

On social media, people love collectibles! So, it was only a matter of time before feeds filled with boxed miniatures of influencers, gamers, and whatnot! What most guides don’t explain well is how to reliably prompt these figures, so they look polished. That’s where this walkthrough comes in.

Step-by-Step: Creating 3D Figurines with Nano Banana

Here’s a step-by-step guide to creating 3D figurines using Nano Banana AI figurine generator:

1. Gather Your Materials

You’ll need:

• A clear photo of yourself or your subject. Front-facing shots work best.

• Access to Gemini 2.5 (look for Flash Image mode).

• A short idea of what you want the figurine to look like (cartoony, realistic, boxed, or action-posed), pick your poison!

2. Upload Your Photo

Head to the Gemini interface and upload your chosen image. A simple background and good lighting improve results. Avoid busy patterns or clutter, since the AI can get distracted by extra elements.

3. Enter a Strong Prompt 

This is where the magic happens. Here are three miniature figurine prompt levels to try:

Sample Prompt:
“Transform the reference photo into a realistic 1/6 scale PVC-style collectible figurine. Keep the person’s facial features and hairstyle consistent with the reference, while stylizing them as a sculpted figure with smooth, painted textures. Pose the figurine on a glossy round acrylic base with a small gold nameplate. Place it on a tidy wooden desk. In the background, show a monitor displaying the ZBrush sculpting process with wireframes and texture maps of the same figurine. Add a BANDAI-style toy box nearby with bright artwork and character illustrations matching the figure. Soft daylight from a nearby window casts natural shadows, highlighting the craftsmanship and painted details.”

Result:

4. Generate and Review

Hit generate and wait a few seconds. The first result may already look share-worthy, but don’t stop there. Run a few variations to test lighting, poses, and packaging.

5. Refine Through Iteration

If the figure looks off, you don’t have to panic! Simply type that the face isn’t accurate or the pose feels awkward. Another helpful tip is to tweak the adjectives. Replace “shiny PVC” with “matte resin” or change “round black base” to “transparent acrylic pedestal.” Remember, small edits make a huge difference!

6. Optional: Animate or Edit

Some creators take it further by animating the still images with image-to-video tools. Even a simple turntable spin makes the figurine feel more lifelike. Basic editing tools can also clean up colors or remove artifacts.

Troubleshooting Tips

• Weird faces? Try a higher-quality headshot or add “accurate facial detail” in your prompt.

• Body proportions strange? Use descriptors like “proportions slightly exaggerated, but balanced” to steer it.

• Packaging missing? Explicitly include “inside collectible packaging” in the text.

By experimenting, you’ll quickly find a workflow that produces consistent results.

Types of 3D Figures You Can Make

Nano Banana isn’t limited to one style. With a few tweaks, you can produce:

Classic Collectibles

This is the look people picture when they think “store-bought figurine.” The goal is a lifelike mini statue with clean paint lines, a polished plastic sheen, and a tidy display base. These are perfect for shelf displays, merch mockups, or product shots where you want the subject to feel like a manufactured collectible rather than a loose sketch. 

Sample Prompt:
A premium 1/6 scale collectible figurine of a futuristic knight, standing firmly on a glossy black display base with a nameplate. The desk around it is tidy, with a monitor showing ZBrush sculpting wireframes and texture maps of the same character. A BANDAI-style toy box with bold artwork sits nearby. Natural daylight streams through a window, casting soft shadows on the figurine and emphasizing the craftsmanship of the armor and base.

Chibi Figures

Chibi figures strip away realism and turn it into charm. Think oversized head, smaller body, and simplified features that read as cute rather than detailed. The textures are usually matte or slightly soft. Because the shapes are friendly and bold, small imperfections don’t matter; the aim is personality. Pick an energetic or playful pose and emphasize expression — that’s what sells the cuteness here.

Sample Prompt:“Adorable chibi figurine of a cheerful girl with a giant head, big sparkling eyes, and a tiny rounded body in a sailor-style outfit. The figure stands on a pastel blue display base. Behind it, a monitor displays the sculpting process with wireframe meshes of the chibi model. A toy box with cute pastel illustrations and bubble lettering sits to the side. Gentle daylight from a window highlights the glossy paint finish and playful design.”

Result:

Diorama Scenes

Dioramas give the figure context. Instead of floating on a base, the miniature sits inside a tiny world: a street corner, a bedroom corner, or a fantasy grotto. This approach is more storytelling than product shot. Dioramas let you add personality with props like skateboards, guitars, tiny posters, or a pet companion. They work brilliantly for portfolio pieces and shareable social posts that hint at a story.

Sample Prompt:
“A dynamic diorama figurine of a skateboarder caught mid-jump on a miniature ramp base. Graffiti details decorate the small prop environment. On the tidy desk, a monitor shows sculpting software with textured models of the skateboard and ramp. A collector-style box with bold urban artwork leans against the wall. Sunlight from a nearby window casts angled shadows, emphasizing textures in the figurine and its diorama base.”

Cute Animals

Pet figurines need a different touch. Fur, ears, and eyes carry the expression. The aim is to capture breed-specific markings and the pet’s personality — tilt of the head, happy squint, or alert ears. Because fur can look messy at small scale, pick a slightly simplified texture that reads as fur without going hyper-detailed. These make heartfelt gifts and memorial keepsakes. If you want realism, supply a clear face photo; for a stylized look, ask for slightly exaggerated features to emphasize cuteness.

Sample Prompt for Cats(Requires Reference Photo):

“A small stylized figurine of this fluffy cat sitting upright on a round acrylic base. Its glossy coat and oversized eyes give it a playful collectible feel. Behind it, a monitor displays sculpting details of the wireframe model, with textures and shading visible. A bright toy box with paw-print designs and cartoon-style illustrations sits nearby. Soft daylight illuminates the figurine, making it look like a carefully crafted designer toy.”

Sample Prompt for Dogs(Requires Reference Photo):

“A small stylized figurine of this cheerful dog sitting upright on a round acrylic base. Its glossy coat and oversized eyes give it a playful, toy-like charm. Keep the appearance the same. Behind it, a monitor displays sculpting details of the dog’s wireframe model, with visible textures and shading. A colorful toy box with bone and paw-print designs, along with cartoon-style dog illustrations, sits nearby. Soft daylight streams in, highlighting the craftsmanship and painted details, making it look like a carefully crafted collectible figure.”

Alternatives: Using X-Design AI Agent

If you want more control over product-style images, X-Design is a strong option. While it’s not built specifically for figurines, its AI agent can produce toy-like renders with the right prompts. The workflow is similar:

Upload your subject photo.

In the generator, describe a figurine-style render (“PVC toy, miniature scale, studio lighting”).

Apply X-Design’s background options to stage the figure in a retail box or on a shelf.

1. Export in high resolution for e-commerce or social sharing.

X-Design’s Background Generator in Action

One standout feature of X-Design is its background tool. Instead of generating just the figure, you can instantly place it in a realistic setting. Want your toy on a marble counter? Done. Prefer a neon-lit game shop? Also possible. This makes this AI product mockup generator especially handy for mock product shots, marketing images, or creative storytelling.

Practical Use Cases

A Note on Ethics and Likeness

As fun as these tools are, it’s worth remembering not to create figurines of people without their permission. Stick to yourself, your friends who are in on the joke, or public-domain characters. If you post online, credit the tool used so others can learn how it was made.

Wrapping it Up!

The beauty of this trend is how simple it is. Within a few clicks, Nano Banana can morph a regular photo into a miniature collectible that looks like it belongs on a shelf. The Gemini 3D Figure trend proves that creativity thrives when technology gets out of the way. 

And if you’re looking to expand beyond figurines, X-Design’s background generator opens up even more possibilities for polished AI collectible mockup and product-style shots. Whether for fun, fan art, or professional branding, your digital figurine might be just a prompt away.