Pokemon Cards to Paint-Free Figurines, What the HeyGears G1X Printer Actually Delivers

HeyGears put a single desktop machine on Kickstarter that handles full-color 3D objects, raised surface textures, and high-resolution flat prints on hundreds of materials. Reviewers have already used it to make Pokemon cards that look ready for a binder, and the same hardware builds detailed models with color running through every layer.

In full-color 3D mode, the G1X fires a custom set of inks all by itself, including cyan, magenta, yellow, black + double white, a transparent substance, and a water-soluble support. Layers form with a thickness of 10 to 20 microns. Unlike other printing methods, the color and clarity are suspended INSIDE your part rather than on the surface, so you don’t need to worry about painting because your final piece is ready to use. The supports dissolve in water, so they won’t get in the way. If necessary, you can print transparent parts with solid colors on the same build. The G1X features an open flatbed volume of about 420 by 330 by 130mm, with the option of switching to a small bed that can stretch up to 150mm high for printing taller relief work. They claim to have over ten million colors, which is astounding, and the smooth gradients can handle even the smallest details on minis, prototypes, and collectible figures.

Switch to UV mode, and the same Epson industrial printhead begins laying down eight different inks, including light cyan and light magenta, as well as varnish, allowing you to print flat or raised graphics at an astounding 1440 by 2400 DPI. According to the business, print speed is approximately three times that of many single-head desktop UV printers. Raised textures can be as high as 5mm (although 10mm is conceivable but less stable), which is sufficient to reproduce leather grain, wood carvings, brush strokes, and even Braille. Flat prints work on over 400 various surfaces, including metal, acrylic, wood, leather, porcelain, glass, paper, and many more. They also support unique finishes such as holographic or lenticular effects.

Some of the early testers were able to try out the flat mode, and the results were astounding. One of them printed a Charizard card on regular cardstock, and it was almost identical to the genuine thing at first glance. The writing was sharp and clear, the colors were clean with no bleeding, and the surface sheen was consistent with a factory card. The same design was then applied to a thick hardwood block and a ceramic magnet, yielding comparable, if not superior, results. The same tester printed a Rayquaza card on both cardstock and ceramic, and the results were identical to the factory card each time. Another tester printed a Machamp on a fridge magnet and a textured Pokemon card on silicone, which remained flexible even after hardening. These aren’t attractive marketing images; they’re simply test prints done in a matter of minutes.

The software on the G1X makes things even simpler. Blueprint Studio and HeyVerse allow you to quickly generate a printable full-color model or textured surface from a text description or a simple photograph. The device’s line-scan cameras can even find objects on the bed for you, making automated alignment a breeze, especially if you’re loading up a lot of phone covers or keychains at once. Similarly, the machine cleans the nozzles for you, primes the printhead, and performs its own white-ink agitation, so you don’t have to worry about anything during extended print sessions.

The full G1X package, including the 3D resin station, is available on Kickstarter, priced at $3,599 for early backers, which is far cheaper than the cost of industrial machines that perform identical functions. There is a base model without the resin station, but you can always upgrade later, so you don’t have to spend a lot of money to start. Shipping is still a ways off in 2026.