What to Write in Custom Figurine Order Notes

Order notes are the most underused tool in a custom figurine order. The photo carries the likeness, but the notes carry everything the photo cannot say: which pose you want, what the base should look like, whether a name or date is engraved, and what matters most if choices are needed. A good note takes two minutes and prevents most disappointments.

Here is what to write, what to skip, and how notes interact with the preview.

What to include in your order notes

The pose and composition

If you have a preference — standing, seated, holding something, facing forward — say it. If the photo already decides the pose, say "use the pose from the photo" so the designer does not improvise. For duo pieces, note which person stands where if it matters.

Outfit and color direction

If the photo's colors should be followed exactly, say "match photo colors". If you want a change — a different shirt color, a uniform corrected, a jacket added — describe it plainly. The full-color print follows your photo by default, so any deviation needs to be in the notes.

The base

Note whether you want a plain base, a themed base, or the default simple stand. If the figurine will be a cake topper, say so — the base design differs for toppers that sit on a cake board.

Names, dates or text

If a name, date or short phrase should appear on the base, write it exactly as it should appear, including capitalization. Short text reads best; long sentences become unreadable at small sizes.

What matters most

This is the most useful line in any note. If the face is the priority, say "likeness is the priority". If the pose matters more than the face, say that. When a choice has to be made during design, this line decides it.

What to skip

Long emotional explanations

The designer does not need the story of your relationship. "This is for my godfather's retirement" is enough context; three paragraphs about his career is not.

Contradictory instructions

"Full body but only the face matters, small size but lots of detail" — pick the trade-off you actually want. Contradictory notes get resolved by the designer's guess, not yours.

Requests the product cannot do

The figurine is a 3D-printed decorative keepsake with a matte, sandstone-like surface. It is not ceramic, not glossy resin, and not a toy. Asking for a glossy finish or a food-safe surface will not get you one.

How notes meet the preview

The digital preview — 3–5 working days after ordering — is where your notes become visible. Check the preview against your notes line by line: pose, colors, base, text. If something is missing or wrong, reply with specifics. Changes after production starts require a new production run, so the preview is the moment to be precise.

Related reading

• Why an Engraved Wood Base Makes a Custom Figurine Feel Premium
  The figurine is the part everyone photographs first.
• Custom 3D Couple Figurine - Wedding Cake Topper & Anniversary Gift: Photo Gift Guide, Custom Options, and FAQs
  A wedding cake topper is the most photographed object at a reception.
• Detailed Personalized Likeness Sculptures: What to Prepare Before Ordering
  The best custom figurine orders start before the checkout page.

Frequently asked questions

What should I write in custom figurine order notes?

Pose, outfit and color direction, base preference, any name or date text exactly as it should appear, and one line on what matters most if choices are needed. Keep it short and specific.

Can I put a name or date on the base?

Yes. Write it exactly as it should appear, including capitalization. Short text reads best — long sentences become unreadable at small sizes.

What if I don't know what to write?

Write "use the photo as-is, likeness is the priority". That single line gives the designer everything needed for a standard order.

When do I find out if my notes were followed?

At the preview stage. The digital preview arrives 3–5 working days after ordering, before anything is printed, so corrections are still cheap at that point.

Examples of how notes translate into finished pieces are in the showcase, and current formats and pricing are in the shop.