From personalized convention badges to photographs printed on LEGO tiles, custom printing opens up some remarkable possibilities for builders and collectors.
What would you do if you wanted three custom LEGO convention name badges and received a quote for $400?
If you're Dylan, the founder of Dynamo Bricks, apparently you decide there's got to be a better way.
That's one of the stories that came out of our conversation on Brick Dynasty Live, where we explored the technology, challenges, and creativity behind custom-printed LEGO pieces.
And as it turns out, there's a lot more to the process than putting a design on a brick.
From a $400 Quote to a LEGO Business
Dylan's interest in custom printing began with something familiar to many AFOLs: LEGO conventions.
He and his friends wanted personalized name badges, but the quotes he received were discouraging. One company wanted approximately $400 for three badges, with a two-month turnaround.
Dylan had access to a CNC engraving machine, so he attempted to make the badges himself.
Six hours later, he had three badges—and a pretty good understanding of why the process needed improvement.
The idea stuck with him.
Later, after selling much of his LEGO backlog at a convention, Dylan and his wife began looking for a way to build a business that would keep them involved in the LEGO community.
Custom printing kept coming up.
Within weeks, they had committed to purchasing a printer, and Dynamo Bricks was on its way.
What Is UV Printing on LEGO?
Dynamo Bricks uses UV printing to apply designs to LEGO-compatible surfaces, including bricks, tiles, and minifigure components.
Unlike a process that requires a separate physical printing plate for each design, UV printing allows Dynamo to move between different designs and products with relatively little setup.
During our interview, Dylan explained that this flexibility is especially valuable for personalized orders and smaller production runs.
Want a name printed on a convention badge? A logo on a tile? A completely custom design?
UV printing makes those possibilities much more practical.
The ink is cured during the printing process, creating the finished design on the part's surface.
Of course, the machine is only part of the equation. Accurate positioning, properly prepared artwork, and the right settings are essential.
UV Printing vs. Pad Printing
UV printing is a digital printing process that applies ink directly to a surface and cures it using ultraviolet light. For custom LEGO pieces, this allows detailed artwork, logos, and personalized designs to be printed onto bricks, tiles, and other compatible components without requiring a separate printing plate for each design.
If you've explored custom LEGO pieces, you've probably encountered both UV printing and pad printing.
Pad printing transfers ink using a printing pad and is widely used for repeatable designs. It can be well suited to larger production runs, but preparing a new design generally involves additional setup.
UV printing offers a different advantage: flexibility.
Dylan explained that Dynamo can switch from printing bricks to tiles or minifigure components without the same setup requirements associated with pad printing.
That matters when customers want individual designs rather than hundreds of identical pieces.
Neither method is automatically the right choice for every project. The quantity, design, surface, finish, and desired appearance all matter.
For Dynamo, the ability to produce personalized pieces is a major reason for choosing UV printing.
Yes, You Can Print Photographs on LEGO Tiles
One of my favorite discoveries during the interview was that Dynamo can print actual photographs onto LEGO tiles.
Not just simplified illustrations or logos. Photographs.
Dylan described a customizable product designed to resemble a small Polaroid-style picture. Customers upload an image, which is printed onto a tile, with space for accompanying text.
That opens up some interesting possibilities.
Imagine a LEGO-themed keepsake from a convention, a personalized gift for another collector, or a photograph incorporated into a larger display.
It's one of those ideas that makes you wonder what else could be printed onto a LEGO piece.
The Challenge of Printing on Minifigure Arms
Printing on a flat tile is one thing.
Printing on a tiny, curved minifigure arm is another.
During the interview, Dylan explained that his printer can account for curved surfaces, but positioning the object accurately is a significant challenge.
He also wanted to solve another problem: printing on minifigure arms without having to remove them from the torso.
So he developed a custom positioning jig.
According to Dylan, one testing session involved roughly eight hours of experimentation and around 60 minifigure arms before he achieved the alignment he wanted.
It's a reminder that the most interesting part of custom printing isn't always the printer itself.
Sometimes it's the engineering required to make a seemingly simple idea work.
Small Details Make a Difference
Another interesting part of Dynamo's process is the use of varnish.
Dylan explained that the printer can apply a varnish layer over selected portions of a design. This can provide a protective finish and add gloss to specific details.
For example, he discussed our Brick Dynasty logo tiles and how selective varnish could emphasize the crown or lettering.
It's the sort of detail that might be easy to overlook when viewing a product online, but can change how a finished piece looks in person.
The same attention to detail applies to preparing customer artwork, adjusting designs to fit particular pieces, and determining how a finished print should appear.
What Could You Create?
For AFOLs, custom printing offers possibilities that go well beyond personalized name badges.
MOC builders can create unique signage or decorative details. Convention attendees can develop personalized badges. LEGO clubs and community groups can explore custom designs. Collectors can create special display pieces.
And if you have an idea that doesn't quite fit anything already available, custom printing might provide a way to bring it to life.
That's what makes businesses like Dynamo Bricks interesting to the LEGO community: they expand the range of things builders can imagine and create.
Meet Dynamo Bricks
We're excited to announce that Dynamo Bricks has brought Brick Dynasty on as an official brand partner!
It's a natural fit. We've had the opportunity to get to know Dylan and learn about the work behind Dynamo Bricks, and now we get to help introduce their custom-printed LEGO products to more members of the community.
As part of the partnership, first-time Dynamo Bricks customers can receive 10% off their entire purchase using our Brick Dynasty discount code.
If you're curious about custom printing, check out Dynamo's products and consider what you might create.
Explore Dynamo Bricks: https://dynamobricks.com/
First-time buyer discount code: BRICKDYNASTY10
You can also watch our full Brick Dynasty Live interview with Dylan to hear more about the company, its origins, and the technology behind the printing process.
Watch the interview: https://youtube.com/live/O26yXWk74GQ
Brick Dynasty printed parts: https://wearngff.com/collections/custom-lego-parts
Disclosure: Brick Dynasty is a Dynamo Bricks brand partner. We may earn a commission on qualifying purchases made when using our discount code, at no additional cost to you. First-time customers can receive the stated discount using our code.
