3-D images produced by Epoch Time Machine, a photography studio dedicated to 3-D printing. It is the first studio of its kind in Shanghai. [Photo by Gao Erqiang/China Daily]

It takes about 10 minutes for the scanning process to be completed, and two to three days for the print version, depending on the waiting line. The cost is between 1,200 and 3,000 yuan, based on the size of the copy, usually ranging from 15 to 30 cm.

Le admitts the high cost is the main concern that discourages people from printing a model. But the interest from customers still surprises him. They include young couples who want to put the miniature on their wedding cakes, loving parents who want to keep the 3-D look of their newborn babies, students who simply want to show off, and an 80-year-old couple who wants to "try something new".

But Le and his friends are not the only one eyeing the "bright future".

In Chongqing municipality, a similar 3-D printing shop is also experiencing overwhelming popularity.

The small workshop, which opened on June 4 and sits on the outskirts of the city, has become one of the hottest topics of conversations within a few days of its opening.

Fu Xiaolong, the shop manager, declined to tell China Daily how many customers they receive every day. But he claimed to be one of the few in the country who can provide the best quality 3-D printing services, printing 390,000 color tones using a variety of printing materials.

One of the country's largest online retailers, 360buy.com, has also started selling 3-D printers since the end of May. Priced at 14,999 yuan, the site has been selling 10 machines every week, as reported by Beijing Youth Daily.

"Having a 3-D photography studio is our first step," says Le. "We plan to use the technology for more practical business, like printing jewelry or accessories."