And it looks like we’re getting out of the sun just in time.

Just in time to share an exclusive collab between our partners at hobbyDB, who have teamed with Handmade by Robots and Abominable Toys!

Introducing Sunburn Chomp! Chomp might look like he enjoyed his day at the beach, but put him under the light and it becomes apparent that the Abominable Toys mascot should have applied more sunscreen.

Starting today, you can add Sunburn Chomp (Glow) to your collection! Get yours here!

Chomp goes on sale today for 72 hours EXCLUSIVELY to PPG shareholders, volunteers and Premium members prior to going on sale to all collectors. Each Chomp costs $24.99 with the aforementioned shareholders, volunteers and Premium members receiving an additional 5% off.

What’s Premium? PPG / hobbyDB Premium members receive an enhanced version of PPG, with features such as –

• No ads
• Zero PPG Marketplace fees
• Downloadable Collection CSVs
• Recalculate your collection any time
• Gains/Losses Reports

Plans go for $9.99 quarterly or $29.99 annually. PPG Shareholders and Volunteers are entitled to 25% percent off or $7.50 quarterly and $22.50 annually.

Become a Premium Member Here!

Chomp will go on sale to the GENERAL PUBLIC on Sunday exclusively via the hobbyDB Marketplace. You’ll have to act quickly! Sunburn Chomp has an LE of just 312 pieces!

The post Exclusive Sunburn Chomp from Handmade by Robots x Abominable Toys x hobbyDB appeared first on Pop Price Guide.

The CEO of C.R.E.A.M., Jones shares his thoughts and artwork from more than eight year’s worth of Toy Photography. Check out his profile on Instagram here!

Over to you, Chris!

How’d you get started in toy photography?

I actually got into toy photography when I was looking for some decor for my “Man Cave.” I was at the mall when I came across Funko Pop!s for the first time and they had some of my favorite movie/gaming icons. I think I bought Morpheus from the Matrix and a few others. Once I brought them home and took them out the box I just started taking pictures of them on my phone and posting them on Instagram. Someone DM’d me and suggested I post my photos in Funko photography sessions. I had no clue this world existed and the thrill of posting and receiving comments and likes from people around the world really motivated me to make it a daily/weekly occurrence.

Are you a collector? If so, what do you collect and what got you hooked?

Growing up in England, the toy/collecting culture was never as big as it was here in the US. But once I moved to America and got into the culture of toys and photography I submerged myself in collecting pretty quickly. My collection grew from a couple to 400 in a matter of a few years. I predominantly collected Funko but this year I branched out into other figures, especially Youtooz. In the near future I also want to try shooting 6” figures for their flexibility, I feel like they’ll be a lot of fun to shoot and have endless possibilities for creating scenes.

What do you like to shoot? How would you describe your style?

I like to shoot smaller figures around 4-6 inches as I enjoy making dioramas for them to bring the toys to life. Creating dioramas for anything bigger can become a lengthy process and hard to store. I like to think I have a distinct style that’s noticeable in the community. I’m very into angles, taking mostly landscape shots. For me personally, posting a lot of my content on Instagram makes it easier to shoot landscape so I don’t lose any of the shot to Instagram’s cropping in portrait. When I start creating an idea or recreating a popular scene for a figure I don’t have my end shot in mind. It’s very much ‘as I go’ from start to finish.

What was your first image? Do you have a favorite one that you’ve done?

My first shot was extremely basic I think I placed a Ninja (Richard Tyler Blevins) Funko Pop! next to my scuf PlayStation controller because the colors matched and added some golden sparkle effects afterwards in the background. You could say over the last 8+ years of shooting toys my style of photography has improved dramatically! I used to go out daily with my figs to find locations to shoot them ‘in the wild’ but after years of seeing other toy photographers create incredible dioramas and encouraging words from friends I decided to switch to diorama building around two years ago, I haven’t looked back since! My favorite shot to date would be the Youtooz figure of John Wick. I shot him walking through a Japanese-style pergola with cherry blossoms falling around him.

What’s the secret of turning a good image into a great image?

The best advice I have is to get behind the camera each step of the way as you work through your scene/diorama and see what’s working and what isn’t. Don’t wait till the end of your project to figure out what’s missing. I’ve made this mistake before and when it comes down to taking your final shot you realize a wall is not high enough for your angle or you see blemishes or flaws in the design. This can save you a lot of time and also help you get the best out of your shot.

Do you have any advice for anyone looking to start toy photography?

If you’re just starting out I definitely suggest shooting characters or figures you’re familiar with. Something/someone you really enjoy because that will come through in your photography. And all the characteristics you know and love about the figure in the show/movie you’ll portray better than someone you know little about. It’s this knowledge of your subject that will take your photography to the next level. Also if you’re starting out this journey to become a product photographer or get hired by a company to make it your profession, then I advise you to NEVER give up! It took me eight years to get my foot in the door with a company but with dedication and hard work, you’ll achieve the goal you set out to accomplish.

All images via Chris Jones

The post Behind the Lens with Chris Jones Toy Photography of Funko, Youtooz and Beyond appeared first on Pop Price Guide.

Ben Spencer has been dreaming of the stars since 2010 when he founded Galaxxor, a brand of exquisite designer art toys. Spencer has incorporated his affinity for vintage action figures from the 70s through the 90s along with the aesthetic of Mid-Century Space Age Design to produce – alongside artists from around the globe – a series of handmade and hand-painted collectibles, as well as full production designer vinyl figures.

Now you’ll be able to find the entire Galaxxor collection on hobbyDB as an Official Archive. With an Official hobbyDB Archive, Galaxxor fans can document and track the value of their collections, get updates on exclusives, plus lots more.

We recently had the opportunity to pick Ben’s brain regarding some of his inspirations, processes and more.

Over to you, Ben, err…we mean Galaxxor!

When did you create Galaxxor and what was the inspiration behind its founding?

The initial sculpt was done around 2009 and was a reaction to my introduction to the concept of Designer Toys in the years prior. I had already been collecting vintage action figures and looked at them more as pop cultural art pieces.

So, what I really set out to do was create something that had one foot in each world – something that felt very toyetic and nostalgically welcoming, but was a bit more design-forward and could stand on its own as an art sculpture.

What was the very first Galaxxor figure? How many of them are there now?

The very first Galaxxor sculpt was not too terribly dissimilar to what collectors can still pick up today in vinyl. I was very much cognizant of the idea of platform figures and wanted to set out to create something that had a lot of mileage, in terms of re-use.

Obviously, the design has evolved somewhat, through resin production and then vinyl production. But, aside from the introduction of
some new parts and the obvious colorway variations, I’m still working with the same core design.

Were you a collector when you were younger?

Yeah, I’m a kid of the 80’s, so I got all of the good stuff. But I would for sure say it was the shape and shape of the Masters of the Universe-type 5 1/2” that really spoke to me in the most profound manner. This still reverberates through pretty much everything that I do to this day.

How would you describe the style/aesthetics of a Galaxxor figure?

Again, I’m sort of straddling two worlds. There’s obviously the classic 70’s-90’s toyeticism, with a sprinkle of cosmic Jack Kirby and Metal Hurlant added to the proverbial gumbo. But equally important is my love of minimalist and space-age object design and abstract sculpture.

At the end of the day, it’s still a toy. And if you don’t feel compelled to pick it up and play with it a bit, I haven’t done my job. However, I also want my figures to function as a cool design object that an adult could pop up on a shelf, next to a plant, or something along those lines.

How long does it take to complete a figure from concept to shelf? Can you share some of that process?

It can vary quite a bit. But my current standard procedure is to sculpt a figure in the traditional method with clay. Then, I have that sculpt scanned and digitally cleaned up a bit. From there, the file gets sent off to the factory, where steel molds are produced.

And finally, I’m then able to submit designs to the factory, dictating color, paint applications, and that sort of thing. So, maybe upwards of a year and a half, from start to finish?

Are all Galaxxor figures limited edition? What’s the best way to add Galaxxor figures to our collections?

Yeah, absolutely. The production numbers can vary a bit, and we have increased them in the last year or so to keep up with current demand. There’s nothing worse than someone discovering my work and not having anything for them to grab from the website!

All of that being said, when a figure is produced in a certain colorway, or as a certain character, that’s it. There’s nothing to say that we won’t occasionally revisit popular characters or colorways, but each release will be significantly different from anything that’s gone before.

The best way for hobbyDB members to grab new Galaxxor figures is here on hobbyDB.  And if you want some of the many sold-out items I did over the years you can add them to your Wish List here and get a notification when they come up.

Where can new fans find you on Social Media?

@galaxxor on Facebook, hobbyDB, Instagram and TikTok

The post Bringing Galaxxor’s Mid-Century Space Age Designer Arts Toys to PPG Partner hobbyDB appeared first on Pop Price Guide.

Wow! What a three weeks! After a lot of fun and fandom, we’re pleased to announce that our Exclusive Youtooz x hobbyDB Prototype Giveaway is now in the books.

We teamed with Youtooz for not one but THREE exclusive prototypes of Senku, Shrek and Flocked Bonnie from Five Nights at Freddy’s fame. We asked you to earn them by completing a handful of fun Youtooz and hobbyDB related tasks, and you did not disappoint.

Check out the Senku and Shrek winners by clicking the links.

The winner of the Flocked Bonnie is…to be determined.

To win Flocked Bonnie, we asked for the best Youtooz-themed hobbyDB Showcases. We’ve now taken those entries and turned them over to our panel of judges that includes Danny Zabbal of Youtooz, hobbyDB’s Christian Braun and the Boozetooz YouTube Channel.

Once they’ve agreed on a favorite, we’ll announce the winner via the Boozetooz channel. Stay tuned to the hobbyDB Blog for more info on time, day, etc.!

Official Youtooz Archives on hobbyDB

Did you know that hobbyDB is the Official Archive of Youtooz?

You’ll find every Youtooz figure and more via the hobbyDB database, allowing you to easily find and track the value of your collection.

That includes thousands of price points from the likes of eBay and StockX, making the hobbyDB archive the most reliable guide when it comes to Youtooz.

Peruse the Official Archives here!

Have questions or concerns? Message us at support@hobbydb.com.

The post Exclusive Youtooz x hobbyDB Prototype Giveaway Contests Now Closed! appeared first on Pop Price Guide.

FiGPiN has become a leader in the world of enamel pins ever since 2017 when they first combined the Figure and the Pin to create an iconic collectible with a fervent following.

So we’re excited to be opening the vault and welcoming in FiGPiN as the latest great brand to entrust hobbyDB with its official archives.

With a hobbyDB Official Archive, collectors can now find every FiGPiN item ever. That’s more than 1,800 rare and common items, including new releases arriving on the database all the time.

We’ve also made building your FiGPiN collection even easier. Simply find your favorite FiGPiN on hobbyDB and purchase it directly from its item page. You’ll find this option link on every FiGPiN item page on hobbyDB.

Get to Know FiGPiN

The inspiration for FiGPiN began in 2013 as Dan Williams pondered a way to elegantly display his Disneyland pins. Four years later, after teaming with Amado Batour, Erik Haldi and Travis Oliver, FiGPiN was born with the idea that these weren’t your average everyday corkboard pin.

Each FiGPiN features a unique serial number that allows users to unlock special features when paired with the FiGPiN App.

In short, collecting FiGPiN is more of an experience than a hobby.

Today, FiGPiNs can be found in three sizes, Mini, Regular and XL and encompass a range of franchises from the likes of Disney, Marvel and DC, plus lots more.

Official Archives on hobbyDB

FiGPiN is now the 67th official archive found on hobbyDB.

With Official Archives, you’ll find every item from a brand, including new releases and more. This allows you to confidently track and value your collection, knowing that the data is verified and maintained by a team of experts.

Brands that call hobbyDB their Official Archive home range from Funko, Youtooz and Handmade by Robots, to Maisto, Hard Rock International and more.

Peruse a list of all of them here!

How big is your FiGPiN fandom? Tell us what kind of FiGPiNs you collect in the comments below!

The post FiGPiN Brings Official Archive to hobbyDB appeared first on Pop Price Guide.