I built an Image-to-3D SaaS using Tencent's Hunyuan 3D AI
As a developer (and indie hacker), I've always been obsessed with building tools. Lately, I’ve been fascinated by the AI space, especially the wild tech that can turn 2D images into 3D models.
For so long, 3D modeling has been locked away inside pro software like Blender or Maya, with a massive learning curve. But what if... we could make it as simple as uploading a file?
The New Toy: Tencent Hunyuan 3D
Recently, I've been keeping a close eye on the Tencent Hunyuan 3D model.
What caught my eye about it was:
Multi-modal Input: It doesn't just support "single image-to-3d," it also supports "multi-view"—letting you upload front, side, and back shots of an object for a much more accurate model.
PBR Materials: It can auto-generate PBR (Physically-Based Rendering) textures, meaning the models look realistic and can be dropped right into a game engine.
High Fidelity: The docs (and my tests) show it's incredibly good at handling sharp edges and geometric structures.
When I saw this powerful model (and its available API), I immediately thought, "This is way too cool to just live in a technical paper."
The Idea: A "Homepage is the Product" Tool
I wanted to build a pure SaaS tool. The kind you land on and can immediately use .
My goal: Create an Image to 3D converter that anyone can use—whether they're a 3D printing hobbyist, a game dev, or just curious.
Introducing: My SaaS Baby, Image3D AI
So, after many late nights and countless cups of coffee, I'm super excited to show you the project:
It's a clean, no-fluff SaaS that puts the power of Hunyuan 3D right in your browser.
The Cool Features
Dual Generation Modes You can choose "Single Image" (perfect for logos, sketches) or "Multi-view" (for real-world objects, way more accurate).
Pro Parameter Control You can select different generation modes:
Normal: Balances quality and speed.
Low Poly: Generates an optimized, low-polygon mesh (game devs love this).
Geometry: Creates a textureless "white model," perfect for 3D printing (image to stl).
Multi-Format Export (The Big One!) This might be the most important part. You can export your generated model as:
.STL (for all the 3D printing folks)
.OBJ (for traditional 3D editing)
.GLB (the future! It's the standard for Web and AR, packing all textures inside)
The Tech Stack
I know this is what you're waiting for 😉. This is a 100% Jamstack-powered project:
Frontend: Next.js + Tailwind CSS (using shadcn/ui)
3D Viewer: @react-three/fiber (R3F)
Backend/API: Next.js API Routes (Serverless Functions)
Deployment: Vercel
The AI Core: The Tencent Hunyuan 3D API
Come Try It Out! (Please!)
This has been an incredible learning process for me, especially figuring out the 3D interaction and optimizing the API calls.
I would be absolutely thrilled if you'd come try it out and give me some feedback!
Visit the site: https://www.aiimageto3d.com
Try uploading your company logo.
Try taking pics of a coffee mug on your desk (using multi-view).
All feedback is welcome! What features should I build next? (I'm thinking batch processing...)
Let me know what you think in the comments below!
This is really cool. My dad is into 3D printing, I'll tell him about it
Wow, this is insanely cool! 👏 As a fellow developer, tools like this really inspire me. 3D modeling hamesha se pro-level software tak limited tha, but simplifying it into a clean, browser-based SaaS is a huge win for makers and hobbyists.
Multi-view support + PBR materials + low-poly mode = literal game changer.
And the STL/OBJ/GLB export options show you really thought about real-world use cases — from 3D printing to game dev pipelines.
I just tried generating a model on your site and the results were surprisingly accurate. Super smooth workflow too!
Keep building! Looking forward to batch processing and whatever you ship next 🚀
This is seriously cool - I love seeing builders ship fast in the AI space. The multi-view input is a game-changer, especially for anyone doing product photography or e-commerce.I'm actually building in a similar lane (AI-powered SaaS tools) and totally relate to the "homepage is the product" philosophy. Getting users to that aha moment immediately is everything.Quick question: How are you handling the API costs at scale? I'm curious if you're doing any preprocessing on the images before sending to Hunyuan, or if you're passing them through raw. Also, what's your average generation time for single vs multi-view?The GLB export is smart - that's huge for AR/VR applications and WebGL. Have you thought about adding a "share your 3D model" feature where users can get an embeddable viewer link? Could be great for viral growth.Going to test it out with some product shots today. Do you have any usage limits on the free tier, or is this more of a pay-per-generation model?Congrats on shipping!
“Love this! Turning traditional workflows into automated AI pipelines is exactly how small teams unlock big-company power without the big-company budget.”
This was amazing. I have a complex test and it works great
Impressive! Using Tencent’s Hunyuan 3D AI to turn images into 3D models for a SaaS is cutting-edge — a strong blend of AI innovation and practical 3D application.
That's quite incredible. I once spent hours sketching then modelling a lunar base in Fusion, and with this I could have just taken a photo. I recently released a 2D logic puzzle game - it would be so cool to give an entire game or video to the AI and have it build a VR/AR ready version in 3D! Nice work!
This is seriously impressive work especially the way you turned a complex 3D pipeline into something anyone can use on first click. Tools like this tend to get a lot of curiosity and organic discussion on Reddit, especially in communities like 3D printing, game dev, AI tools, and maker focused subs
I help founders grow projects like this on Reddit by positioning them in the right niche communities where early adopters are actively looking for new tech to try. Your tool has the kind of “wow factor” that performs really well when framed around use cases (logo → STL, hobbyist objects → 3D models, low poly for game dev, etc.)
If you ever want, I can share a few strategies for getting fast, authentic traction on Reddit not the spammy stuff, just community-driven angles that bring real users and feedback. Happy to break down what’s working right now
Just let me know!
I built an Image-to-3D SaaS using Tencent’s Hunyuan 3D AI, turning simple photos into detailed, realistic 3D models instantly. This powerful tool helps creators, designers, and businesses work faster.
This is awesome. Turning images into 3D used to be something only people with Blender skills could even attempt, so seeing it wrapped into a clean, instantly-usable SaaS feels like a huge unlock. Big congrats on shipping this.
Thanks ! Yeah, the goal was definitely to bypass that steep Blender learning curve for quick assets. Appreciate the kind words!
Awesome post, Cairne! This is a perfect example of the 'building in public' spirit.
I really resonate with your mission. You took something complex (3D modeling's 'massive learning curve') and built a simple, 'no-fluff' SaaS that anyone can use. That's so valuable.
I'm on a similar journey with my new project, 'The Solopreneur's Playbook.' My whole mission is to find and share the simple, actionable 'plays' that help solopreneurs (like us!) avoid that exact feeling of overwhelm.
The tool looks fantastic, especially the multi-format export. This is super inspiring for someone just starting out. Great job on the launch!
Thanks! It’s all about removing friction. Good luck with your Playbook journey as well—simplifying things for solopreneurs is always a worthy mission!
You built an Image-to-3D SaaS using Tencent’s Hunyuan 3D AI, enabling users to convert images into detailed 3D models quickly, efficiently, and with high-quality output for creative and tech applications.
Spot on! 🎯 That was exactly the goal—to make high-quality 3D creation accessible without the steep learning curve. Thanks for checking it out!
This is super cool. I do a lot of 3D printing and being able to go from a simple sketch directly to an .STL file is a huge time-saver. Just tried the demo on your site and it's slick.
Quick question: are the generated STL files generally watertight and manifold-ready for printing?
Thanks! Glad you like the demo.
Regarding your question: Yes! When you select the "Geometry" mode (which creates the white model), the AI is optimized to generate a continuous, watertight mesh that is generally ready for slicers immediately.
For very complex organic shapes, I always recommend a quick pass through a slicer repair tool just in case, but our goal is to make them print-ready out of the box. Let me know if you print something! 🖨️