Professional studios using 3D printing represent the third major adopting category. Consumer and industrial adopters are the other two adopting categories. Medical professionals are considered as a separate category.
In addition, professionals who use 3D printing include architects, digital artists and 3D photographers. Other professional adopting categories include 3D animation studios and product designers.
Architect studios use 3D printing as a planning tool and are now integrating it into ACE (architecture, construction, engineering) technologies. Furthermore, new construction materials now enable the creation of more intricate and advanced architectural shapes.
Consequently, digital artists are using 3D printing as a mean of expressing shapes which they cannot produce solely by hand. For example 3D printing technologies enable artistic integration of repetitive, naturally inspired fractal shapes. Artists also use 3D printing to push the limits of the technologies, effectively exploring their future potential.
Photogrammetry or digital 3D photography, is yet another form of integrating 3D technologies (specifically 3D scanning) into a creative workflow. Many digital creations find their natural conclusion in the 3D printing process.