John Hudson

John Hudson

John Hudson is the creative force behind @KGTropicals, a prominent American YouTube channel dedicated to the art of aquarium keeping and fish enthusiasm. By seamlessly merging his passion for aquatic life with digital fabrication, John utilizes UniFormation 3D printers to create highly detailed, hand-painted fish replicas and commemorative biological models. Through this unique intersection, he transforms the fluid beauty of underwater life into tangible art, capturing intricate anatomical details for his vibrant community.

UniFormation Brand Ambassador Chill Chat

Welcome to the inaugural edition of Brand Ambassador Chill Chat, a dedicated space where we share authentic stories from outstanding creators in our community. In this exclusive conversation, John opens up about how the robust build quality and reliability of the GK3 series gave him the confidence to log over 100 hours and 100,000 layers of high-fidelity printing. From translating wild inspiration into physical reality to commemorating a beloved pet and running brilliant fan giveaways, discover how John blends aquatic biology with resin printing—and why he considers this hobby a therapeutic "magic trick." Read on to explore his full journey and insights!
UniFormation
Q: Your channel celebrates the flowing beauty of life through a lens. 3D printing is static and still. What made you want to freeze a swimming creature in PLA or PETG? Was it to better explain the structure of the fins?
John Hudson
A: 3d printing and painting fish gives me an opportunity to combine my 2 favorite hobbies and show others that they can do the same. Printing and painting models is incredible therapy for me and I feel it’s important that others see it might also be for them.
UniFormation
Q: Giving printed fish replicas to fans is brilliant community building. How did you land on using physical media to enrich digital content? Compared to the printing costs, was the emotional return from fans worth it?
John Hudson
A: The recipients of these fish have been thrilled to receive them. Making something for someone else to enjoy is an absolute thrill for me, even more thrilling than making something for myself so yes, it’s 100% worth it!
UniFormation
Q: It's easy to print something "fish-like." But printing something with biological accuracy that a seasoned aquarist would approve (scale orientation, operculum curve) is hard. What was the biggest challenge in chasing that accuracy?
John Hudson
A: The hardest part is the digital 3d modeling itself. Thanks to machines like the GK-3, printing the fish is easy but finding the files to print is not. I’ve used several websites that have “image to 3d” features and that has worked but whenever it doesn’t I just search for a file that someone else has designed.
UniFormation
Q: Beyond giveaways, does this process offer a sense of immortality—especially for endangered species in the wild, or for a beloved pet that has passed on from your own tank?
John Hudson
A: Yes! In fact the first fish I printed was made from a photo of a fish I had for years. The project was made to commemorate him. It was an amazing experience!
UniFormation
Q: Most of your audience keeps fish, they don't print. How would you explain to them why owning a printer is an incredible "cheat code" for understanding aquatic biology?
John Hudson
A: For younger people, 3d printing is something that’s always been around but for older people like me this is a magic trick. It is still unbelievable to me that I can have an idea and within a few hours have a physical representation of that idea in super fine detail and realism. My goal is to open peoples eyes to how easy this is, it’s not magic, it’s real and it’s an amazing hobby!
UniFormation
Q: What’s your overall experience using Uniformation printers? What do you personally like most about them?
John Hudson
A: The best thing about the GK3 for me is my confidence knowing that whatever model I print it’s going to come out with amazing results. Once that model is done printing I’m also thrilled with how easy it is to clean and get ready for the next print.
UniFormation
Q: After using the printer for a while now, are there any areas where you think it could be improved or further refined?
John Hudson
A: The build quality is second to none on this machine. The machine feels substantial and solid. I also love the auto feed resin system as well as the carbon filter to help keep the odors down.
UniFormation
Q: What would you like to say to UniFormation?
John Hudson
A: I have been absolutely thrilled with my experiences with the GK3, I’ve printed well over 100 hours and over 100,000 layers with very few failures and whenever there’s been a failure it hasn’t been the machines fault. I am 100% confident in this machine and hope that the relationship between KGTropicals and Uniformation continues to build for years!

John Hudson: My Personal Experience

“I can't say enough good things about it, the GK3 has the best build plate in the business. Everything just feels so solid, smooth, and heavy. It's just a beast of a machine” ——@KGTropicals

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