3D Art Store Software XCart 5 MV

Hello Everyone,

I'm Antonio Rodriguez, known in the 3D Art community as ProFotograf.  Since 1997 I have been creating 3D content for the Poser (Smith-Micro) marketplace and now for the Daz Studio (Daz3D) marketplace.  For years I have run online shops selling content for those 3D Art platforms, helping others to learn and create new products, as well as giving them a chance to create and sell.  

3D Digital Art is used for everything from the Gaming Industry, Advertising, Illustrations to the Fantasy Art Industry, to making Book covers and many other applications.  

For over a decade and a half, I have supported the creation of items for use in 3D Digital Art especially supporting the male gender in a mostly female gender driven artistic industry.  Three years ago I experienced massive hacking attacks which resulted in the destruction of my two stores (one was recovered the other was not) and the solution was to close the one and look for alternative software which could not be hacked so easily in the future.

Until now, I have always run the stores without any financial backing other than my own, but I am now currently retired and have limited income to bring the store back to life after the hacking took place.

So, here is the plan:

Create a store and community for artists interested in the range of products supporting male themes, everything from scenes, clothing, props, hair, characters, poses and figures; and make the product range high-quality and supporting the newest technologies in rendering available.  Additionally offering legacy products from the former stores allowing prior purchases to be downloaded in the event of computer crashes or losses on the part of the customer base. And regain the former customers going back to the store's beginnings in 1999.

Store Focus:

The focus will be primarily male themed as it is not heavily supported elsewhere, this would allow those who wish to make great products for rendering scenes using male figures a platform in which to sell them.


What is Needed:

To create the new 3D Content Store using professional multivendor software allowing content creators to sell their products to the 3D Art community again requires a startup at least of the software needed to kickstart the store into action.

I already owned the X-Cart 4 Platinum software which is now sadly outdated and cost an initial investment of over $3,000.00 plus two upgrades from previous versions costing around $600.00 each.  However, to start the store now with an older version is unwise as the X-Cart 4 platform won't be supported much longer and we need to gear up planning for X-Cart 6 when it's released.  So upgrading to X-Cart 5 Multivendor is the way to go.  This upgrade costs $650.00 (including taxes) and we have reached $350.00 of that goal as of 12. March 2017.  

(UPDATE: I put the missing $300.00 in myself to get the software updated to X-Cart 5 Multivendor, so that bit is complete now). And I just purchased the Banner System Module for $90.00 out of pocket).

Additional costs are modules and security (SSL) for the safety of the customers and their shopping.

The intention is to provide a shopping experience that at least comes close to if not is as exciting as the experience at Daz3D when purchasing products from us.  As we grow more and more features will be offered and more and more vendors will most likely be interested in working with us if the platform is professional from the start.

More details: See the attached wishlist outlining exactly what software is required and its pricing.

Every little bit would help to get the store back up and running in a modern and exciting way.  

INCENTIVES: 3D Artists & Future Customers

1) The Titanium Club incentive for donations of $50 or more will guarantee you a membership in the new store's Titanium Club - a discounted group similar to the Platinum Club on Daz3D with additional savings on products in the future.  This will be given to all who donate $50.00 and above.

2) Artist Jepegraphics (jepegraphics.deviantart.com) has graciously given us 2 physical copies of his 2016 Male-Artbook, which is a limited edition print on amazing quality paper, and is not available in stores.  These Artbooks will be given to the 2 highest donors at the end of the GoFundMe campaign.  If there is a tie for a third person, I will personally pay to have an additional book printed for you as a reward.

Don't Let the Euro Currency Scare you...

Although the currency is set as Euro, the US Dollar is almost 1:1 with the Euro, this is due to our bank being located in Europe.  No worries, GoFundMe will translate your donations for you from whatever currency you choose to use.

Please share this campaign for us all over Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and wherever you know there are 3D Artists interested in male-themed products - let's show that the 3D Industry isn't only about scantily clothed warrior women in temples with swords!

Your assistance would be greatly appreciated!