In short, the answer is that Master Dice are the prototype version of finished dice that are used for making dice moulds... And now for the long answer ;P
Most master dice start their life as a digital model that is 3D printed. 3D printing is an extremely versatile medium that gives amazing detail and enables us to make masters using thousands of different fonts and even add a logo to make them truly unique to each maker.
When ordering master dice from Tief's Things fonts can be selected from the font menu in each master dice listing (all of these a free to use and sell the dice you make form them) or for greater personalisation choose and submit an off menu font (make sure you have a license if one is needed)
Finished dice will have the same outward appearance, shape and finish level (matte or gloss) as the master dice you use to make your moulds so it very important to get master dice that are as perfect as possible as any flaw in the masters will be replicated in every subsequent cast.
After printing, master dice will need to be sanded to remove print lines and then hand polished if gloss moulds are required. Hand polishing takes 8-10hours per standard polyhedral (standard D4, D6, D8, D10, D%, D12, D20 totaling 70 faces) using 6 levels of polishing papers ranging from 30microns to 1micron to reach a glass like shine.
Once your master set is finished they are used to make molds, which in turn are used to cast playable dice.
Making moulds from your own master dice is much more economical than buying pre-made moulds as well as offering more customisable and bespoke options. Masters can be used again and again to make moulds for a life time whereas the moulds themselves wear out regularly. Lets look at the breakdown for Buying Moulds vs Masters over a year of dice making assuming a modest casting schedule of 20 sets per month:
| Master Dice & Mould making | Pre-Made mould purchasing |
| Master Dice - £75 | 12x pre-made moulds from a reputable Etsy seller - £85 each |
| Polishing Papers 1/2 sheets - £10 | |
| Mould Box - £28 (not required but makes much neater moulds) | |
| 6.6kg Silicone (12x mould using 500g each) - £133 | |
| Total : £246 | Total £1020 |
Prices correct as of July/2023
Designing your first set of master can be a daunting task. After picking a font, coming up with a logo, making the dice physical can feel like setting your decisions in stone. But Tief's Things are here to help and offer advice at every stage of the process, please don't hesitate to open a chat :)