Turn a photo into an action figure with Nano Banana 2.1
By GetStepSnap · Tested October 8, 2026
The figurine trend started with one prompt: your photo as a 1/7 scale figure on a desk, its 3D model on the screen, the box standing next to it. We ran that one and seven more through Nano Banana 2.1. Two people, a cat and a dog came out as a desk figure, a boxed action figure, a 1980s toy, a painted miniature, a vinyl toy and a plush.
The starting photos were made with the model too, so no real person or pet appears here. Each result is the first one we got at 1K, resized and nothing else, except the desk figure, which took three tries: fal's content check blocked the first wording, the second printed a real toy brand's logo and "character name" on the box, and the third, with the box named MAYA and no logos asked for, is the one shown.
The four starting photos
A cafe selfie, a street snapshot, a cat on a windowsill and a dog in a park.
Eight figures and the prompts behind them
The prompts say "her," "his" or "the cat" because that's what we ran. Swap in "me" or your pet when you try one with your own photo.
The 1/7 scale figure on a desk
Make a 1/7 scale collectible figure of the woman in this photo, in a realistic style, keeping her face, hair and hoodie. The figure stands on a round clear acrylic base on a computer desk. On the monitor behind it, the same figure is being modeled in 3D software. Next to the monitor stands the figure's collector box, printed with her picture and the name MAYA in large letters. No brand names or logos anywhere.
The figure everyone posted. Name the box yourself: our second try printed a real toy brand's logo and "character name" on it.
An action figure in a blister pack
Make an action figure of the man in this photo, sealed in a clear plastic blister pack on a cardboard backing card, like a toy on a store shelf. Keep his face, hair and skin tone the same, in toy form. At the top of the card, the name MARCUS in bold letters, with the line "Product Designer Edition" underneath. Next to the figure, each in its own plastic slot: a laptop, a coffee cup, wireless headphones and a sketchbook. Studio product photo, soft light, plain background.
Both lines of text came out right. It packed two pairs of headphones and two notebooks, so count your accessories.
A 1980s action figure on a toy card
Make a 1980s-style action figure of the woman in this photo on a vintage toy card with bright retro graphics. Keep her face and hairstyle recognizable in toy form. The card reads "SPACE EXPLORER" at the top, and a small helmet and a ray gun sit next to her in the plastic bubble. Slightly worn card edges, photographed on a plain background.
It added a made-up toy company and a price sticker on its own, which is exactly what an old card looks like.
A hand-painted miniature
Make a small hand-painted resin miniature of the man in this photo, about 5 cm tall, standing on a round black base on a hobby desk. Keep his face and hair recognizable. Around it: fine paint brushes, a paint palette with dabs of color and a magnifying lamp. Macro photo, the miniature in sharp focus.
The brushes and the lamp sell the size. Without them it reads as a photo of a small man.
A pet as a 1/7 scale figure
Create a 1/7 scale commercialized figurine of the cat in the picture, in a realistic style, in a real environment. The figurine stands on a round transparent acrylic base with no text, on a computer desk. The computer screen shows the 3D modeling of this figurine. Next to the screen is a premium collectible toy box printed with artwork of the same cat.
Google's own example prompt for the viral figurine edit, with the cat named. The figure kept the cat's sitting pose.
A tiny figure on your palm
Make a tiny, hyper-realistic collectible figure of the cat in this photo, standing on the open palm of a person's hand. Macro photo: the figure is sharp with fine paint detail, the hand slightly soft, and the real cat blurred in the background for scale.
The real cat sits out of focus behind the figure, which sells the scale.
A vinyl toy with a big head
Turn the dog in this photo into a cute vinyl collectible toy with a big head and a small body: glossy plastic, simple painted details, the same fur color and markings. The toy stands on a wooden shelf next to a small potted plant, soft window light, shallow depth of field.
Kept the fur color, the open mouth and the tongue, then gave it the oversized head these toys always have.
A plush toy next to the real pet
Make a soft plush toy of the cat in this photo, with its orange fur pattern stitched in fabric, embroidered eyes and a little tag on one side. The plush sits on the windowsill right next to the real cat, both in the photo, same light as the original.
The real cat stays in the shot, so you can see how close the plush got. The stripes carried over.
How to get a figure that still looks like you
- Start from a clear photo. Face the camera, good light, nothing covering your face. The model keeps what it can see.
- Say what the figure wears. Our selfie only showed head and shoulders, so the model made up the jeans and sneakers. If you care about the outfit, describe it.
- Write the box text in quotes, and ask for no logos. Short names come out right. Without a name, one of our desk figures got a real toy brand and the words "character name."
- List the accessories, then count them. We asked for four and got six: it doubled the headphones and the notebook.
- Pick the shape. 1:1 for the desk scene, 3:4 for a boxed figure, 4:5 for a phone screen. Choose 2K if you'll print it; it still takes 1 credit.
- Fix one thing at a time. If the face drifts or a word is wrong, click "Edit this image" and ask for just that change.
What it costs
On GetStepSnap your first 1K image is free. After that a figure takes 1 credit at 1K or 2K, and 100 credits cost $9.90 (plus local tax where it applies), about $0.10 a figure, with no subscription. Ours took 17 to 20 seconds each.
Whose photo, whose brand
Use photos you have the right to use, and ask before you turn a friend into a toy. Real toy brands and characters belong to their owners, which is one more reason to name your own box. More ideas in our prompt library.
Questions
What is the Nano Banana figurine prompt?
The one that went viral asks for a 1/7 scale figure of the person in the photo, on a clear acrylic base on a computer desk, with its 3D model on the monitor and a collector box beside it. Our version is the first result on this page. Give the box a name and add "no brand names or logos", or the model may print a real toy brand on it.
Can I turn a photo of myself into an action figure?
Yes. Upload one clear photo, say what kind of figure you want, and add "keep my face and hair recognizable." In our tests every figure kept the person's face and hair. The clothes stayed too unless the prompt changed them, like the space suit on the 1980s toy.
Does it work with pet photos?
Yes. Our cat became a 1/7 scale figure, a tiny figure on a palm and a plush toy, and a golden retriever became a vinyl toy. The fur color and markings carried over every time.
Can it put my name on the box?
Usually, yes. Nano Banana 2.1 spelled MARCUS, Product Designer Edition and SPACE EXPLORER correctly on the first try, and MAYA on the first try of the reworded prompt. Keep the words short and put them in quotes.
How much does it cost on GetStepSnap?
Your first 1K image is free. After that a figure takes 1 credit at 1K or 2K, and 100 credits cost $9.90 (plus local tax where it applies), about $0.10 each. No subscription.
Can I order a real figure?
Not from us. These are pictures of figures. Some people take the picture to a 3D printing or custom figure shop, which is a separate purchase.