Prototyping is a significant phase in the design, research, and development processes.  Countless discoveries and improvements could never be made without physically realizing a concept.  Prototypes are often used to study mechanics, aesthetics, human factors, and more.  They are powerful communication tools used to stimulate and convince others of a concept's value and feasibility. Valuable imagery can be captured for use in early marketing materials and presentations before manufacturing has even begun.

Types of prototypes:  Working prototypes, appearance models, study models, photo-realistic models, soft models, form studies, and SFF.  Solid freeform fabrication (SFF) is also referred to as rapid prototyping, rapid manufacturing, 3D printing, layered manufacturing, additive fabrication, and stereolithography.  With all variations of SFF, a machine generates physical parts based off digital information contained in a computer file.