For this weekend's Anime convention, I brought along Amos' Bow, which took me over two months to craft. Yes, it's that very longbow that I 3D modeled, fabricated with 3D printed props, hand-painted layer by layer, and embedded with internal LED light sets. As a player who frequently does Genshin Impact Ganyu Cosplay, roaming an Anime convention with a real, physical Amos' Bow was undeniably epic, but absolutely heavy physical labor.
Speaking of crafting this bow, it was truly a journey full of twists and turns. During early 3D modeling, I repeatedly cross-referenced the in-game models and textures, striving for precision in every curve. Several iterations of 3D printed props parts were scrapped during printing, and the painting process required multiple rounds—from sanding and priming to masking color separations, and finally gloss clear-coating and weathering. To achieve that natural glowing luminescence, I repeatedly tweaked the LED wiring layout to ensure stealthy concealment while providing enough brightness to look translucent and natural under complex indoor and outdoor lighting. Seeing the final glowing effect today made every sleepless night feel completely worth it.
On the day of the Anime convention, I wore my meticulously prepared Ganyu Cosplay outfit, featuring her signature blue wig and red horn accessories. In fact, I made specific adjustments to this Ganyu outfit to accommodate the weight and physical demands of carrying the bow. I specially selected breathable, slightly elastic fabric; the dark bodysuit inner layer paired with golden crisscross straps flattered body contours without feeling stifling during extended wear. The cuffs featured tiered layers of light blue fabric, and metallic-textured armor pieces were added to the arms, capturing the canon texture down to the finest detail.
During outdoor shooting, the mist from the fountain paired with natural sunlight made for surprisingly gorgeous photos. Under the sun, the bow radiated an ethereal, crisp chill. Under the ambient lighting of the European-style indoor staircase, the bow's illuminated glow stood out even more, channeling that distinct Vision energy from Genshin Impact. For the fountain series, high humidity made me worry about moisture damaging the electronics, but the final frames possessed an ethereal, hazy atmosphere. On the European staircase, the photographer cleverly used the tiered step elevation, creating dynamic compositional tension between the curve of the bow and my body posture.
However, while the photos turned out stunning, actually carrying it around was a whole different story. This custom greatbow has substantial length, and its weight is not to be underestimated. In the crowded Anime convention hall, I not only had to guard it against bumps, but also watch my turns so as not to sweep against passersby. By the end of the day, my arms ached as if they weren't mine, and my walking posture became somewhat clumsy from the continuous load. By afternoon, lifting this weapon to pose felt nearly impossible, and I questioned countless times why I made it so solid and heavy!
But ultimately, bringing gear crafted with my own hands to a convention delivers unparalleled satisfaction. Along the way, so many enthusiastic friends asked how the bow was made, and some even wanted to touch it to feel its weight. Every compliment like "This is so accurate!" or "That bow is so cool!" instantly recharged my batteries. Successfully pulling off this debut was made possible thanks to the photographer and logistics helpers who helped support the massive prop, allowing me to maintain Ganyu's serene yet playful composure in front of the lens.
That day, we specifically picked two contrasting shooting locations. By the outdoor fountain pool, the water curtain acted as a natural reflector; the indoor vintage patterned tile staircase perfectly complemented crisp standing poses, adding elegant texture to the attire. Though thoroughly exhausted to the point of collapse, flipping through these photos brought a sense of achievement that completely overshadowed physical fatigue. That's the pure joy of Cosplay and crafting 3D printed props—when a passion turns into reality, every bit of hard work is worth it.