3D Printing in Film and TV Productions

In recent years, film studios all over the world have been hiking up the prices on their visual effects. This is true of large and small scale films. Accordingly, more and more new technology crops up for the sole purpose of embellishing our entertainment. Artists, directors and creative designers have been seeing the potential of 3D printingand many have employed it in both subtle and overt ways.

Additive manufacturing will become increasingly prominent in film and TV as time goes on. This is only natural because speed, complexity of design and manpower are contributing factors for any business. This applies to film productions as well. Many movies have been leveraging the benefits of 3D printing already. Here are some of the most exciting ways 3D printing helps film productions.

Animation Models

The animation industry has a history of utilizing models for all sorts of purposes. Therefore, it’s no surprise that 3D printing provides new avenues for studios to explore. One of the most notable trends to emerge is in the field of animation. This is unsurprising because animation requires oddly shaped and often surreal elements. This makes 3D printing a natural fit for animation models.

One notable example is Laika’s ‘Kubo and the 2 Strings’. The studio uses a mix of traditional puppeteering, CGI and 3D printed models to brings this animated epic to life. 3D printing is particularly useful in stop motion. This is because stop motion often requires multiple intricate movable models. Costs and time pressures can be vastly decreased through additive manufacturing.

Also, CGI can not accurately capture certain effects without incurring major costs. Certain objects are more difficult to make believable using computers and configuring their physics. A 3D printed object will always interact with actors realistically by virtue of actually existing in physical space. Therefore, it can be preferable to a digital option and that’s why many studios use a mix of CG and practical models.

Special Effects

When discussing most VFX, people tend to think of computerised images. However, there’s been a clamouring for practical props and pyrotechnics recently. As discussed earlier, sometimes computerised images just don’t gel with the images on screen and many designers resort to more traditional means of creating images. 3D printing can aid in designing sets and environments.

Costumes and Props

We’ve previously written about how cosplay enthusiasts can benefit from 3D printing. Naturally, Hollywood has been reaping the benefits of printed props and costumes for years. A prominent example is the design of the Iron Man suit. The use of 3D printing allowed for the design team to create flexible parts for gloves and other movable elements. Stratasys has positioned itself as a premium producers of props and costumes for blockbusters. They’ve been using an Objet Connex3 in recent productions.

As the range of materials increases and the cost of the hardware decreases and becomes faster, more and more design departments will adopt 3D printing technology. As a result, many are speculating that the face of prop production will change. One great advantage to the digital process is scanning. Designers can develop props from scans of other objects. Similarly, actors measurements can be much more precise allowing for better costumes and parts.

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