---
title: "ITV’s Emmerdale trailer features 3D printed cast members"
url: https://www.voxelmatters.com/itvs-emmerdale-trailer-features-3d-printed-cast-members/
date: 2022-12-19
modified: 2022-12-19
lang: en
author: "Edward Wakefield"
description: "Cast members of ITV's Emmerdale soap opera have been printed as full-color 3D printed models on the Mimaki 3DUJ-553 printer, for a trailer that aired in the weeks prior to..."
categories:
  - "Art"
  - "Color 3D Printing"
  - "Visual Marketing"
tags:
  - "insights"
image: https://www.voxelmatters.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/12/mimaki-640x360.jpeg
word_count: 509
---

# ITV’s Emmerdale trailer features 3D printed cast members

Cast members of ITV's Emmerdale soap opera have been printed as full-color 3D printed models on [the Mimaki 3DUJ-553 printer](https://www.voxelmatters.com//mimaki-brings-photorealistic-color-3d-printing-mimaki-3duj-553-uv-led-printing-solution/), for a trailer that aired in the weeks prior to the show's 50th birthday episode, on the 16th of October. ITV contacted Cheshire-based 3D scanning and printing specialist Europac3D to establish the possibility of 3D scanning and color printing for the project.

“This started out as a very innocent inquiry but grew quickly into an enthralling project," said Danielle Kenny, Operations Manager at Europac3D.

“We visited ITV at their offices in Leeds and scanned the cast members using the Artec Leo scanner,” said Danielle Kenny. “We had a full day on-site with the team and scheduled the actors to attend specific timeslots, during which they were scanned in costume, holding poses to match the requirements of the animated trailer.”

![ITV](https://www.voxelmatters.com//wp-content/uploads/2022/12/mimaki-2.jpeg)

The Artec Leo scanner is a portable, handheld 3D scanner, and is one of the first systems to offer full onboard automatic processing. With its inbuilt HD screen, the 3D replica can be viewed during the scanning process - to ensure that all areas of the object have been correctly captured.

“Once the scanning was complete, we processed the files back at Europac3D to prepare them for print, with every model edited to enable two different-sized versions of each to be produced," said Danielle Kenny.

Europac3D created the final models with Hybrid Services, Mimaki's UK and Ireland distributor - printing them on the Mimaki 3DUJ-553 full-color 3D printer. “The Mimaki was the only solution available to us to complete the job,” said Danielle Kenny. “We needed full-color output that would stand up to close scrutiny on the nation’s TV screens, and with its ability to print up to 10,000,000 colors, the Mimaki fit the bill perfectly.”

The Mimaki 3DUJ-553 has a build area of 500 x 500 x 300mm, which allowed the characters to be batch-printed using [Mimaki’s layout software](https://www.3dprintingbusiness.directory/company/mimaki/) to optimize the print process. Mimaki’s range of full-color 3D printers uses UV-curable ink in conjunction with water-soluble support material to build the models. Once printed, the figures were placed in a water bath to allow the support material to dissolve, before the final cleaning. “The non-invasive removal of the support material ensured no time was lost through breakages and ITV’s deadline was hit with time to spare,” said Danielle Kenny.

![ITV](https://www.voxelmatters.com//wp-content/uploads/2022/12/mimaki-3.jpeg)The Mimaki 3DUJ-553.

The 1-minute animated scene depicts the explosive impact of a huge storm on the fictional village. Key characters are shown in emotive poses, suspended in time as the storm wheels around them, and as the camera pulls back, it becomes apparent that they’re actually portrayed as decorations, set amidst a vast cake situated in the village pub.

“The finished trailer is a really dramatic watch, and the 3D printed models were really put to the test during the filming,” concluded Danielle Kenny. “The producers were delighted with the results of the scanning and printing – and It was a privilege to be able to contribute to a memorable bit of TV history.”