[3D Printing News] The Future of the Film Industry - 3D Printing Props
Have you ever wondered how Hollywood and creative studios made movie props in 2016?
Do they handcraft those realistic gadgets and swords?
Which is the most popular technology for creating complex and amazing models quickly and cost-effectively?
Concept designer and art director Michael van Kesteren will reveal some behind-the-scenes secrets here and share his experience and thoughts on how 3D printing is changing the film and television industry.
Traditional prop making has been upgraded.
Traditionally, props are made using a sculpting method. Clay or foam is used to sculpt a mold. From this mold, a replica is cast, and the artist adds parts made of metal, plastic, or wood as needed. 
Concept designer and art director Michael van Kesteren
Michael started 3D printing in 2010 when he was creating props for the South African film "Dredd".
"3D printing is becoming increasingly easy and widely used, and we use this process to create the gun bodies we designed. We have a good relationship with local 3D printing companies and use various different processes depending on the parts we are working on. "
When he arrived in England, it took him some time to convince those he was working with that the 3D printer offered many benefits, not threats. Eventually, he bought one for himself. Once it became clear that it was a very useful tool, things started to take off from there. 
3D printing enhances the process
His colleagues and artists have found that 3D printing does not replace traditional techniques, but rather is another tool used in the process.
Traditional model makers were initially skeptical. 3D printing was a threat, after all, it opened up many possibilities.
But now they've discovered that 3D printing actually enhances and complements their traditional methods, helping them create a better pattern and avoid lengthy, tedious tasks.
This will give them more time to create.
3D printing is now part of the process, making the workflow more efficient. Work begins when the art department receives the technical drawings and reference materials.
Model and print objects using the most suitable processes and materials.
Michael's goal was to do all the modeling work during the day and then print it out at night.
The printed parts are sent to the model maker the following morning for cleaning and assembly. Usually, only a small, detailed part is needed to fit onto a larger object.
After cleaning and assembly, it was handed over to the coloring department and then to the photography team.
If multiple copies are needed, the printed object will be molded and cast. 
Desktop 3D printers are revolutionizing filmmaking. They allow filmmakers to unleash their creativity, producing highly detailed custom models, just like this miniature gun!
Michael's 3D printing journey began with Ultimaker 2, and he recently upgraded to Ultimaker 2+ , and is a big fan of the reliability of the extremely fine layer thickness feature.
The biggest advantage of the Ultimaker 2 is its printing precision. I use a layer thickness of 0.06 or 0.04 mm and a 0.25 mm nozzle to get the best results and the simplest cleanup.
Five Advantages of 3D Printing
3D printing technology enables prop manufacturers to use their time more efficiently and work more effectively.
Michael discovered that 3D printing was beneficial to his process in many ways.
●Speed. Even before 3D printing, he used 3D modeling and rendering to design concepts. 3D printing enabled him to produce a model or prototype within 24 hours.
This is very convenient when meeting and making decisions at the last minute.
Model makers can now focus on projects that require their skills, instead of making small, tedious tweaks to the same parts over and over again.
● Scalability. 3D printing allows for scaling the same model up or down with minimal adjustments. Previously, especially under time constraints, scaling hand shapes could lead to poor results. Sculptors often had to work under pressure and might not be able to complete projects correctly without sufficient time.
● Precision and Reproducibility. If you can scale it down, you can create a part that fits perfectly for the first use. If they don't, it doesn't take long to fix. If you need the part again, 3D printing can repeatedly build the same part without the need for mold making and casting.
● Reduced material costs. PLA filament is much cheaper than many other engraving materials. If you only need a few replicas, 3D printing is more cost-effective than creating molds and casting parts.
● Exquisite details. Some props, such as ornate Renaissance and medieval weapons, have very delicate details on their surfaces.
If an object is smooth, the part can be sculpted. But if the part has high detail and a complex shape, sculpting becomes a nightmare. 3D printing can recreate details on parts and can be cast and molded into any material.
3D printing in movie magic
The next time you're captivated by your favorite fantasy movie, don't forget that magic is created by highly skilled and talented model makers, sculptors, and 3D printers. While the main methods of prop production may remain the same, the tools have begun to change. Can you imagine what can be made with a 3D printer?
Original link: https://ultimaker.com/en/stories/22401-the-future-of-filmmaking-3d-printed-props