The UK property website advert was shot on a beach in Costa Rica and features numerous hermit crabs ‘moving into’ shells topped with miniature houses.
Special effects company Artem Ltd. overcame traditional design challenges by 3D printing all the shells and houses using Stratasys’ multi-colour, multi-material 3D printing capabilities.
Explains Artem Ltd. owner, creative director and designer Simon Tayler: “From the beginning, I knew this was a job for 3D printing. It would have been impossible to achieve the level of realism required with conventional, hand model-making.”
In total, the team produced over 20 model houses for the top of the shells, comprising of numerous different shapes and sizes.
Tayler adds: “We were keen to do all we could to ensure that these shells weren’t rejected and would not harm the crabs. With Stratasys’ multi-color, multi-material 3D printing, we were able to mirror every curve, bump and nook of a shell’s natural shape, including the interior.
“With 3D printing, we could work with minute details like individual tiles or roof or brick texture that was only 30mm across without losing any element of realism. Thanks to the capabilities of the Stratasys Connex3 3D Printer and respective materials, each house was 3D printed in an impressive 16-micron resolution for incredible accuracy.”
The advert is currently being broadcast on TV in the UK where it will form part of a long-running, multi-series campaign.
