Animation & Film Production

3D Product Animation and Filming for Domino

Filming a large industrial machine in a working factory presents some obvious limitations. Cameras can move around the equipment, but they cannot travel through its internal components or easily show every stage of the process.

For Domino’s N730i digital colour label press, WaveFX combined real footage with photorealistic 3D animation to create one continuous journey around and through the technology.

The client brief

Domino Printing Sciences wanted a film that could introduce its Generation 7 inkjet technology platform to customers, distributors and printing specialists around the world.

The video needed to demonstrate the scale and design of the physical press while revealing components and processes that conventional filming could not capture.

Its intended audience included more than 75,000 printing-industry professionals across the UK, Europe, North America and Asia. The finished content would support a global product launch, website marketing, sales presentations, exhibitions and social media.

“Everyone keeps saying what a great virtual event the N730i launch was and that we have really set the bar high.” Andrea McGinty, Marketing Manager, Digital Printing Solutions

Filming the physical machine

The live-action footage was filmed at Domino’s facility in Leeds while the N730i remained inside a busy working factory.

Our team used black draping to hide the surrounding production environment and create a controlled background around the machine. Professional lighting helped define the press and provided a visual reference for the animated sections.

Carefully planned camera movements were recorded around the physical equipment. These movements were later recreated virtually, allowing the real camera to appear to travel smoothly into the animated model.

Building the 3D product animation

The press was modelled in detail using Autodesk 3ds Max. Technical reference material and CAD information helped the animation team reproduce its structure, surfaces and internal components.

Virtual lighting, materials and camera movements were matched to the factory footage. This allowed the film to move between live action and 3D animation without an abrupt change in style.

Once inside the animated press, the camera could reveal components, follow the printing process and show how different parts of the system worked together.

Production challenges and how we addressed them

The main challenge was filming a large machine without interrupting the working factory around it.

Drapes, controlled lighting and carefully selected camera positions separated the press visually from its surroundings. A detailed shot list helped the crew capture everything required within the available filming window.

Matching the real and virtual camera movements required equally careful planning. Camera height, direction, lens choice and speed were recorded during filming and reproduced within the 3D environment.

Technical reviews with Domino ensured that the model, component movements and production process remained accurate throughout the animation.

The measurable outcome

Domino received one complete 4K product film combining live footage and photorealistic animation, alongside six shorter edits for presentations, exhibitions and social media.

The project allowed viewers to explore the N730i from the outside and then travel through its internal technology in one joined-up film.

It gave Domino a reusable visual resource that could explain the press consistently to customers and partners around the world.

Need to bring a technical product to life?

WaveFX provides 3D product animation services combining photorealistic modelling with live filming to showcase machinery, technology and internal processes.

Call Chris on 01223 505600 or email chris@wavefx.co.uk to discuss your latest brief, idea or project.