On an episode of TCT’s Innovators on Innovators podcast in August 2023, Jason Lopes [JL] of Light Big Studios (and previously of Legacy Results) sat down with Brian McLean [BM] of LAIKA Studios to debate the evolution of 3D printing functions within the leisure area.

BM: It was after Kubo [and the Two Strings] that we have been at AMUG, and we have been giving a presentation about how we have been in a position to write our personal software program utilizing this AMF instrument with three colours. And Rob Ducey sat down and occurred to be at a desk with anyone from Cuttlefish, and Cuttlefish had been doing the identical factor with a Connex3, however that they had been turning it right into a four-color printer by dyeing the help materials.

JL: Bingo.

BM: Yeah, and they also, primarily, have been years forward of what Stratasys was specializing in. And so they have been doing an actual scientific deep dive into coloration and the way whenever you’re coping with three-dimensional objects which might be printed in coloration and you’ve got coloration not simply on the outside floor, however a sure depth into it, the colour is affected by the form, the dimensions, whether or not it is a dice or a sphere, they’ll have barely totally different dithering patterns to create and dither the colours.

So, Cuttlefish have been wonderful. We ended up working with them and, once more, Stratasys gave us the flexibility to offer us one in all these voxel dongles. After which Cuttlefish would do all of our slicing for us. And now that is one thing you will get. Again on Lacking Hyperlink, we have been the one place on the planet that had the capabilities of that as a result of we have been getting software program from Cuttlefish and {hardware}, the J750, from Stratasys. However now you can purchase a cuttlefish add on.

JL: I imagine you possibly can. And, as soon as once more, simply displaying how leisure opens the doorways to offer individuals accessibility to issues that have been tried on earlier than they have been launched. It is actually superior.

BM: Possibly it is leisure. As a result of we we’ve got a reference to Nike, at LAIKA we’re owned by the Knight household, that are founders of Nike. And I bear in mind Stratasys would say we’ll provide you with guys entry, we’ll provide you with these voxel dongles, you guys can do that, however do not inform Nike. And possibly it was simply the worry of Nike being such a machine and having a special use of 3D printing that they felt like we have been the playground. They did not care if we have been messing round within the sandbox, however ‘we do not need different shoppers to know as a result of we’re not able to help this.’

JL: Right. And I believe that nails it.

Leisure and with an individual such as you, with an individual like me, as soon as we get entry, we method it on our personal, we go beneath the hood. Simply open the door for me, and I am going to handle it and I am going to attempt to determine it out. If it really works, nice. If it does not work, nice. Construct that Bible of understanding. That is how I used to be in a position to get in and print on material in 2010. And really use it in a direct TV business, the place individuals had piston robotic arms. And we simply inexperienced screened, erased out, the inexperienced sock that it was printed on, 3D pistons, and actually taking issues to the following stage.

After we received that first 3D printer inhouse, my focus wasn’t even on the 3D printer. My focus was ‘how can I now develop this pipeline that feeds it in a different way to make it extra environment friendly for artists? How can I get individuals understanding the best way to take scan knowledge, and now retopologize it in a method that we are able to construct this digital asset library to exit to the printer or any know-how if wanted, and by no means look again.’ After which, as you talked about, the Connex3, I seek advice from it as in case you needed to return in time and get the Andre Agassi colours or Buzz Lightyear colours, the Connex3 was good for you in case you have been utilizing it at default, as a result of that was the entire 80s vibe of colours with that restricted palette. However then I noticed what you have been as much as. And I used to be identical to, ‘wait a second. One thing’s occurring right here as a result of you possibly can’t do this at default.’

BM: Properly, it is humorous as a result of Angela Novak was advisable by Nike as a result of she was making an attempt to use to Nike they usually could not rent her. And he or she had labored with you. And also you advisable her and she or he got here in and I bear in mind Angela got here in she mentioned, ‘oh yeah, they’re doing coloration at Legacy [Effects], it is comparable.’

After which we began displaying her what we have been doing, and she or he’s like, ‘oh, no, this is not the identical. Jason would actually love this.’ It is like, ‘no, you possibly can’t inform Jason, we’ll get in bother. Like, please do not inform him.’ I actually needed her to as a result of I needed you to know however I used to be like, ‘no, we will not.’

JL: Angela, she got here on board, she was within the conventional mannequin store and she or he needed to be taught new expertise. And it was nice as a result of having her and having the ability to actually push the boundaries within the PolyJet world, I at all times known as it pushing minimums. How can we go thinner? As a result of in PolyJet, you possibly can print it, the exhausting half’s cleansing it, and maintaining it from warping. And he or she was my Clyde, I used to be Bonnie, and we might push it, and she or he would discover a method to clear it and ensure it held its integrity.

Should you see the film Night time on the Museum, I believe it is Night time on the Museum 3, there’s these gold Pharaoh items of those crowns that the Queen’s sporting, no matter her character is, that’s most likely 300 PolyJet items at pushing beneath minimums of what they are saying you possibly can print, and gold-plated. It’s completely phenomenal work however that is enabled by a tag staff duo with me and Angela and actually understanding it.

I take advantage of this analogy on a regular basis and it is humorous you come full circle. When individuals ask me on a regular basis, ‘oh, what do I have to do to turn into profitable in 3D printing?’ I say that you must personal your tools, that you must be taught that tools just like the again of your hand and time bend with it, you turn into a wizard or sorcerer with the tools, as a result of then you definitely return to your groups and say, ‘that is what I can do,’ pop it proper on the factor and let their brains meld on that for a bit bit. And they’ll now be impressed to attempt issues to feed you. And you may create this synergy and do what even the OEMs say is almost unattainable.