Exhibition fabrication that makes the invisible visible
Some of the most useful exhibition objects show what visitors could never see otherwise: a pollen grain the size of a beach ball, the inside of an engine, a building at a scale you can walk around. Printing from scientific, CAD or scan data keeps a model faithful to the source while curators choose the scale that tells the story.
What we make for museums and exhibitions:
- Enlarged models of tiny things: seeds, cells, insects, machine parts
- Replicas made from 3D scan data for display or handling
- Scale models of buildings, vehicles or landscapes
- Tactile objects designed for visitors to touch
- A sculptural centerpiece for an atrium or exhibition entrance
Large 3D printed models and museum replicas
Every piece is printed in white or clear PETG, in sections, then joined, sanded, primed and painted. Sections can split along meaningful lines, so a model can open to reveal an interior. Colour can follow the real object or a clear interpretive scheme, and we sample both before production so the content team can decide side by side.
Clear PETG with a tinted coat transmits light, so a piece can glow from inside, like a giant light bulb on a plinth. White PETG pieces are painted solid in any colour, from 01 Ivory to 05 Vermilion.
Because every model starts as a file, a second copy for a travelling show, a handling version for the education team or a smaller study model for a catalogue shoot all come from the same data. Scale can be adjusted late in the design process without starting over, which helps when a gallery layout changes.
Tactile exhibits, mounting and the long run
Exhibition pieces are inspected closely, touched by many hands and kept on show for months. We talk through accuracy against the source data, whether a piece is hands-on, how it will be cleaned and how it mounts to your casework or plinths. Tactile pieces get rounded edges and hard-wearing coatings. If your institution has material or fire requirements, we check them against PETG and our coatings from the first conversation.
Working with a gallery program? See art objects for galleries. Planning something outdoors? See public art fabrication. Material and finish details are on our materials page.
How it works
- Share the exhibition brief, source data and schedule.
- We review the files, suggest scale, sections and finish, then quote.
- Curators and designers approve a test section or colour sample.
- We print, finish and prepare mounting points to your specification.
- We deliver and install with your exhibition team, or ship crated.
What to send us
For exhibition work, the most useful inputs are:
- Scan data, CAD, drawings or reference photos
- Target scale and placement in the gallery
- Hands-on or behind a barrier
- Mounting, plinth or casework details
- Institutional material or conservation requirements
Then start the conversation through Start a print.
Questions
Can you print from our 3D scan data?
Usually, yes. Scan data often needs cleanup and repair before printing. We review your files, tell you what is needed and confirm scale before production.
Can exhibition pieces be made for visitors to touch?
Yes. Tactile pieces get rounded edges, internal structure where needed and hard-wearing coatings chosen for frequent handling and cleaning.
Can you mount pieces into our existing casework?
We can build mounting points into the print to suit your casework, plinths or wall systems. Share drawings or specs early so they are designed in.
Can an exhibit be lit from inside?
Yes, if it is printed in clear PETG. A tinted coat over clear lets light through, so an internal light source makes the piece glow. White PETG is painted solid.