Physical miniatures
built for the shot,
the set, or the presentation.
Carve Model creates miniature sets and physical models for film, commercial, agency, and creative-production teams.
Each miniature is developed around how it will be used—whether for previsualization, camera planning, practical filming, a client presentation, a brand activation, or repeated handling during production.
Bring the production into physical space.
A physical miniature gives directors, production designers, cinematographers, agencies, and clients a shared object they can examine together.
Depending on the project, it can help teams:
- Evaluate set composition and spatial relationships
- Explore camera positions and movement
- Plan practical lighting and sightlines
- Communicate an environment before full production
- Develop a complex or inaccessible location
- Create a controllable physical subject for filming
- Present a commercial concept to clients
- Produce a durable display or campaign object
Developed around the production requirement.
Previs & Camera-Planning Models
Physical planning models used to study composition, blocking, camera positions, framing, sightlines, movement, and set relationships before production.
Practical Filming Miniatures
Camera-ready miniature sets, environments, structures, or objects created to appear directly in photography or filmed footage.
Commercial Product Miniatures & Props
Reduced, enlarged, or specially fabricated products and objects created for advertising, close-up photography, branded content, demonstrations, campaign installations, or controlled visual effects.
The shot determines the build.
A miniature intended for planning does not require the same construction as one intended for close-up filming.
Before production, we establish:
- Intended use and audience
- Camera distance and expected viewpoints
- Required scale and physical dimensions
- Visible and nonvisible areas
- Level of detail required on camera
- Materials and surface treatment
- Structural and handling requirements
- Lighting or practical effects
- Removable walls or access panels
- Transportation and setup requirements
- Production schedule and shooting date
This helps concentrate effort where it will be visible and useful.
Start with the production information available.
We can review:
* When no usable geometry exists, Digital Model Development may be separately scoped to translate the approved visual direction into coordinated geometry for fabrication.
Balancing appearance, weight, access, and durability.
Depending on the intended use, a miniature may combine:
- Lightweight sheet and foam materials
- Acrylic, ABS, resin, wood, and metal
- CNC-machined, laser-cut, and 3D-printed components
- Hand-built surface details
- Scenic painting and weathering
- Transparent components
- Integrated lighting
- Removable façades or access panels
- Modular sections
- Reinforced bases and transport protection
The material approach is selected according to what the camera or audience will see and how the miniature must perform during production.
Complementary tools when the project requires them.
Physical miniatures can be coordinated with renderings, animation, AR, VR, or other digital presentation materials when multiple forms of communication would benefit the production.
Carve's core deliverable is the physical miniature. Complementary digital materials are separately scoped according to the project, source information, platform, and intended audience.
A controlled path to production.
Define the production objective and required views
Confirm scale, dimensions, access, handling, and transport
Review or develop the required geometry
Approve materials, finishes, details, and functional features
Fabricate and assemble the miniature
Finish, inspect, and test required features
Package, deliver, and support setup when required
Start a film or commercial miniature project.
Tell us how the miniature will be used, what the camera or audience needs to see, and when it is required. Share the production information currently available, and we will recommend an appropriate scope and build approach.