Artist Dillion Lavona is creating 3D artworks of tracks and terrain that take dozens of hours to design and more than a day to print.

Based in Hawke’s Bay, he released his first artwork three months ago. “The reception has been far greater than I ever imagined, and I now have three printers operating as close to 24/7 as possible,” Lavona said. He is beginning work on modelling the complete collection of New Zealand’s Great Walks. 

Combining his passion for tramping with an interest in 3D printing, Lavona was inspired to create a printing business of his own to bring hiking trails to life. “I like the idea of two completely contrasting worlds coming together,” he said.

The process starts with a high-resolution LiDAR scan that is processed through a number of software applications and then imported into a 3D modelling programme. From there, Lavona models the tracks by hand and edits the model so that it looks pleasing to the eye. “The earth is rather flat compared to its size, so I need to do a fair bit of exaggerating to give the terrain its height and depth,” he said.

He says the most interesting print is of Taranaki Maunga, in which he has tried to emphasise the iconic forest ‘ring’ around the maunga using textural and colour contrast. “It’s a different take than my previous prints, but I think it works, and people seem to be enjoying it,” he said.