Universal water-based system across MDF, wood & PVC
For a high-end episodic production, we were commissioned to develop camera-ready finishes from physical reference samples — with a strict requirement for a water-based, crew-friendly workflow.
The brief wasn’t “just match a colour.” The production needed a solution that would hold up in real build conditions: fast execution, predictable repeats, and a system that could be rolled out across multiple departments without creating a complex product jungle.
The key requirement: one base system that works everywhere
To keep the workflow simple for the crew, the production asked for a single, universal base system that performs consistently on the most common set substrates:
- MDF
- wood / plywood
- PVC and mixed prop substrates
This is where many scenic workflows break down: different materials often force different primers, bases, and handling rules — which increases steps, introduces avoidable errors, and slows the entire schedule. The goal here was clear: reduce complexity without compromising the on-camera finish.
Effects-ready by design
A further requirement was that the same base system must remain effects-compatible, allowing the addition of visual modifiers (e.g. sparkle / metallic / special effect components) while keeping:
- adhesion reliable across substrates
- handling consistent for the crew
- batch-to-batch repeatability under controlled lighting conditions
In other words: the system had to be universal, water-based, and effects-capable — without becoming fragile or overly sensitive in application.
What we delivered: four new recipes + production-long supply
Working from the provided reference samples, we developed four new recipes within the chosen universal system and supported the production with continuous supply.
Deliverables included:
- recipe development from reference samples
- approval-ready outputs (repeatable looks suitable for camera & lighting checks)
- scalable batching for ongoing deliveries
- technical support to keep application consistent across the build
Outcome: portfolio adoption
The system met every requirement and performed reliably across the mixed-material workflow. As a result, the production added the new colours/looks to their internal portfolio, enabling repeat use on future builds — a strong signal that the solution was not a one-off match, but a standardisable, production-grade system.
