THE MASK MAKER
The job Managing director, Cavendish Imaging Name Veronique Sauret-jackson
Players at a lot of clubs, such as Chelsea [below], have been using protective masks so they can play sooner after facial injuries. With so many different faces, how do you make the mask fit? We use 3D photography to digitise the face. The 3d photos are the result of two normal photos taken simultaneously from different angles, and 3D photo software creates the photo’s depth. This way, we capture a face’s contours accurately in three dimensions.
How do you actually make the mask? Each one is printed individually from white nylon powder using selective laser sintering technology [3D printing]: the laser merges powder particles together and, one layer at a time, it makes the solid object. You don’t need a lot of thickness for nylon to be quite strong, so we can make masks that are quite thin but also strong enough for players to wear in a match. What would you do if you weren’t able to use the 3D printer? The traditional way is to pour plaster on the face and make an impression. It’s claustrophobic and uncomfortable, and takes far longer. Now, when a Premier League footballer comes in to get their mask, they’re only here for 15 minutes.
We’ve seen far more of them of late... Definitely. We started with transparent masks but most are now either white or black. I’d hope that one day you’d spot a mask on the pitch and know immediately that it’s one of ours! Most footballers, I think, have faith now that these masks will offer them the protection they need.
Are they expensive? Well, anyone can have one. They start at £350, which we think is reasonable as it allows you to play with confidence.
Would you ever advertise on a mask? We wanted to, initially, but football sponsorship rules didn’t allow it. Faye White, captain of the English team in 2009,came to cavendish Imaging to have a mask made for the 2009 European Championship Final. It had our logo, but the Fa asked for it to be covered up. We didn’t see ‘Cavendish Imaging’ on TV screens all over the world. It’s frustrating, because it makes it more difficult for amateur players who may have a similar injury to find us and get the same mask made.
“It only takes 15 minutes for a Premier League player to get a mask”