UK-based Cameron Balloons created the balloon using a newly-installed 3.5 metre-wide Durst Rho 351.

The balloon featured an image of Sheikh Khalifa bin Zayed Al Nahyan, ruler of Abu Dhabi, after whom the tower was named, which was designed as a curved image.

The image file was then split into separate sections that were printed and cut out as the balloon was constructed.

“Balloons are our thing,” said Cameron Balloon chairman Don Cameron, adding that, as a UK Civil Aviation Authority-certified company, the company has to go to a lot of trouble with fabrics.

“It’s life critical,” he claimed, explaining that while some fabrics are made water repellent with silicon, they also have to be careful the fabric isn’t ink repellent as well.

Other balloons created by the company include one designed to promote Disney’s Up film (pictured below). The company built an inflatable house around the basket, while the balloon was built to look as if there were many toy balloons instead of just one.

The effect was created by building ‘half’ balloons into the sides of the main chamber and enhancing this with a background print of multiple balloon.

Read the original article at www.printweek.com.

Comment below to have your say on this story.

If you have a news story or tip-off, get in touch at editorial@sprinter.com.au.  

Sign up to the Sprinter newsletter