Australian scientists have created a customized set of purple titanium shoes for a Melbourne race horse using 3D printing.

The horse, nicknamed 'Titanium Prints', had its hooves scanned with a 3D scanner.

Using 3D modelling software, scientists from the Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation (CSIRO) then used the scan to design the racing shoe.

CSIRO's Titanium expert John Barnes says it takes less than 24 hours to print four customised shoes for a horse and it costs approximately $600 for all of them.

"It's made through a process called additive manufacturing or 3D printing," he said.

"It builds pieces up layer by layer, rather than cutting them from a block."

A horse shoe is usually made from aluminium and can weigh up to one kilogram.

But while the titanium shoe is lighter, it costs a little more.

Sorry, this video has expired Scientists unveil 3D-printed horse shoes

"Conventional shoes are heavier and cheaper," Mr Barnes said.

"We believe the weight reduction would be worth the added cost."

The horse's trainer John Moloney says that the ultimate race shoe should be as light weight as possible.

"Any extra weight in the horse shoe will slow the horse down," he said.

"These titanium shoes could take up to half of the weight off a traditional aluminium shoe, which means a horse could travel at new speeds.

"Naturally, we're very excited at the prospect of improved performance from these shoes."

Mr Barnes says the 3D titanium printing demonstrates the range of applications the technology can be used for.

"We wanted to highlight an area of 3D printing that we feel isn't getting enough attention," he said.

"We wanted to show people how a custom piece could be made and the design flexibility within the process.

"Each hoof was scanned and a custom contour made. Further design optimization can take more weight out which also takes out cost."