This data set includes 40 videos (+ 1 image) depicting the surface evolution of 39 experiments on crustal extension, as well as 4D CT imagery (figures and videos) of 6 of these experiments. The experiments examined the influence of the method for driving extension (foam base, rubber base, plate base or conveyor base) for localization of deformation in overlying layers of brittle-only and brittle-viscous materials representing the earth’s crust. All experiments were performed at the Tectonic Modelling Laboratory of the University of Bern. Detailed descriptions of the experiments and monitoring techniques can be found in Zwaan et al. (2019) to which these data are supplementary material.All experiments were monitored with top view photographs (SLR camera Nikon D-100 6.1 MPx). The photograph time steps depend on the applied extension velocity, but are generally 1 or 2 min. Six experiments were also monitored with an X-Ray computed tomography technique using a 64 slice Siemens Somatom Definition AS X-ray CT-scanner (Zwaan et al., 2016) with varying time intervals (5-30 min). CT-data was analyzed with the software OsiriX (Pixmeo SARL).