Tuesday, January 31, 2017

Printing Lithophanes

Source Wikipedia:

lithophane (French: lithophanie) is an etched or molded artwork in very thin translucent porcelain that can only be seen clearly when back lit with a light source. It is a design or scene in intaglio that appears "en grisaille" (in gray) tones.
A lithophane presents a three-dimensional image - completely different from two-dimensional engravings and daguerreotypes that are "flat".
The images change characteristics depending on the light source behind them. Window lithophane panel scenes change throughout the day depending upon the amount of sunlight. The varying lightsource is what makes lithophanes more interesting to the viewer than two-dimensional pictures.


I am attempting this ancient technique of producing Lithophanes with my 3D printer and some CAD software.


my first attempt will be a photo of my Father and uncle sitting on the back stoop

First I convert it to a CAD model with the help of heightfield pixel mapping.

Heightfield mapping converts different colored pixels in an image and gives them different Z values (elevation). and by changing the elevation it creates a 3D pattern from a 2D image. the X/Y coordinates of each pixel stays the same, only the elevation of each pixel changes and each is stitched to the neighboring pixel to make a solid surface.


Now to print... stay tuned





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