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Creating hand-drawn holograms using a pen plotter
Key points
- Pen plotters can be used to create etch-holograms.
- The technique relies on controlling light reflection from etched ridges.
- The principle is demonstrated using greasy finger smudges on a phone screen.
- The curvature of reflective ridges determines the virtual image movement.
Pen Plotter for Holograms
A pen plotter, typically used for drawing, has been adapted to create hand-drawn etch-holograms. This method explores an alternative use for the device beyond traditional printing or artistic endeavors.
Understanding Hand-Drawn Holography
The core concept behind these holograms involves intuitively understanding how light interacts with etched surfaces. The process does not require prior knowledge of holography or complex mathematics, focusing instead on observable phenomena.
The method begins by observing how light reflects off greasy finger smudges on a phone screen. These smudges create small highlights where light reflects from ridges into the viewer's eye. As the viewer or camera moves, these highlights also move.
Steering Virtual Images
The key insight is that the curvature of these reflective ridges dictates the direction and speed of movement of the 'virtual image' highlight. This phenomenon is comparable to the rainbow effect seen on CDs or streaking patterns from windshield wipers, where light bounces off specific parts of a surface into the eye, changing as the viewing angle shifts.
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Primary sources
GitHub barryclark/jekyll-nowReporting from
A pen plotter is used to create hand-drawn etch-holograms. This process involves understanding how reflective ridges can steer light to create a virtual image, similar to smudges on a phone screen or reflections on a CD.