Bending Light

A marble sphere that breaks the light into many colorful fragments (insert an RGB light into the lamp; "sunset circle" effect bulbs work well, too).

Marble and bamboo are contrasting elements, yet a pattern can unite them.

Can a monochromatic greenhouse sphere convey the power of a pattern designed to be multicolored? 3D-printed lithophane technology can solve this mystery.

It can be printed without supports, but take a close look at the photo: if you don't use supports, the print will succeed, but you'll need to remove a few thin strands by pulling or cutting them off. Post-processing is minimal; I didn't do any at all for the photos—the print is shown exactly as it came off the build plate. However, I recommend using a bit of inner and outer brim to ensure better stability for the base of the dome.

Supports: No, they aren't needed; the model is ready as-is.

Print profile files are included.

Copyrighted bamboo-weaving patterns provided by Makeronline

Pattern Source: Qian Lihuai.

Zhubian Songjinwen pattern: Traditional bamboo weaving × Song Brocade, reimagined by artist Qian Lihuai into a distinctive contemporary digital pattern.