💡 Light & Visual

Builds that bend, focus, project, and manipulate light in ways that make people question reality — holograms, lasers, optics, and things that glow.

This category covers everything that plays with the electromagnetic spectrum: lasers, LEDs, lenses, UV, plasma glow, optical illusions, and projection. Some are pure art, some are real science instruments, and some are both.

Common salvage sources: CRT TVs (flyback transformers, electron guns), rear-projection TVs (Fresnel lenses), old monitors, LED strips, laser pointers, mirrors, lenses from cameras and projectors.

Builds

Suggested Build Order

Start with passive optics, progress toward motorized displays:

1. #020 — Fresnel Lens Solar Forge — Pure optics. No electronics.
2. #175 — Camera Obscura Room — Passive pinhole optics.
3. #179 — Solar Projector — Lens-based light projection.
4. #171 — Pepper's Ghost Hologram — Classical optical illusion.
5. #180 — Retroreflector Array — Reflective geometry.
6. #177 — UV Mineral Display — UV light source + specimens.
7. #017 — Laser Fog Projector — Laser + fog machine.
8. #016 — Infinity Mirror Table — LED strips + mirror arrays.
9. #023 — UV Reactive Water Wall — UV lighting + water circulation.
10. #174 — Polarization Art — Polarizer filter experiments.
11. #176 — Laser Maze — Laser grid assembly.
12. #173 — Fiber Optic Star Ceiling — Extended installation project.
13. #015 — Giant Plasma Globe — High-voltage plasma filaments.
14. #021 — CRT Oscilloscope Visualizer — CRT deflection circuits.
15. #018 — Shadow Chandelier — Complex 3D shadow geometry.
16. #172 — Schlieren Optics — Advanced optical theory.
17. #022 — Holographic Fan Display — POV display synchronization.
18. #019 — POV Globe — Fast LED control + rotation timing.
19. #178 — Light Painting Robot — Motorized light source + camera sync.

Related Categories

• Laser Lab — Laser projection and beam steering
• Mad Scientist — Plasma and electrical discharge effects
• Raspberry Pi & Arduino — LED control and POV displays

📚 Reference Guides

• Tools Needed
• Sourcing Guide
• Difficulty & Ratings Guide