...shouldn't it be possible right now for a 3D printer to create things like that, say, out of colored plastics? Multi-color 3D printer do exist now: http://mashable.com/2014/01/27/stratasys-3d-printer/
[The article says that Stratsys acquired consumer-oriented 3D-printing company MakerBot, that you may have heard of.] And another color 3d printer is here: http://tinyurl.com/Multi-color-3d-printing or: http://3dprintingindustry.com/2014/04/14/amaker-multi-material-multi-color-3 d-printing/ Another way to get shading / coloring is by using a transparent material: "A lithophane is an etched or molded artwork in thin, very translucent porcelain that can only be seen clearly when back lit with a light source." - http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lithophane "Variations in thickness present a detailed, almost photographic image when light passes through. Night lights, ceramic panels and lamp shades utilizing this complex technique were popular in Victorian England." Be sure to see the photos of lithophanes at the bottom of the Wikipedia page. I believe that the lithophane of the cat is shown being made by cutting material away to create the varying thickness, rather than casting it (as with ceramics.) So, you could 3D print a 2D fractal using a transparent material -- with thickness as the "color" thus giving shades of a single color. When lit from behind you'd get a glowing fractal image. Anyone own a 3D printer? <--<< I once saw a white ceramic (probably Victorian) lampshade where the image appeared only after the light was turned on. Close examination showed that it varied in thickness in the pattern of the image. The image appeared in shades of gray on the featureless, smooth outside of the lampshade -- but only when it was turned on. It was a very pleasing effect. - Hal Lane ######################## # hallane@earthlink.net ######################## =========================================================== Author: JackOfTradeZ Date: 2014-09-08 14:37 -400 To: fractint Subject: [Fractint] While we're waiting for Jim Muth's next FOTD... (Hal Lane) Those are awesome! I have seen stuff like that before; shouldn't it be possible right now for a 3D printer to create things like that, say, out of colored plastics? Then we could print ornaments of the mandelbulbs etc - would make awesome living room decor! =========================================================== --- This email is free from viruses and malware because avast! Antivirus protection is active. http://www.avast.com