My Art HACKS Your Brain Into Seeing Colors

Summary

In this innovative video, the creator explores the intersection of color theory, technology, and art by using RGB LEDs and etched acrylic to create a visually striking display. By hacking the human eye with combinations of red, green, and blue light, they are able to simulate colors that don’t physically exist. The process includes experimenting with etching, 3D printing, and utilizing modern tools like the Bamboo Labs H2D to bring the project to life. The creator pushes the boundaries of art, showcasing the power of modern technology to manipulate color perception and create unique, vibrant artworks.

Takeaways

• 😀 Screens trick your brain into seeing colors that don't exist by using red, green, and blue lights.
• 😀 Edge-lit acrylic signs use light and etching to display colors, but they can only show one color at a time.
• 😀 The human eye perceives color through three types of cone cells sensitive to red, green, and blue light.
• 😀 By combining red and green light at equal brightness, you can create the illusion of yellow, a fundamental color mix used in display technology.
• 😀 A full-color image is divided into three channels—red, green, and blue—which can be combined to produce a full spectrum of colors.
• 😀 The technology used in CRT, LCD, and OLED screens applies the same principle of mixing light to simulate real-world colors.
• 😀 The project involves etching images onto acrylic using red, green, and blue light sources to simulate full-color artwork.
• 😀 Using the Bamboo Labs H2D 3D printer and laser cutting module, the process of etching acrylic becomes faster and more accurate.
• 😀 Converting a JPEG image into an SVG (vector file) format is necessary to etch images with precision onto acrylic.
• 😀 The artwork being created uses a unique color theory, exploring tonal range, contrast, and color depth to produce vibrant, striking imagery.
• 😀 Inspiration for the final piece came from experimenting with color theory and technology, leading to the creation of a space battle and cloudscape images that demonstrate the project's potential.

Q & A

What is the main concept behind the project in the script?

The main concept is to use a unique medium involving etched acrylic, red, green, and blue LED lights to create an artwork that tricks the brain into seeing all the colors of the rainbow. The project aims to apply the principles of color theory and light manipulation to create something new and visually striking.

How does the brain perceive color according to the script?

The brain perceives color through specialized cells in the eye called cones. These cones are sensitive to red, green, and blue light. By stimulating the cones in specific combinations, like mixing red and green light to create yellow, the brain interprets these signals as the actual color.

What is the issue with using a single piece of plastic and an LED strip for creating colors?

A single piece of plastic and an LED strip can only show one color at a time. To create a full spectrum of colors, the artwork needs a more sophisticated approach, combining different colored light sources and the manipulation of those lights in a way that tricks the brain into seeing all colors.

What solution does the artist propose to create a full spectrum of colors in the artwork?

The artist proposes using three etched acrylic sheets, each illuminated by red, green, and blue LEDs. These sheets are transparent, and when stacked, the lights combine to mimic the full spectrum of colors, similar to how screens display colors by mixing red, green, and blue light.

How does the Bamboo Labs H2D machine contribute to the project?

The Bamboo Labs H2D is essential for efficiently etching the acrylic sheets. The machine is not just a 3D printer; it features interchangeable modules, including a laser cutter, which allows the artist to etch precise designs onto the acrylic with greater accuracy and speed.

What challenge does the artist face when transferring an image onto acrylic for etching?

The challenge lies in converting a regular image (JPEG) into a vector file (SVG) that the cutting tool can interpret. This involves turning shades of gray into a pattern of etched lines, similar to the cross-hatching technique used by artists for shading.

What technique does the artist use to create the SVG file from an image?

The artist uses a custom-made program where they define a series of rules for translating the image into a path-based file. This file converts varying shades of gray into horizontal, vertical, and diagonal lines, which the cutting tool can then trace on the acrylic.

How does the artist test the final artwork's effectiveness in the project?

The artist runs multiple tests using different images, like a color test with a rainbow and grayscale tests. These help evaluate how well the acrylic etching combined with RGB LEDs creates the desired visual effect. Adjustments are made based on how well the colors blend and the tonal details are captured.

What kind of image does the artist plan to use for the final piece?

The artist plans to create an image that takes full advantage of the medium's strengths. The final piece will likely have high contrast, focusing on primary colors like red, green, and blue, along with secondary colors, and a deep sense of depth in the composition.

What key element of the project makes it stand out from traditional art?

The key element that makes this project stand out is the use of light manipulation and etching to create a dynamic color experience that changes based on the distance and angle from the viewer. It plays with the RGB color model to produce effects that traditional art mediums cannot achieve, such as depth and real-time color adjustments.