Optics and physical design / 2026-07-11
Holograph
Depth made from scratches.
THE IDEA
Depth made from scratches.
A scratch-holography simulation that converts geometric points into arcs and predicts how their glints move with the viewer.
What I built
The larger project explores a path from 3D geometry to scratch patterns. Its optics revision used an independent reflection solver to detect and correct the direction of glints behind the plate. This excerpt uses only an original procedural torus and the project's own circular-arc engine, with a fresh isolated optics run of 28 passing assertions.
Working with AI
AI-assisted implementation made a visual idea inspectable. The stronger step was an independent check: a convincing animation needed to agree with a physical model. Correcting the glint behavior is evidence of iteration; a finished metal hologram remains a separate milestone.
A QUICK DEMO
Depth made from scratches.
Try the project with a small, deliberate experiment.
Fresh procedural torus and circular-arc optics demo · October 1, 2026
Sweep the viewing-angle slider and watch the glints move.
Switch to scratch geometry to inspect the arcs producing the pattern.
Download the SVG geometry for review; do not interpret it as a validated manufacturing instruction.
PROJECT SCOPE
What to know.
- No metal plate has been cut and photographed; results remain software simulations.
- The model assumes distant light and viewer, horizontal parallax, and approximate visibility.
- Seven historical assertions requiring third-party sample files were skipped in the isolated run; the fresh result is 28 passes, not the historical 35.
28 fresh independent optics assertions passed. Seven assertions needing third-party reference files were excluded. The interactive excerpt has fresh native-Canvas checks; current real-browser verification remains pending. See verification notes →