Not all 3D printed objects are physical. For Aaron Bothman, a student at the California College of the Arts, he wanted to incorporate a light and shadow effect into his thesis project, *The Red Witch*. Inspired by artist Ekaggrat Singh Kalsi from Beijing, who used a modified 3D printer to create "light paintings," Bothman aimed to produce something that couldn’t be held in your hand but could only be captured on film or in images.
Bothman and his father built a small Delta-style 3D printer from a kit, making a few modifications—most notably replacing the hot end with an LED. While the printer was running, he set up a long-exposure camera to track the LED’s movement, creating a glowing trail that formed a dynamic "light animation" recorded on film. The result was a visual experience that blended 3D printing with traditional photography techniques.
This wasn’t their first collaboration. In an interview, Aaron shared how his father, a mechanical engineering professor at UCSB, had taught him 3D printing during high school. “He helped me a lot with this project,†he said. As a stop-motion animator, 3D printing allowed him to bring more ambitious ideas to life through a simple manufacturing process that would have been difficult with other methods.
Using Maya software, each frame of the animation was sent to the 3D printer one at a time, building up the illusion of motion over time—similar to traditional stop-motion animation. The final product was created layer by layer, conceptually like 3D printing, but without using any physical materials. It was a unique fusion of digital design and physical expression, showcasing the creative potential of 3D printing beyond just object creation.
Aaron now works as a cartoonist and artist in Los Angeles, recently graduating from the California Academy of Art’s animation program. He continues to explore new ways to combine technology with art, inspired by both his education and the hands-on lessons from his father. This project is just one example of how 3D printing can open new doors for artists looking to push the boundaries of what’s possible.
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