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 the work of artist Ekaggrat Singh Kalsi from Beijing, who used a modified 3D printer to create a "light painting," Bothman saw an opportunity to bring something unique to life.
Kalsi's "light painting" isn't something you can hold in your hand—it only appears in photos and videos. That was exactly what Bothman aimed for. He and his father bought a 3D printer kit and built a small Delta-style 3D printer together. With some modifications, they replaced the standard hot end with an LED light. As the printer moved, Bothman set up a camera for long-exposure shots, capturing the glowing trails of the LEDs. This created a stunning "light animation" that was then recorded on film.
This wasn’t their first collaboration. In an interview, Aaron shared how his father, a mechanical engineering professor at UCSB, had helped him learn 3D printing during high school. Now, as a cartoonist and animator in Los Angeles, he continues to use this skill in his work. “3D printing allows me to create more ambitious projects through a simple process that would be impossible with other methods,†he said.
Using Maya software, each frame of the animation is sent to the 3D printer one at a time, creating motion over time—similar to traditional stop-motion animation. The final result is a layered, dynamic piece of art, but without any physical materials involved. It’s a beautiful fusion of technology and creativity, proving that not everything printed in 3D has to be tangible.
Square Food Pan
Jiangmen Vanky Stainless Steel Products Co., Ltd. , https://www.vankystar.com