In the simplest terms, Pixlpanes are simply four layers of acrylic stacked on top of each other. The acrylic is permanently etched by a laser, thus its display may not be changed after it is created. However, each layer may have its own coloration. For instance, in order to produce a full color pixel image three layers are used: one each for red, green and blue. In a four-frame animation, four layers would be used – one for each of the frames – and the color can be selected at will.
Currently, the design of the lightboard is aimed at lighting a 4″x4″ (100mm x 100mm) surface of acrylic. So with this in mind, you are free to design as you please, but the limitations of the laser which etches the acrylic lead to the following recommended constraints:
- For pixel art:
- Maximum resolution of 100×100 pixels. At this resolution, 125 colors are possible (5 shades each for red, green and blue).
125 Color Palette
- At 80×80 pixels and below, 216 colors are possible (6 shades each for red, green and blue).
216 Color Palette
- Note that it is not necessary to use the 216-color palette for smaller pieces – they may be designed with a 125-color palette or even fewer colors, but red/green/blue levels must be spaced equally apart (e.g. R/G/B values of 0, 85, 170, and 255 for a 64-color palette).
- Minimum resolution of 64×64 pixels (below this the illusion of a complete image starts to break down). For items 50×50 pixels or below, simply double the size!
- The fourth layer is unused, so it may be used to help colorize the scene, or to provide some form of minimal animation through color-changing.
- Note that because the image is transparent, there is no true ‘black’. Pixlpanes can be backed with black material to counteract this, but in general it is recommended to simply add an additional white outline to black-outlined art.
- Maximum resolution of 100×100 pixels. At this resolution, 125 colors are possible (5 shades each for red, green and blue).
- For animation:
- Maximum of four frames (one for each of the layers).
- For four-frame animations, maximum resolution of 120×120 pixels. At this resolution, 4 levels of greyscale are possible.
- At 88×88 pixels and below, 5 levels of greyscale are possible. At 66×66 pixels and below, 6 levels.
- For three-frame animations, 6 levels of greyscale are possible at 88×88 pixels and smaller, 5 levels at 120×120 pixels and smaller.
- For art:
- Maximum of four simultaneous colors (one for each layer).
- The laser will manage an effective maximum of 200 dpi.
- DESPITE this, it is recommended art be rendered at 500, 600, or 1000dpi as these are the native laser printing resolutions.
- It is recommended no element of your art be smaller than 200 dpi (that is, make sure no high resolution dithers are in use, etc.).
- Generally, it is recommended that your art look good at 100 dpi to effectively guarantee success.
If you have a design in mind but aren’t sure if it will work, please don’t hesitate to ask!
