How to Make a TRON Style Lamp: The MADYLIGHT

 by Greg Madison
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MADYLIGHTLOGON.jpg
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Version francaise : cliquer ici !


Thanks to my job as a magician, I have been able to acquire skills to materialize in our reality, effects that at first might seem completely impossible to achieve (except of course in special effects movies) like transforming a human being in a snow storm... Always surpassing limits is by far my favorite challenge.

Unfortunately I will neither be telling you on this tutorial how to cut your wife into four pieces (she will thank me) nor how to make your car levitate in the air (though it might be very useful when changing the tires)... Professional secrecy.

My main source of inspiration resides in movies, video games and science fiction. Well, what is the common point between TRON, Zelda, Final Fantasy, etc???

Answer: The luminescent shapes which represent electronic circuits or magic spells. I have always been marveled by these visual effects and I do think I am not the only one.

I have recreated this effect on a cube in order to explain the main mechanism.The goal here is to achieve reproducing this effect in any other object of everyday's life; like a coffee table, a Plexiglas chair, PC modding etc. I have a list of objects I am already working on .

This is my first online contribution to the world of design and I hope the beginning of many others.

(By the way I seize this opportunity to say that I am also looking for firms which could be interested in producing and launching my creations like the following lamp. Thank you very much.)




 
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Step 1: Ideas & Materials



My lines of reflections

I wanted to create an object which would blend with an apartment's interior along with the furnitures during the day and reveal it's mysterious aspect in the dark.

I have avoided using big and complexe tools so that it could be possible for anybody to make this lamp.

I have started to create my luminous patterns with Adobe Illustrator , after several 3D light simulations with Carrara, I have determined, according to me, the best harmony between light and darkness. My conclusion :

The lamp must not be overcharged with too many luminous lines because the visual effect will get degraded, on the contrairy if there are not enough lines, we simply lose the primary utility of the lamp ; to enlighten.

I have choosen to use Opaline Plexiglas ( also called Frosted Plexiglas ) for it's classy aspect and also because of it's light diffusion properties.

In order to liven the lamp up, I have used a color changing led light bulb.

The trick I found for having the maximum light through the lines of the pattern while having areas remaining completely dark was to use a mirrored paper to cut the pattern.

You will find the list of the materials needed, and all the instructions about how to make this lamp, in the following video.




1-40 of 254Next »
mgodoy2 says: Dec 25, 2012. 10:36 PM
Dude thanks to this instructable i gave my gf her "best gift ever" I want to thank you so much. I hope you get the firms you're looking for. Grettings from Mexico.
LutzM says: Dec 5, 2012. 1:31 PM
Looks like someone was inspired by this and made a retro-game cube (http://bit.ly/TFZ3uU).... Wonder if he's going to do other styles or even the shelfs, too.
zeldapiano3 says: Jun 14, 2012. 2:38 AM
Can you make a godess cube madylight?
spawnos3717 says: Dec 25, 2011. 2:18 PM
Where did you purchese the mirror paper?
vishalapr says: Nov 14, 2011. 6:14 AM
How did you make the yellow boxes move? Th eones where you take the pointer and you get some writing...how did you make them like come out?!

This is great!
schumi23 in reply to vishalaprDec 10, 2011. 1:12 PM
im not sure, but im guessing the image is an animation, and he just posted the instructable box right in hte middle of the animated box.
Lthrboots says: Nov 3, 2011. 11:33 AM
That looks amazing. i can't wait to make my own
m4l1n says: Oct 9, 2011. 10:26 AM
Awesome idea! I haven't done anything like that before, but now I definitely want to do! Beautiful! And fun video :)
PlowUrField says: Sep 3, 2011. 3:35 PM
Very entertaining, thank you. now I think its time for sleep...
RalphNL says: Aug 8, 2011. 7:07 AM
This looks like one of those Jedi Holocrons from the Star Wars comics.
I'm gonna start building right away, love your design
vishalapr says: Jul 5, 2011. 10:37 AM
U actually made all those prestige stuff!U r amazing man!Well done!!!
cmoigui says: Jun 29, 2011. 7:59 AM
Wow !!
Good job this is awesome
mk2001 says: Jun 6, 2011. 3:27 PM
cool
jotaz says: May 24, 2011. 7:29 AM
muy bueno diseño gracias
doctor strange says: Apr 28, 2011. 2:01 PM
AWESOOOOOOME!!!!!!!!!!!
badkim says: Apr 11, 2011. 6:36 PM
Well done!
jchurch says: Apr 11, 2011. 5:05 PM
now all i need is a bunch of circuit wallpaper and my room will be complete
badideasrus says: Feb 12, 2011. 12:05 PM
this is awesome. love the bed too
Zephyr Wind says: Nov 11, 2010. 6:04 PM
I love tron!!! Can't wait till Tron legacy comes out!! :)
redheadgiant says: Jun 11, 2010. 12:35 PM
I want to see an i'ble on that sweet shelf setup! How did you get the background glow so perfect?
Batness in reply to redheadgiantSep 14, 2010. 8:46 AM
^ THIS.
leebryuk says: Jan 15, 2008. 2:51 AM
Incredible! Can anyone say "Full Metal Alchemist?"
nkhan27 in reply to leebryukSep 12, 2010. 6:27 PM
exactly what i was thinking!!
finfan7 in reply to leebryukJan 27, 2008. 9:47 AM
this would be an awesome thing to set up with a magnet switch. *clap and slap wall* runes everywhere!
mspark400 in reply to finfan7Mar 11, 2008. 10:22 AM
I just might try that in my basement...*runs 20 miles home and gets to work*
leebryuk in reply to finfan7Feb 5, 2008. 9:36 PM
The clapper and a 2 second time delay would work pretty good.
w00ty32 in reply to leebryukMar 23, 2008. 9:47 AM
and, the lights turned on flying outward from ware you hit.
ich bin ein pyro in reply to leebryukJan 23, 2008. 9:52 AM
full metal alchemist.......was it supposed to do anything? (just kidding) yes that'd be a sweet design.
n0ukf says: Jun 13, 2010. 9:53 PM
What is "Mady"? What does it mean?
Mdob in reply to n0ukfAug 9, 2010. 6:13 PM
His name is Greg Madison. The Mady comes from MADison.
mikeyx says: Jun 10, 2010. 12:30 PM
Wow
TampaGeek in reply to mikeyxJun 19, 2010. 4:22 AM
Yeah, that's what I was thinking too... wow.
zack7891 says: Jun 11, 2010. 3:02 PM
Where can i find this plexiglass
Coolstuff47 in reply to zack7891Jun 13, 2010. 9:32 AM
Home depot should have it
WuLongTi says: Jun 12, 2010. 8:52 PM
very well done i'ble my friend. I have to say that while the concepts aren't too difficult your presentation and delivery were very entertaining and top notch. I would totally watch your show on the DIY network if you had one.
reoga13 says: Jun 12, 2010. 4:25 PM
tell me when you do an instructable for the table
lex luther says: Jun 12, 2010. 2:30 AM
Great lamp! Whit what prog. did you make the presentation? Alex
klaudp says: Jun 12, 2010. 12:27 AM
super t'as lampe et tres bon montage pour tes explications de fabrication. great job. 5*
92033 says: Jun 11, 2010. 10:25 PM
I just posted to your home page. Tried to Copy & Paste it here but the Paste wouldn't work. :-( ~ ED
Morriscow says: Jun 11, 2010. 9:02 PM
WOOH
1-40 of 254Next »
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