Make Puffy Patterns with Light! (Advanced)

This is the advanced tutorial

If you do not know how to use Google Colab notebook or Python, check out the 🐣 beginner’s tutorial instead!

What is Swell by Light?

Swell by Light uses a special kind of glue that puffs up when heated. When the paper is heated by a strong light, the darker pattern regions of paper absorb heating light and puff, creating a raised texture.
You can make patterns that you can feel with your hand!

The places where the light shines get hot and puff up, so your pattern shows up!

Materials

Magnifying glass / Light over 100 watts (either is OK)
Sunglasses
Gloves
Puffy additive
Fabric glue
Disposable container
Disposable spoon
Printer
Brush / Spatula (to spread the glue)

Puffy additive
$14-

Fabric glue
$6-

LED
$90-. Can be other 100W+ lights

Step 1: 🎨 Design Your Pattern

Use a computer or smartphone to draw or get a pattern. The pattern can be in any colors, but the program will recognize the darker colors as swells in the next step. You can make a black pattern with white background to be safe.

Step 2: 👩‍💻 Optimize Your Pattern

If you can run Python on your machine:

Follow the instructions on the GitHub repo for sbl-optimizer.

Otherwise:

If you want to understand the codes: follow the advanced Google Colab notebook.
If you just want to use sbl-optimizer without minding the coding, check out the simplified Colab notebook.

Step 3: 🖨️ Print Your Pattern

Once you optimize your pattern image, print it on a sheet of paper.

Step 4: 🧪 Mix the Glue

Mix the puffy additive and the fabric glue.
Put the same amount of each in a container, and stir with a spoon.

Step 5: 🧹 Apply the Mixed Glue

Spread the mixed glue from Step 4 on the back side of the paper (the blank side).
Use a brush or spatula to spread it flat.

Tip: The thicker you spread the glue, the bigger the bumps!

Step 6: 🌪️ Dry the Glue

Wait until the glue dries.
If you want to dry it faster, use a hairdryer.

Tip: Be careful not to overheat the paper when using a hairdryer.

Step 7: 😎 Put on Gloves and Sunglasses

Before you shine the light, put on gloves and sunglasses.

Tip: Light makes the paper hot and bright. Gloves and sunglasses keep you safe.

Step 8: 🌞 Shine the Light to Puff It Up

Once the glue is dry, shine the light!

🌞🔍 With a magnifying glass:

Use it to focus sunlight on the front side of the paper (the printed side).
The black parts will puff up with heat!
If smoke comes out, the light is too strong. Make the light spot bigger.
If it doesn’t puff, make the light spot smaller.

💡 With a 100W+ light:

Shine the light on the front side of the paper (the printed side).
The black parts will puff up after a while!
If smoke comes out, move the light farther from the paper.
If it doesn’t puff, move the paper closer to the light.

Tip: Once done, turn off the light / put away the magnifying glass. Don’t touch the bumps right away — they’ll be hot. Wait about 30 seconds. And don’t look directly at the sun.

💡 Ideas for Home

Add textures to a letter or origami!
Make a picture with textures! After Step 4, draw over the dried glue!
Try puffing up shapes like animals or your favorite logo!

If It Doesn’t Work / Want to Learn More?

If you’re having trouble or have questions, email sichihashi3 [at] gatech.edu or message @RefreshSource on X (Twitter).

Want to dive deeper? Check these out!
🔍 Technical Details
📺 Video (TBA)
📑 Paper
🐣 Beginner’s Tutorial