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PixeLuxe

Caustic Lens | Projection Lens

Caustic Lens | Projection Lens

$54.00
$54.00
Sale Sold out
Size
Style

Product Specifications

Size
Planet series : 4cm × 4cm circular (1.58in)

Custom designs : As specified (irregular shapes calculated by equivalent area of their bounding rectangle)

Thickness : Standard is 0.1× the size (customizable)

Resolution : Approx. 60 pixels per cm (high enough for logos, text, portraits, and detailed graphics)

Material : Optical-grade PMMA acrylic

Manufacturing : Swiss Mikron CNC micro-milling (1μm optical precision) + professional hand polishing


Customization Options



  • Lens Shape : Circular, square, or fully customized contours
  • Projection Pattern
  1. Supported : logos, text, anime, illustrations, portraits, landscapes, etc. 
  2. Recommendation : Choose images with uniform grayscale and high contrast, preferably white background with black content
  • Customizable Parameters : Thickness, focal length, projection position, magnification (default parameters recommended)
  • Production Process
  1. Rendering preview provided days after order placement
  2. Modifications until satisfaction before production
  3. Standard production time: 4 weeks 

    Advanced Customization

    Colored caustics : Achieved through surface coloring (Note: coloring pattern resemblesprojection pattern)
    Reflective caustics : Created by engraving on reflective materials
    Out-of-frame projection : Pattern can extend beyond lens shadow area

Order Production & Returns & Exchanges !

The standard time from an order's production to shipment is 4 weeks (including both standard styles and customized styles).

You can shorten the production time by paying an additional fee, with the fastest production time being 1 week. For details on specific fees, please contact yoel@pixeluxe.cc.For standard styles:

  • A full refund is available before the order is shipped.
  • Within 7 days of receiving the order, free return or exchange is offered if there are quality issues; if there are no quality issues, a 20% deduction from the product price will apply for returns or exchanges.
  • No returns or exchanges will be accepted beyond 7 days of receiving the order.

For customized styles:

  • A full refund is available before the finalization of the design.
  • Within 1 week after production begins following the finalization of the design, a 20% deduction from the product price will apply for returns or exchanges.
  • Within 2 weeks after production begins following the finalization of the design, a 50% deduction from the product price will apply for returns or exchanges.
  • No returns or exchanges will be accepted 2 weeks after production begins following the finalization of the design.


Whisper to the tree hollow, sealed with clay, unheard;
Whisper to the star, hidden by dawn, unseen;
Such is the quiet magic of light and shadow—not just the moon’s soft glow, but all the stories you’ve tucked into the quiet corners of your heart.
We’ve captured this magic not in a single locket, but in every tiny, tangible thing you wear: a necklace that holds Mars’ crimson dusk, a keychain that bears your pet’s sleepy paw print, a pendant that lets Jesus’ gentle outline glow at your chest, or a charm that unfolds your lover’s silhouette when the lamp turns on. These are not just lenses—they are vessels, forged from metal and optical acrylic, where light bends to your will.
By day, they are quiet companions: the Mars necklace lies against your collarbone, plain yet warm; the pet keychain jingles softly in your bag, holding no obvious trace of the furball you miss. They keep your secrets like a well-sealed jar—no fanfare, no noise.
We don’t just make lenses; we weave light to fit your story. Want to turn your child’s first doodle into a necklace? We’ll map every crayon line to the lens’ microscopic curves. Need a keychain that holds your wedding date, hidden in a constellation? We’ll bend light to trace those stars. For the faithful, we refine Jesus’ outline until every fold of His garment glows true; for the stargazer, we replicate Saturn’s rings so their layers shine clear, no detail lost.
Ordinary things hold memories; our caustic keepsakes breathe life into them. They are for the one who misses their pet, the lover who keeps a photo close, the believer who finds peace in quiet light, the dreamer who carries the stars with them.
View full details

Caustic Lens Product Introduction

Technical Overview

A caustic lens is an optical element that reshapes light to form hidden patterns.

By precisely controlling microscopic surface structures, we bend and redistribute light so that images appear only when illuminated.

This transforms the lens from a passive object into a medium that combines science, art, and storytelling.

Ordinary lenses record the world, our lenses create the worlds. 


Applications

  • Art & Design : Unique visual medium for installations and exhibitions
  • Science & Education : Demonstrating optics, light transport, and mathematical visualization
  • Corporate & Personal Gifts : Distinctive blend of technology and art
  • Interior Ambience : Decorative light projections for creative spaces

Product Specifications

  • Size
  1. Planet series: 4cm × 4cm circular (1.58in)
  2. Custom designs: As specified (irregular shapes calculated by equivalent area of their bounding rectangle)
  • Thickness: Standard is 0.1× the size (customizable)
  • Resolution: Approx. 60 pixels per cm (high enough for logos, text, portraits, and detailed graphics)
  • Material: Optical-grade PMMA acrylic
    Manufacturing: Swiss Mikron CNC micro-milling (1μm optical precision) + professional hand polishing

Projection Parameters

  • Light Source : Point light source (phone flashlight, mini torch, spotlight ) or parallel light (sunlight )
  • Focal Length (f) : Standard is 3× the size (customizable)
  • Light Source Distance (u) : Recommended > 2× focal length
  • Projection Distance (v) : 1~2× focal length
  • Optical Relation : 1/f = 1/u + 1/v
  • Brightness & Environment : Works clearly under normal indoor lighting; projection appears sharpest in darker settings
  • Simple Usage : Hold the lens 10–20cm from a wall or surface, shine a phone flashlight through it — no special equipment required

Customization Options

  • Lens Shape: Circular, square, or fully customized contours
  • Projection Pattern
  1. Supported: logos, text, anime, illustrations, portraits, landscapes, etc.
  2. Recommendation: Choose images with uniform grayscale and high contrast, preferably white background with black content
  • Customizable Parameters: Thickness, focal length, projection position, magnification (default parameters recommended)
  • Production Process
  1. Rendering preview provided days after order placement
  2. Modifications until satisfaction before production
  3. Standard production time: 4 weeks
  • Advanced Customization
  1. Colored caustics: Achieved through surface coloring (Note: coloring pattern resemblesprojection pattern)
  2. Reflective caustics: Created by engraving on reflective materials
  3. Out-of-frame projection: Pattern can extend beyond lens shadow area

Why Choose Our Caustic Lens?

  1. Based on SIGGRAPH 2025 research (ACM ToG paper by Dr. Yuou Sun)
  2. Render-based algorithm using triangular facet optimization (more realistic than grid-point methods)
  3. Produced with Swiss CNC micromachining at 1µm optical precision
  4. Bridges cutting-edge optics and artistic expression
  5. Designed to be accessible to everyday users , not only specialists or artists

FAQ

Q: What is your technical background?
A: Our work is based on paper "End-to-end Surface Optimization for Light Control" by Dr. Yuou Sun (PhD in Mathematics, USTC), published in ACM Transactions on Graphics and presented at SIGGRAPH 2025. We are proud to bring this cutting-edge research into product form.
ensuring high quality standards.

Q: How does a caustic lens work?
A: You’ve probably seen sunlight forming shimmering patterns on a table under a glass of water or at the bottom of a swimming pool. That phenomenon is caustics: light converging and diverging into bright and dark patterns. By precisely controlling surface height, we control how light refracts (or reflects), steering it to create desired images on a projection surface. The underlying math involves optimal transport and normal integration. Steve Mould has made an excellent YouTube video explaining what are caustic lenses, which we highly recommend watching.
Caustic lenses are really weird - Steve Mould

Q: How does your technology differ from Rayform’s?
A: We deeply respect their pioneering work. Compared to Rayform, our algorithm is render-based, with optimization units defined as small triangular facets rather than grid points, making it more faithful to real-world conditions. Details are available in the aforementioned paper. Additionally, while Rayform mainly collaborates with artists, we focus on making caustic lenses accessible to the public, spreading this fascinating technology more widely.
Q: What if I need bulk orders?
A: For large-scale customization, we can use molding techniques, first creating a mold, then mass producing. Depending on whether refractive or reflective caustics are needed, we can use metal stamping or injection molding. This will significantly reduce costs. making it ideal for corporate gifts or event souvenirs. For inquiries, please contact us via email.
Q: Can I use these for art projects?
A: We warmly welcome collaborations with artists! We're in the early stages of our venture and looking to increase visibility. Partnerships with artists create win-win situations - you gain a unique artistic medium, and we gain valuable exposure and showcase opportunities. If interested, please email us at yoel@pixeluxe.cc.
Q: What's the lifespan of the lens? Does it require special maintenance?
A: Our PMMA acrylic lenses remain stable for years under normal use. To prevent aging, avoid prolonged exposure to intense sunlight. For cleaning, gently wipe with a slightly damp soft cloth. Avoid alcohol-based cleaners, which may damage the surface.
Q: Will different light sources produce different projection effects?
A: Yes! Point light sources (e.g., phone flashlights) yield sharp, well-defined patterns, while diffuse light sources create softer edges.
Q: What occasions are these suitable for as gifts?
A: Caustic lenses, with their unique blend of technology and art, make excellent gifts for
anniversaries, graduations, or corporate customized presents. They're especially appreciated by technology enthusiasts, photographers, physicists, or art collectors as thoughtful and fascinating gifts. We also offer elegant packaging services to perfect your gift presentation