I Printed A 200 Year Secret Tool; Camera Lucida

[@senorjp21]

I thought "hey I'll make a 3d printed camera lucida" and then thought "I should see if someone has done this already" and found your design. It's a masterwork.

[@Borgedesigns]

This was a big one, hope people find the story as interesting as I did. BOM up now on printables but build video still a WIP, very busy at the moment.

[@3dexperiments]

VERY interesting indeed! Thanks!

[@tcurdt]

Very nice project. Nicely done. Thanks for sharing.

[@beez1598]

This is amazing. Subbed. I’ve watched Tim’s Vermeer so many times, always wanted to try it.

[@emm5468]

Love this, ant wait for the build guide. Had to do some reverse engineering to figure out how to build it

[@Ces1um]

Great looking version! Would really like to see the build guide (esp the clear acrylic sourcing and cutting to size). Subscribed!

[@mikescholz6429]

One thing that was hugely helpful to me was an art teacher saying “draw what you see… not what you THINK you see” followed by a pencil drawing of a tube of paint, with all of the folds and wrinkles in the metal foil and the way the fine text distorts at all the hundreds of little creases.

[@nocultist7050]

You just solved all problems I had with existing products. Can't wait for Build Guide but you earned your day off.

[@SurgeonSilver]

This video is very high quality and I enjoyed watching every moment of it. Thank you for making this video and providing the 3d files for free!

[@ひるまんせちよ]

Nice production quality. Found the origin behind camera lucida to be very interesting, and of course the build turned out great! Very excited for what future projects might hold 🎉

[@dgerson123]

Your video is as polished as your lovely design. I watched the video twice and was struck how it would be perfectly adapted for broadcast as it is. Paul is so erudite and approachable at the same time. I will be printing your design sometime soon but in the meantime kudos for resurfacing this old tech approach to making art.

[@alliswell-pb9vo]

As an enthusiast of wilderness living skills and survival, I have seen so much darkness in mass media where truth(and in this case, it affects ones life) is set aside for profit. My recent personal life also casted some somber feelings. However, when I see your video, I see myself when I explored ideas and made practical inventions(mostly assciated with crafting or special tools). I feel a lot better when I see you post your designs out for free(Just like when I wrote knowledge gathered in years into condensed guides and post them). I will make your designs and hope you the best. (English isn't my primary language so this comment is very strange to read(even to me))

[@alliswell-pb9vo]

suddenly found more after looking at your channel. I must say that I missed so much by not discovering it earlier Wait, many "inventions" you did had been done by me in a different manner(and mentality). For example, I made a tool that undercuts the seam of cans to achieve the same affect as your "can stash" insert. I also explored how to create a field-expedient plastic bottle cordage cutter using a craft knife and the bottle capit self(it was inspired by a video but I made countless improvements).

[@MilkyWayHeroz]

I’d gladly watch the full interview. This was a joy to watch.

[@GaetanDellaPietra]

You have done a fantastic job, I'm a maker and traveler, and I'm grateful that we have people like you because you work is inspiring.

[@jamesdownes1974]

That was absolutely fascinating, and beautifully produced. I really enjoyed watching that (and would watch the full interview). Thanks!

[@bradyhatcher7677]

This is so cool! My girlfriend is an Architecture major, so I think she would love this, and I am trying to get into drawing, so I want to try it as well. Thanks for making this so accessible, I will definitely be printing it. Also, your video production quality is awesome! It conveys a lot of passion and creativity on your part, so keep doing what you're doing!

[@bradyhatcher7677]

@@ImproveConditions yea anytime, don't mention it

[@robertarmstrong3478]

WAs really interesting. Glad you enjoyed making the video; I certainly enjoyed watching. Not sure about printing a copy, but on my list of 3D projects for sure.

[@eamonnstevens1629]

Fantastic video throughout, love the cinematography and the overall production value feels really high. Found the story really interesting and will definitely try printing one as soon as my new filament arrives

[@BadYossa]

Totally agree with your sentiments. An exceptionally well produced piece.

[@Maxim.Teleguz]

12:30 is a very beautiful piece of art. Don’t toss it. It is impressive for the art quality

[@DrDIYhax]

Very cool I remember wanting one of these as a kid and I completely forgot about them until this video so thanks for reminding me about something I forgot about almost 30 years ago!

[@scotter_dotter]

You had me at “a case with a spot for everything”❤

[@wulfboy_95]

I've wanted one of these for quite a while now. Now I can print it!

[@Arcayenneist]

This is awesome! I look forward to the build guide, I plan on making this as a gift for my mother.

[@Labrat009]

amazing man, keep it up. seeing it in person, albeit briefly, the case and everything in it is super well designed and absolutely gorgeous

[@Leadvest]

I've been assessed as having the knack for visual processing, like logic, perspective, composition, and color. But I never practiced with physical art mediums, so obviously I'm at a baseline level. I can sketch down a landscape or portrait, but it doesn't look any better than anyone else's outside of the technicality of perspective lines being correct et cetera. However I have a history of having a particularly abysmal track record for short term memory(trauma related). If someone says a Camera Lucida is cheating for someone who doesn't have the knack for visual processing, that's like saying having a notebook is cheating at working memory for someone like me. Given my perspective I feel it's also important to note that, I would also find a Camera Lucida useful if I were to take on non-computer assisted artistic hobby. The time saving of not having to look back and forth is probably even more impactful than someone might think, and not having to memorize a scene would reduce processing power requirements. Allowing for focus on other aspects, like say being able to continue keeping the impactful part of the piece in mind throughout the whole process. Instead of losing sight of it as soon as your focus switches to translation. There's also the fact that an art piece done with the assistance of a Camera Lucida doesn't have to maintain realism, creative use of tools is something people gravitate towards pretty naturally. There's also the conversation about learning to consume spaces in order to be able to fabricated vistas, and I think use of tools can only help this, as it's a matter of stepwise habit forming regardless of methodology.

[@Leadvest]

The story and work of Jean-François Millet really emphasizes how this relationship with art should be considered. His work goes beyond what could be considered attainable by an amateur wielding a Camera Lucida. His influence on Gogh, and Monet and their care for representation of perspective are evident whether the use of the tool is implied or not by the coinciding timelines.

[@Notsram77]

What an interesting discussion of devices helping the artist create. I couldn't help but notice that you used an upscaler on the webcam footage from the interview, and it gives Professor Garcia's beard a 'painterly' effect. Fitting for the subject matter!

[@tiagotiagot]

I think you might enjoy the documentary "Tim's Vermeer" about a guy's project to rediscover a related (but more advanced) device used by Johannes Vermeer for his paintings, and in the process, recreate one of the paintings.

[@StormBurnX]

It's funny, I've been getting spammed with ads for this exact product, and now I'm getting a video bout DIYing one.

[@Traitorman..Proverbs26.11]

The really funny part is, that you could make a box laid on its side with the opening facing towards you, in a size that fits a tablet on the bottom of the box, a angled piece of glass and a hole in the back of the box large enough to allow your camera lens to fit. You can the use the tablet to show some text (reversed) and you can read it from where you sit, while the camera films you. A home made teleprompter.

[@humbuccaneer84]

Ha.. takes me back to them beamer mirror imaging tv's. Clear image costing a lot of space back then.

[@JulianMakes]

David Hockney’s documentary is brilliant too. Super project, well done!

[@wolfrat4998]

This is so cool! Thank you for showing this off.

[@Zero]

really wish you showed what the human eye would see with a lucida! missed opportunity had to google it else where to get a visual reference

[@Leron...]

I'm curious whether you've ever seen the documentary "Tim's Vermeer"? It's about an engineer's quest to recreate a device which he believed was used by Vermeer to create hyper-detailed paintings.

[@Borgedesigns]

I didnt come accross it no but ive seen so many comments ill have to give it a watch

[@meggawatts]

​@@BorgedesignsYou 100% have to watch it. Tim Jenison, the subject of the film, is also the founder of NewTek, and the inventor of the "Video Toaster" early computer graphics hardware that made it possible for people to do graphics on cheap PCs in the early 90s. If that's not enough, the first video toaster prototype was also hand built by Brad Carvey, Dana Carvey's brother. Brad Carvey was also the inspiration for Dana Carvey's character Garth in Wayne's World.

[@SamHaberONE]

Great content, design, and production. Thanks, this was super cool, and looking forward to your file release.

[@Borgedesigns]

files and BOM on printables now, but build guide still a WIP!

[@MrBobkeenan]

Finished the build…. that was fun. I did find it difficult to put together without instructions but I printed out all the pictures and took screenshots of the video. But here is some comments. When you buy your screws, make sure they hex head nuts. The bigger screws need to have hex heads. the smaller screws need to be flathead. Otherwise they’ll get in the way of the mechanisms he has created for clamping things down. I would print all of the clamps and moving mechanisms as solid parts as there seems to be a lot of strain on them. in the notes section, he talks about drilling out holes with a 2 mm drill. I would only do this where you will be putting the brass rod. Otherwise I would leave the holes alone, and that will provide plastic for the screws to grip into, and hold better than if you had drilled it out .There is a part he has shown in the video and some pictures that has a couple of holes in them, but that part doesn’t exist like that the holes are not part of it so don’t go crazy trying to figure that one out. my final comment is I found that this will not be usable for me. The only way it seems to work is if your subject is very well lit and you are in a dark area. The image that is reflected on the glass is very faint. I’m sort of curious what some of the premade Lucidas are like.

[@MawoDuffer]

Before I had a 3D printer, I made a mirror and glass one from plywood. It’s hard to use in bright light, so I had an idea. Make a mechanism that holds 2 polarized lenses which you can rotate to adjust how bright the paper looks. Use polarized film that is polarized in straight lines. 2 pieces of this film held at 90 degrees will be dark. When they’re parallel they’ll let more light through

[@Jdog1681]

This is generous content. Thanks for going above and beyond

[@VetsrisAuguste]

A traditional tool used in the art of embroidery is a portable hoop stand. Designed to free up both hands for working, the stand has a paddle for a base that the user slips under their thigh while sitting normally on a chair. Your setup reminds me of this arrangement. I wonder if a similar companion setup could be integrated into your case to provide a drawing surface which maintains a stable relationship to the camera.

[@Tictacpanter]

12:44 glad to see the practice of using nametag backing plates is as a fridge magnet universal

[@alttabby3633]

Well produced and interesting! Sing me up for the full interview.

[@MichaelWilliams-xs1cf]

I love this, thank you so much for sharing!

[@TheHMSBros]

What a fantastic device, video and project you've put together. You've got a new subscriber here. I was planning to start writing soon and I'm no artist, but you've inspired me to also pair my writings with drawings with your Camera Lucida. I can't wait to print out my own version and start using it!

[@Benjamin_Reese]

This was a great piece. I found your channel because of Kirby, but this made me subscribe. 🙂

[@Sammy213]

dude this made me want to try a camera lucida 😅. Also the use of surface gauge to hold the mushroom was cool looking 👍

[@Borgedesigns]

Its to clapped out for its intended purpose but I still find a few uses for it here and there

[@Loneman_OG]

Well _I_ watched it all the way through to the end, as I'm sure most people did! 😉 I found it fascinating; imagine how incredible it must have been at the time it was invented. I think many people are so accustomed to the _"new and improved"_ onslaught of ever-advancing tech that they won't ever really appreciate such a simple and elegant, yet advanced for the time, design as the _Camera Lucida._ Thanks for the upload. 👍

[@MrBobkeenan]

thank you thank you thank you. Great video. And I appreciate all the time you put into the design. I was already using a lucida set up based on photographs on my iPad with a simplistic clip on mirror. It works pretty well but since it’s works off a photo, I always felt like I was cheating. So I printed out all your parts and I am now waiting on the glass and mirror to show up. It’s not intuitive on how to put it together but there’s lots of hints in this video and in the PDF file that you provide. But I was wondering if you ever put together a build video. Thanks again.

[@TBJK07Jeep]

Just watched your ball vice & now this video. I’m going to make one for my wife. I have been wanting to buy her the Neo Lucida but have been dragging my feet. Subscribed

[@jameskirk3210]

Absolutely amazing and stunning : an exemplary work and collab. An intriguing subject, an idea, some research in history, a brilliant realisation. You got me subbed. My darling who love to draw and paint will love this " camera lucida". Thanks a lot for your video.👌🖖👍

[@5265060]

this is super rad, great work bud!

[@BadYossa]

Well, that was a fascinating wee journey, I was researching lenses for Astrophotography and somehow ended up here, which was definitely a good thing! Quite ironic that Talbot used his (poor) experience with the Lucida to develop (!) the necessary wherewithal to develop images onto paper. Also, a certain irony that Herschel, a truly great figure in all things Astronomical, was an avid user of the Lucidia - after all, I arrived here via searching for info on lenses for capturing astronomical images.

[@tomcarroll6744]

Very nicely done video. Informative, visually appealing, concise. I also do design and 3d printing. I have to say how impressed I am with your design which also included a first class case. First class.

[@GoingtoHecq]

It's certainly never cheating to use a tool to make something better, especially when a portrait artist is using it to make a better portrait of their client, who is paying them to make a good portrait

[@Saavik256]

I've seen something similar in one of my high school classes. Very neat and educational video, Sir! :)

[@EPeltzer]

Really fascinating and as a sketch artist I have only been vaguely aware of this device. I almost always draw on some kind of simple board even on portable sketchbooks. So I would suggest for your 3D print as an alternative design something that just clamps to a sketch board. And it would be far simpler to construct with fewer parts that would actually fit into a drawer of my portable sketch box. Also you wouldn't have the problem of it shifting around relative to the paper which I think would be a bit problematic with your design.

[@EddieCampbellSelleck]

This was so interesting, thank you for making it! I learned something new

[@ericolson322]

Super cool loved your case and the whole build, looks uber professional.

[@vladamark98]

This was such a great video. Such thorough research, amazing interview, fantastic pacing, superb storytelling and great, Great 3D model. Thanx to YT algorithm for suggesting the vid. Subbed definitely. Keep up the awesome work.

[@tiagotiagot]

I imagine adding some black triangles to cap the holes on either side of the glass, will probably give you a better view

[@isaacwalmsley139]

Bro Secret outro feels super personalised and capped off a really immersive peace of content. I shared it with my mate who is establishing themselves in the oil painting world here in aus within the first 30 seconds as I identified the content's value to their current focus. I have no other real interest in the topic but watched until the end because it was just good content and had me hooked. I guess my point is that you are successfully engaging people who don't have a specific interest in your subject matter and that is an incredibly difficult thing to master. Your future success will reflect this I would bet my fingers on it. pretty sure you are about to skyrocket algorithm wise also. pretty cool. Good luck and enjoy the ride.🤙🤙🤙

[@akashpatel2338]

amazing! thanks for sharing. reminds me to tim's vermeer documentary.

[@UnknownUnknown-uc5ty]

Yooo, this is so cool! This will definitely be one of my first 3D printing projects (that and printing adapters for some of my vintage lenses). Thanks a lot

[@S_R231]

Nice work and good secret outro

[@adrianinvents]

This was very edifying. Thank you.

[@OndrejSvinciak-qr7uc]

this is f.... amazing , also beautiful video , great host , i love the model , i definitely want to print it now, might need a bigger printer tought first, thank you so much for sharing this and thank you so much for making the model free , Bless you you great Guy 😁😁😁🥰😇☺

[@girlsclub3440]

Brilliant work steve

[@ohiosuave]

Amazing information....Loved this video.

[@tftf60]

Very interesting. Thanks for sharing.

[@m.m.2597]

very enjoyable and really well done :) thank you

[@stevenfaber3896]

for 3.1 if the hinge doesn't click together, perhaps it could to enhance the form to allow for user to have that as a platen for the shot, and just the paper in a hinged design on the outside? Trying to reduce the overall need for additional components. Maybe 2 rollers and continuous printing, with std receipt components, but at the end of a "30 image" roll, it actually uses the first roller as a stop and physically closes the lid to say hey, take a break?

[@baganatube]

But, without a lens, don't the focal planes appear too far apart? Did you find yourself focusing back and forth all the time? Any eye fatigue?

[@DrStoooopid]

Interesting video, Chris. Thank you.

[@caldera99]

Really nice video and an interesting topic, niche optical devices are always fun! I really dig the case you made for your own design Another KZbinr I follow, mathieu stern coincidentally also released a video on the subject just a few days ago!

[@stephentopp1512]

Very interesting story told very well.

[@camerafusion]

Awesome job!

[@joelcameron2466]

Hey there! Awesome video and AMAZING build! I can't find the prefabricated parts list for the camera lucida anywhere here or on thingiverse...Is it possible to post it somewhere? Thank you so much!

[@NicksStuff]

But your page has to be at 0° relative to your line of sight towards the subject, right? On a portable version, wouldn't it be cool to be able to change the angle of the mirror to draw while holding your paper at, say, 30°?

[@jaapweel1]

could you out up the rest of the interview? the guy is a great speaker

[@notafurrysogoaway]

Yay, secret outro!

[@Clockwork_Planet]

Fascinating. Subscribed. Thank you.

[@twobob]

"In this video a print a new take on it". Total guess - that should be "I print a new take on it"

[@googleyoutubechannel8554]

That professor has a really unique look, like an old baby somehow, with Jessica Rabbit lips, almost a cartoon character.

[@OrionGarcia]

How do we hear the full interview?

[@lsav1085]

Super interesting

[@threepe0]

You're left with a case that needs to sit on a table, or get clamped down, or be stabilized by your legs while sitting. Like what's the use-case here really? Specifically drawing while sitting cross-legged? Almost any other situation, and sometimes even in that situation, you'd have a clipboard or other hard surface to clamp to. Saying lucidas aren't "portable" seems... odd. Lucidas are sensitive to light coming in from the side, and you've left the sides open. Seems like a better approach might be to take a regular gooseneck lucida and print just a stand for it that gets held down/stabilized by your legs, and a case to put all the parts of the lucida and a little stand in. If you have a table/flat surface, which you always should while drawing, you're good with the stock/standard mount.

[@peterxyz3541]

I see a 123 block holding up lights!!! 😂😂😂👍🏼👍🏼👍🏼👍🏼

[@trainingguru88]

Great secret out, that lucida camera is mother of chemical camera.

[@mattklapman]

this looks like a Bladerunner Voight-Kampff test machine. very cyberpunk

[@DaLEGOmaniac]

kirby sketch had attitude.

[@tony92506]

Awesome!!

[@blatantmisconception]

anyone have a source for a prism like the ones used in the original and new Camera lucidas? Goin mad looking for one!

[@SRG-Learn-Makers]

Tim's Vermeer!

[@oofunstuff]

Please do a kickstarter or indigogo campaign!

[@somedavehikes]

Thanks. observation #1, your beard is impressionistic. inquiry #1, where do I buy one? 🙌

[@PDXPiggy]

Secret outro!

[@Lurker1979]

Artists are always looking for new tools to up their game. I know. I be one.

[@melody3741]

Anyone else get weird ads for the camera lucida?

[@Jeff250lbc]

Well if nothing else I will at least listen to the tune in the background…

[@jeffmofo5013]

most commonly used as....a teleprompter.

[@xWonderxBreadx]

Design reminds me of The Voight-Kampf machine from Blade Runner, but like, the analog version for a hipster That being said, this is on my build list after i finish my Ball Vice. Thanks for designing cool stuff that happens to be extremely practical!

[@BudoReflex]

That beard.

[@FranciscoBurrola]

Lúcida

[@mikeyjohnson5888]

Tim's Vermerr anyone

[@ellenlynch7775]

*Promosm*

[@whosle]

I mean history is good and all, but why didn’t you make an instructional video first? Seems like a missed opportunity for ad revenue.