Chroma Mixer - A Tool to Explore Color Mixing

The Chroma Mixer is an innovative educational tool designed to help users understand color mixing principles. It consists of two color wheels, each featuring 8 colors, that can be rotated to overlap different hues. By shining a light from a phone through the wheels, users can observe the resulting colors when two hues combine, demonstrating the principles of optical mixing.

This device is ideal for learning how colors interact and mix within the visual field. Unlike traditional pigment mixing (which often results in duller tones due to the blending of pigments), optical color mixing relies on how our eyes and brain perceive overlapping colors. This is similar to how pixels on a screen blend to create new hues. When two colors are placed next to each other or layered in a specific way, our visual system perceives a blended color due to optical fusion.

Why It’s Educational:

The Chroma Mixer provides a hands-on experience with optical color blending, allowing learners to see how different colors combine under varying light conditions. This is essential for understanding concepts in art, design, and visual perception. Optical color mixing maintains the vibrancy of colors by utilizing light and perception, much like how pointillist painters create hues by placing dots of color close to each other, which then blend at a distance.

Understanding these concepts can benefit designers, artists, and students who want to deepen their knowledge of color theory and how colors can be manipulated in digital and physical mediums.

Printable Files:

• Two Color Wheels: Each with 8 slides housing.

• Knob and Spacer: Allow rotation and spacing of the wheels.

• 9 Types of Colored Slides: Each slide has different thicknesses to demonstrate how light intensity affects color mixing.

Printing Instructions:

• Layer Height: 0.1 - 0.2 mm

• Infill: 15-30% (100% for the colored slides)

• Perimeters: 2

• Supports: Not required

• Material: PETG for the Wheels system, PLA or PETG for Colored Slides (Avoid using matte filament, as it can significantly reduce light transmission)

Assembly Instructions:

1. Place the spacer into the central column of the base wheel.

2. Place the wheel with the ring on top of the spacer.

3. Insert the knob through the top wheel, ensuring it aligns with the notches.

4. Insert the colored slides into both wheels. If you encounter difficulties, you can place the slides before assembling the wheels, or simply push the knob out from the bottom to separate the wheels for easier insertion.

5. Rotate the wheels to experiment with different color combinations.

This device is not just a tool but a gateway to understanding how we perceive color. Download it today to explore the fascinating world of optical color mixing!

Did You Know?

The concept of color mixing through light has historical roots dating back to early scientific studies on color. In the 17th century, Isaac Newton was a pioneer in understanding how white light could be split into a spectrum of colors using a prism. He demonstrated that colors are properties of light, which laid the foundation for additive color theory, where primary light colors (red, green, blue) mix to create a wide range of perceivable colors.

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Thank you to PCBWay for reaching out and sponsoring this project:

Special thanks to PCBWay (www.pcbway.com), experts in PCB prototyping, CNC machining, and 3D printing, for helping us bring more exciting projects to life. Their support makes it easier for us to share innovative designs with the community!

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