This article was taken from the October 2014 issue of WIRED magazine. Be the first to read WIRED's articles in print before they're posted online, and get your hands on loads of additional content by subscribing online.
Two reflective surfaces facing each other will copy an image between them seemingly for ever. Steve Sutton, president of the Freeside Atlanta Makerspace, talks us through the process.
1. Gather your materials
You'll need two pieces of "two-way" mirrored acrylic or a "traditional" mirror, LED (or other) lights with a power supply, a 4 x 2 piece of wood about five times the length of your frame, nails and a black material or paint.
2. Prepare the mirrors
Coating glass can be difficult. If you can get mirrored acrylic, it has the advantage of being ready-made, saving some trouble. "Tint is really hard to apply to mirrors for a beginner," Sutton confirms. You have been warned.
3. Space and frame the mirrors
You need a frame capable of spacing the two pieces of glass slightly apart. Make channels in the 4 x 2 with a saw. Slit the wood, then cut the pieces to fit. Nail together three peices and leave the other side open for the mirrors.
4. Light it up
For this effect to work properly, the middle needs to be lit up.
Black out the inside of the frame between the mirrors with paint or tape. Attach the lights inside the frame, between where the mirrors go, then slide the mirrors in.
5. Finish up
Attach the fourth side of the frame. Sutton uses a hinge and lock, but nails will work if you are confident in your work. Drill a hole for your power supply to run through. Turn it on, hang
it on the wall and enjoy your "infinite" creation.
This article was originally published by WIRED UK
