Zig-Zag

Every other panel in this series keeps its shape inside a single cell. Zig-Zag was the first time I let a pattern run across cells. Off, the front is a flat white square. On, a repeating grid of alternating L shapes punches through, and because each L spans several cells the shapes read as one continuous figure across the whole face instead of 256 little pictures.

Behind the face, a black internal grid divides the board into 10 mm cells so each light stays isolated even where the pattern crosses over. I printed it face down, white diffusion layer first, black walls built directly behind it, with a small controller running WLED for the animation. The whole effect lives or dies on the thickness of that white layer. Too thin and you can see the plastic shapes resting behind it when the piece is off. Too thick and the LEDs cannot push through. One millimeter was the exact limit.