In this section of the Project LITE web site, we have posted a number of surface patterns for spinning tops. They were designed to
fit onto CDs and DVDs. With a suitable spindle running through the center of the CD, the tops can be spun around their central axes.
Depending on the rotation speed and lighting, these patterns give rise to a variety of visual effects.
The “Benham” tops (numbers 1 – 4) for example, elicit the percept of color in most viewers. The black and white ones give rise to
the appearance of desaturated red, green and blue. When spun in the same direction, the mirror symmetric Benham tops will produce the
colors in the opposite order – from center to circumference of the tops. The colored Benham top versions give rise to the appearance of
colors (so called “subjective colors”) even though those tops aren’t printed in the observed colors. The next two tops (numbers 5 and 6)
mix to produce other colors that do not arise from the ideas of color mixing in an obvious way. Tops 7 and 8, when spun rapidly, produce
the appearance of rings that are not actually present. These illusory features are called “Mach bands”. Patterns 9 and 10 are for
stroboscopic discs. Spun rapidly under a flickering light source – such as an old-fashioned fluorescent light - they will give rise to
the appearance of static patterns. The final two patterns are based on designs first used by Isaac Newton and James Clerk Maxwell. These
“color mixing” discs are intended to re-create the appearance of white when spun rapidly, though these will produce only grey.
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1. Benham Disc (White) |
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2. Benham Disc (Yellow) |
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| Original | Original | ||||
| Reversed | Reversed | ||||
| 8.5"x11" Sheet | 8.5"x11" Sheet | ||||
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3. Benham Disc (Blue) |
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4. Benham Disc (Red) |
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| Original | Original | ||||
| Reversed | Reversed | ||||
| 8.5"x11" Sheet | 8.5"x11" Sheet | ||||
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5. Color Contrast (Red) |
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6. Color Contrast (Green) |
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| Original | Original | ||||
| 8.5"x11" Sheet | 8.5"x11" Sheet | ||||
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7. Mach Band 1 |
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8. Mach Band 2 |
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| Original | Original | ||||
| 8.5"x11" Sheet | 8.5"x11" Sheet | ||||
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9. Stroboscopic Disc 1 |
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10. Stroboscopic Disc 2 |
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| Original | Original | ||||
| 8.5"x11" Sheet | 8.5"x11" Sheet | ||||
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11. Newton-Maxwell Disc 1 |
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12. Newton-Maxwell Disc 2 |
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| Original | Original | ||||
| 8.5"x11" Sheet | 8.5"x11" Sheet | ||||
A note about making the tops. We have included multiple versions of the patterns. Use the PDF
download button for printing patterns onto plane paper. On the Benham patterns, the “reversed” button will
allow for simultaneous printing of the two the mirror symmetric versions onto a single sheet of paper. The single
sheet patterns are for printing onto pre-glued CD labels, such as those made by Avery. The JPG versions are for use
with Epson printers, which can print the patterns directly onto special white surfaced CDs. For best results, print
the patterns at the best quality. (To make a CD top spindle, find the appropriate plumbing washer at a hardware
store and put a pencil, screw or other shaft through the washer.)
