1Invented in the early 19th century by a Scottish scientist studying light,
2the kaleidoscope can still compete when it comes to producing stunning visual effects.
3Peer inside and witness dazzling geometric images produced as mirrors multiply objects.
4The images are spectacular and fleeting,
5each one lasting just seconds before the next appears.
6Many years after its invention, the kaleidoscope is still worth looking into.
7To make a kaleidoscope, this craftsman starts with the mirror sheet that has adhesive backing.
8He scores it to create long and narrow rectangles and gently breaks it along the scored lines.
9The mirror's reflective coating is on the front instead of the underside.
10A mirror like this produces sharper reflections than a regular household mirror.
11He slices the adhesive backing to separate the mirrored rectangles.
12He snaps off the scored ends, creating perfectly linear edges.
13Next, he peels backing from a strip of blackout felt paper
14and wraps it around a glass rectangle.
15This felt wrapped glass will be the third wall of the two mirror system,
16one with a triangular configuration.
17He removes the adhesive film from the mirrors,
18then builds the triangles with the mirror's reflective surfaces facing inward towards the felt-wrapped rectangle.
19This arrangement will reflect objects to create a circular image known as a mandala.
20He aims the mirrors system at a light box with a two line drawing in it.
21One line is curved and the other is straight.
22Peering into it, he adjusts the alignment of the mirrors until the lines morph into a five point star.
23This means the corners of the mirror triangle are precisely 36 degrees
24and it is multiplying images correctly.
25He hot glues the mirrors to the opaque part
26and applies metal tape to the top seam to complete the kaleidoscope mirror system.
27Over in the art department, the artist assembles decorative objects against a black background and an acrylic cell.
28With every placement, she checks the effect through the triangular mirror system.
29She glues dichroic glass onto the backdrop.
30It's a kind of glass that's been treated with metal oxides and it appears to have different hues.
31Other objects include jewelry parts, colored wire, buttons, and even paper clips.
32She follows no specific design but works free style.
33While she glues some down, she leaves others loose to simply tumble around.
34A sprinkle of tiny beads completes the grouping.
35As the mirror system multiplies these objects, they will create the mandalas.
36These are photographs of actual mandalas,
37and they'll be used to decorate the outside of the kaleidoscope.
38The other member of the team now applies an acrylic adhesive to the rim of the cell and presses a clear lid onto it.
39The lid fuses to the cell body,
40but it's not yet completely sealed.
41There's a tiny hole in the side of the cell through which he now dispenses heavy mineral oil.
42Submerged in mineral oil, the objects will float and move through the cell for greater effect.
43He plugs the hole with an acrylic adhesive and screw.
44He is now ready to assemble all the parts of the kaleidoscope.
45He slides the mirror system into a heavy cardboard tube decorated by the mandala photos.
46He cushions the mirror system with foam, and this stabilizes it.
47He installs a metal eyepiece and glass lands on one end of the kaleidoscope too.
48He slides the object cell into a protective metal cage that rotates.
49He places a transparent glass disk over the cell.
50He applies adhesive to the cage and inserts the assembly into the other end of the kaleidoscope tube.
51This kaleidoscope is now ready for a viewing.
52Light passes through the object cell, illuminating the trinkets.
53Reflections bounce off the mirrors to create one spectacular illusion after another.
54Two centuries after its invention, the view through the kaleidoscope still fascinates.