UVScale Tutorial

UV Scale is a set of flexible resin printed scales that will visually change color under UV light. The scales are to be applied on the skin using a safe skin adhesive in a pattern which emulates a snake's skin as it basks in the sunlight. The pattern of snake skin is an irregular sort of tessellation that easily and naturally warps with the unusual geometry of the human body. 

Tools and Materials

  • Elastic 50A Formlabs resin tank

  • Photochromic pigment

  • UV Resin soft type

  • DUO eyelash glue

Construction Steps

Prepare the resin print

  1. Convert .svg file of scale 2D design to mesh in Blender

  2. Extrude the plane to desired thickness

  3. Export as .stl file

  4. Open the .stl in PreForm and print it on Formlabs From 3 printer in elastic 50A resin

Apply photochromic pigments

  1. Mix 1 gram of purple photochromic pigment into 5 grams of UV resin soft type

  2. Apply the mixture on the edges of each scale piece with a paintbrush

  3. Curing under a UV lamp for 2 minutes

Skin application

  1. Apply DUO eyelash glue onto the bottom of each piece, wait for it to turn tacky and apply them onto skin.