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Craft a Custom Shadow Lamp with Digital Fabrication

  • Build a Custom Shadow Lamp with 3D Printing and Laser Cutting

  • Build a Custom Shadow Lamp with 3D Printing and Laser Cutting

  • Build a Custom Shadow Lamp with 3D Printing and Laser Cutting

  • Build a Custom Shadow Lamp with 3D Printing and Laser Cutting

About the Course

Learn Laser Cutting & 3D Printing by Building a Custom Shadow Lamp

In this 6-part Maker Series, you’ll design and build a fully custom shadow projection lamp from concept to completion –  combining laser cutting, 3D printing, and digital design into one cohesive project. Learn Adobe Illustrator workflows, laser cut precise components, and 3D print a lithophane (a special image that glows when backlit) from your favorite photo. By the end, you’ll walk away with a fully functional, personalized shadow projection lamp, a portfolio-ready project, the ability to integrate 2D + 3D fabrication workflows, and the confidence to design your next custom product or art piece. All lamp materials are included. Some outside-class independent work is expected.

What You’ll Learn:

  • Design precision-cut lamp components in Adobe Illustrator
  • Laser cutting techniques with acrylic and plywood
  • 3D primitives with 2D Materials and create a custom lithophane from your own photo
  • 3D print functional and decorative elements
  • Prototype, refine, and professionally finish your piece
  • Digital fabrication workflow from concept to completion

Classes included:

  • Thursday, March 26th, 4:30 pm – 7:30 pm: Intro to Illustrator
  • Thursday, April 2nd, 4:30 pm – 7:30 pm: Intro to Lasercutting: Acrylic vs. Plywood
  • Thursday, April 9th, 4:30 pm – 7:30 pm: 3D primitives with 2D materials
  • Thursday, April 16th, 4:30 pm – 7:30 pm: Intro to 3D Printing
  • Thursday, April 30th, 4:30 pm – 7:30 pm: Working Day
  • Thursday, May 7th, 4:30 pm – 6:00 pm: Finishing Touches and Sharing!

NextFab’s Maker Series is a two-month program that gives you up to 5 classes, unlimited shop access, and a cohort to learn alongside. 

Q. What is included in the Maker Series package?

A. Registration in a Maker Series grants you:

  • The scheduled classes and training to complete the selected project (over $600 of class instruction)
  • 2 months of active NextFab Membership, starting on the first class date (over $298 value)
  • Special member pricing to continue membership beyond the 2 months: $129/month (over 10% discount from standard membership)
  • A cohort of peers, new skills and confidence gained, and a sense of community within the Philadelphia creative ecosystem (priceless value!)

Q: If I am a previous member of NextFab, can I join the Maker Series?

A: Absolutely! If you are a previous member and looking to complete the class project or get a major refresh of skills you haven’t used for a while, the Maker Series is a perfect way to get your feet wet again. To receive the discounted pricing for members, please register through our Q-Reserve system available on our Member Portal.

Q: I have a schedule conflict with one of the class dates. Can I make it up?

A: While we understand things can occasionally come up, please do your best to stick to the scheduled dates. Participants in the Maker Series will be charged a rate of $60 per hour for any required make-up sessions. Your instructor will work with you to arrange a make-up session based on their availability. To ensure you remain on track with the program’s objectives, please provide as much advance notice as possible if a make-up session is needed.

Q: Should I join the Maker Series or join as a regular member and take classes?

A: This depends on your goals. If you are feeling inspired and want to learn new skills but don’t have a particular project in mind, the Maker Series is perfectly suited to get your feet wet and help you find your way in the craft.

If you have a particular project in mind and want to learn all the skills needed and complete your specific project, our membership plus a credit package ($249/mo) is your golden ticket. Our regular membership ($149/month) plus our education credit package ($100/month) comes with $200 worth of class credits monthly, so you can get started taking the classes you need on your schedule. You can even book Private Training sessions with those credits if you need hands-on help completing your project.

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Request a Class

Let us know your prefered dates and times, and we’ll work with you to put something on the calendar. Please note we need at least 48 hours notice to schedule classes.