Hacker News Reader

Really cool looking maps! Most printed large format things I see every day definitely looks worse than e.g 5K iMac screens when you get closer than a couple of feet from it. Would be cool to see something like this IRL

I wonder if it’s possible to use something like photolithography to create incredibly high dpi “3D prints” for elevation maps like this? Maybe some parts would look flat, but you would be able to discern elevation based on touch?

View on HN

Thanks! Yea, I think we are as close as wall art can get to a high quality screen - we optimize for contrast on the print. And while unlike a screen you need to provide light for a print, the effect of the light on the print is pretty engaging. It changes as you move around it. (It is not, please nobody buy one thinking they are!)

If you're ever looking to print some photos to hang on your wall, it's definitely worth considering metallic paper + face mounted acrylic glass. It has unrivaled "pop" among print options.

I don't know much about photolithography, but a quick search is intriguing. I'll have to put it on my to-learn-about list.

Reply on news.ycombinator.com