Sculpting light with paper for computational mobile phone microscopy

TL;DR

This paper demonstrates that simple, inexpensive paper patterned with a standard printer can be used to shape light for computational microscopy on mobile phones, offering a low-tech alternative to traditional optical devices.

Contribution

It introduces the novel use of patterned paper as a light sculpting element for mobile phone microscopy, reducing reliance on high-tech optical components.

Findings

Paper patterned with a commercial printer can effectively structure illumination.

The method enables refocusing and stereo microscopy on a mobile phone.

Paper-based light sculpting is a low-cost, accessible alternative for computational imaging.

Abstract

Many optical microscopy techniques rely on structured illumination by way of a projected image (eg. structured illumination microscopy) or a tailored angular distribution of light (eg. ptychography). Electro-optical equipment such as spatial light modulators and light emitting diode (LED) arrays are commonly used to sculpt light for these imaging schemes. However, these high-tech devices are not a requirement for light crafting. Patterned diffusely reflecting surfaces also imprint a spatio-angular structure onto reflected light. We demonstrate that paper patterned with a standard commercial printer can serve to structure the illumination light field for refocusing and stereo microscopy on a mobile phone microscope. Our results illustrate the utility of paper as a light sculpting element for low-tech computational imaging.