---
key: mechanic/phone-camera--family-physical-optics
type: mechanic
id: phone-camera--family-physical-optics
lang: en
title: Physical manipulation of the image
summary: >-
A mirror or filter changes the light path into the lens. Osmo’s red reflector
directs the camera toward the table, using compatible base hardware and
pieces.
updatedAt: '2026-10-22'
status: active
url: >-
https://gamemechanics.pro/en/knowledge/mechanic/phone-camera--family-physical-optics/
jsonUrl: >-
https://gamemechanics.pro/api/v1/knowledge/en/mechanic/phone-camera--family-physical-optics.json
markdownUrl: >-
https://gamemechanics.pro/content/knowledge/en/mechanic/phone-camera--family-physical-optics.md
aliases: []
tags:
- Phone camera interactions
- Mechanics catalog
sourceIds:
- source-c121374ae20b1406
- source-e1f89246cee53473
sources:
- id: source-c121374ae20b1406
title: 'Apple AVFoundation: Camera Capture and Control'
url: 'https://developer.apple.com/documentation/avfoundation/capture-setup'
verifiedAt: null
- id: source-e1f89246cee53473
title: Osmo Tangram
url: 'https://apps.apple.com/us/app/osmo-tangram/id1539533255?uo=4'
verifiedAt: null
relations: []
placements:
- catalogId: phone-camera
id: family-physical-optics
title: Phone camera interactions
url: >-
https://gamemechanics.pro/en/mechanics/phone-camera/#family-physical-optics
categoryIds:
- section-1
supersededBy: []
attributes:
preview:
updatedAt: '2026-10-22'
title: Physical manipulation of the image
description: >-
A mirror or filter changes the light path into the lens. Osmo’s red
reflector directs the camera toward the table, using compatible base
hardware and pieces.
image:
src: images/mechanics/camera-osmo-tangram-2.webp
width: 720
height: 1280
crop:
x: 0
'y': 185
width: 720
height: 1095
game: Osmo Tangram
sourceUrl: 'https://apps.apple.com/us/app/osmo-tangram/id1539533255?uo=4'
originalUrl: >-
https://is1-ssl.mzstatic.com/image/thumb/PurpleSource221/v4/bc/fc/32/bcfc32de-742d-cf03-637c-3cf428664589/16cb7312-89cf-44a2-98f5-aac575a10b85_Tangram_1242_x_2208_3.png/720x1560bb.jpg
credit: Tangible Play
rights: >-
© Tangible Play. Publisher-distributed App Store screenshot; all rights
reserved. Excluded from MIT and CC BY 4.0.
caption: 'Osmo Tangram: a camera reflector and physical pieces on the table'
alt: 'Osmo Tangram: a camera reflector and physical pieces on the table'
markers:
- x: 50
'y': 22
label: The red reflector redirects the camera’s view onto the table
tips:
- Define camera and optical placement before testing recognition.
examples:
- title: Osmo Tangram
url: 'https://apps.apple.com/us/app/osmo-tangram/id1539533255?uo=4'
endsAt: null
provenance: >-
Original editorial design catalog consolidated from project discussions on
2026-10-20. Complete discussion item lists and contextual limitations are
preserved; linked primary sources support specific techniques, not the entire
classification. English translation was prepared with machine assistance and
editorial review.
license: CC-BY-4.0
codeLicense: MIT
attribution: gamemechanics.pro contributors
catalogKey: catalog/phone-camera
---
# Physical manipulation of the image
id: phone-camera--family-physical-optics
type: mechanic
key: mechanic/phone-camera--family-physical-optics
lang: en
status: active
url: https://gamemechanics.pro/en/knowledge/mechanic/phone-camera--family-physical-optics/
A mirror or filter changes the light path into the lens. Osmo’s red reflector directs the camera toward the table, using compatible base hardware and pieces.
## At a glance
[Osmo Tangram](https://apps.apple.com/us/app/osmo-tangram/id1539533255?uo=4) · © Tangible Play. Publisher-distributed App Store screenshot; all rights reserved. Excluded from MIT and CC BY 4.0.
1. The red reflector redirects the camera’s view onto the table
- Define camera and optical placement before testing recognition.
- [Osmo Tangram](https://apps.apple.com/us/app/osmo-tangram/id1539533255?uo=4)
## How it works
The player does not change the scene in the game, but the path of light to the lens. Blacking out does not prove finger touching. For mirrors, filters and refraction, prepared scenes with clear conditions are more convenient.
## Variants
### Variants and applications
- Close the lens. Action: Completely block the image to hide, switch the world or pause. Application: Horror, hide and seek, tactile command. Technologies: Image analysis.
- Partially block the frame. Action: Open and close image areas; the game takes into account the share or position of the overlap. Application: Curtain, picture development, visual controller. Technologies: Image analysis.
- The rhythm of the ceilings. Action: Alternate closed and open states according to a temporary pattern. Application: Code lock, rhythm game, visual alphabet. Technologies: Image analysis.
- Color filter. Action: Look through a safe transparent color film and change the available color channel. Application: Optical experiments, prepared ciphers, changing the world mode. Technologies: Image analysis; Prepared props.
- Mirror view. Action: Look at the target through the mirror and control the reflected image. Application: Riddles with reflections, periscope, unusual angle. Technologies: Image analysis; Prepared props.
- Refractive medium. Action: Look through a transparent object and use image deformation. Application: Optical puzzles, artistic effects, virtual lens. Technologies: Image analysis; Prepared props.
- Physical aperture. Action: Look through a hole or mask and combine visible fragments. Application: Spyglass, searching for a secret, image restoration. Technologies: Image analysis; Prepared props.
- Screen recursion. Action: Point the camera at the screen with its own image and use a repeating pattern. Application: Video art, recursive labyrinths, visual synthesizer. Technologies: Image analysis; Prepared props.
## Context and limits
Games, learning, creativity and interactive applications. Author's systematization of game rules based on proven technical capabilities. Examples are application ideas and not statements of released products.
## Connected materials
## Sources and provenance
Original editorial design catalog consolidated from project discussions on 2026-10-20. Complete discussion item lists and contextual limitations are preserved; linked primary sources support specific techniques, not the entire classification. English translation was prepared with machine assistance and editorial review.
- [Apple AVFoundation: Camera Capture and Control](https://developer.apple.com/documentation/avfoundation/capture-setup) (id: source-c121374ae20b1406)
- [Osmo Tangram](https://apps.apple.com/us/app/osmo-tangram/id1539533255?uo=4) (id: source-e1f89246cee53473)
CC-BY-4.0 · gamemechanics.pro contributors