--- key: mechanic/phone-flashlight--family-optics type: mechanic id: phone-flashlight--family-optics lang: en title: 'Reflection, transmission and materials' summary: >- Materials change LED reflections. WildLight estimates shape and reflectance from multiple images; it is a research method, not a material sensor. updatedAt: '2026-10-22' status: active url: >- https://gamemechanics.pro/en/knowledge/mechanic/phone-flashlight--family-optics/ jsonUrl: >- https://gamemechanics.pro/api/v1/knowledge/en/mechanic/phone-flashlight--family-optics.json markdownUrl: >- https://gamemechanics.pro/content/knowledge/en/mechanic/phone-flashlight--family-optics.md aliases: [] tags: - Phone flashlight interactions - Mechanics catalog sourceIds: - source-486438ca6bfacdc6 sources: - id: source-486438ca6bfacdc6 title: WildLight (research prototype) url: 'https://junxuan-li.github.io/wildlight-website/' verifiedAt: null relations: [] placements: - catalogId: phone-flashlight id: family-optics title: Phone flashlight interactions url: 'https://gamemechanics.pro/en/mechanics/phone-flashlight/#family-optics' categoryIds: - section-1 supersededBy: [] attributes: preview: updatedAt: '2026-10-22' title: 'Reflection, transmission and materials' description: >- Materials change LED reflections. WildLight estimates shape and reflectance from multiple images; it is a research method, not a material sensor. image: src: images/mechanics/flash-wildlight.webp width: 1440 height: 387 crop: x: 285 'y': 0 width: 283 height: 132 game: WildLight (research prototype) sourceUrl: 'https://junxuan-li.github.io/wildlight-website/' originalUrl: 'https://junxuan-li.github.io/wildlight-website/static/images/teaser.jpg' credit: 'Ziang Cheng, Junxuan Li, Hongdong Li' rights: >- © Ziang Cheng, Junxuan Li, Hongdong Li. Author-distributed research figure; respective rights retained. Excluded from portal MIT and CC BY 4.0. caption: 'WildLight: changed reflections when a physical object is illuminated' alt: 'WildLight: changed reflections when a physical object is illuminated' markers: - x: 28 'y': 24 label: Illumination changes visible brightness and surface reflections tips: - Control the setup and test reflections on real materials. examples: - title: WildLight (research prototype) url: 'https://junxuan-li.github.io/wildlight-website/' 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-flashlight --- # Reflection, transmission and materials id: phone-flashlight--family-optics type: mechanic key: mechanic/phone-flashlight--family-optics lang: en status: active url: https://gamemechanics.pro/en/knowledge/mechanic/phone-flashlight--family-optics/ Materials change LED reflections. WildLight estimates shape and reflectance from multiple images; it is a research method, not a material sensor. ## At a glance ![WildLight: changed reflections when a physical object is illuminated](https://gamemechanics.pro/images/mechanics/flash-wildlight.webp) [WildLight (research prototype)](https://junxuan-li.github.io/wildlight-website/) · © Ziang Cheng, Junxuan Li, Hongdong Li. Author-distributed research figure; respective rights retained. Excluded from portal MIT and CC BY 4.0. 1. Illumination changes visible brightness and surface reflections - Control the setup and test reflections on real materials. - [WildLight (research prototype)](https://junxuan-li.github.io/wildlight-website/) ## How it works The flashlight works with the prepared physical scene. ## Variants ### Variants and applications - Reflected path. Action: Redirect the light with a mirror to a specified area. Application: Mirror maze, transmitting a signal behind an obstacle. Requirements: Rear LED and control from the application; Prepared props or external sensor. Conditions: LED beam is wide; short distances, screens and visibility checks are needed. - Illumination with sliding light. Action: Direct the light almost along the surface. Application: See relief, embossing, scratches or paper texture. Requirements: Rear LED and control from the application; Prepared props or external sensor. Conditions: This is a visual inspection, not a reliable forensic procedure. - Translucent paper. Action: Shine through a thin sheet or multilayer card. Application: Find a hidden mark, read a pre-prepared puzzle. Requirements: Rear LED and control from the application; Prepared props or external sensor. Conditions: Works only with sufficient light transmission and pattern contrast. - Combining transparent layers. Action: Fold translucent parts and highlight the result. Application: Assemble a card, develop the code from several films. Requirements: Rear LED and control from the application; Prepared props or external sensor. Conditions: Materials and order of layers are checked on a real layout. - Search for a reflective mark. Action: Look for pre-placed reflective elements. Application: Indoor treasure hunt, labeled tabletop map. Requirements: Rear LED and app control; Prepared props or external sensor; Camera and proprietary image analysis. Conditions: Result depends on angle and material; a camera near the LED is often more useful than a side view. - Glare puzzle. Action: Tilt a glossy object until the glare reveals or hides the detail. Application: Secret on a card, task on the viewing angle. Requirements: Rear LED and control from the application; Prepared props or external sensor. Conditions: You cannot promise the same glare for any surface. - Physical color filter. Action: Pass white light through the prepared color material. Application: Selecting a channel on a printed puzzle, changing the atmosphere of a mini-scene. Requirements: Rear LED and control from the application; Prepared props or external sensor. Conditions: You need proven paints and filters; The LED cannot be programmed to have an arbitrary color. - Stencil drawing. Action: Highlight a cut out outline on a nearby surface. Application: Faction sign, mask for shadow task, home theater. Requirements: Rear LED and app control; Prepared props or external sensor. Conditions: Sharp, complex projection will require suitable optics; regular LED not a projector. - An object that glows after being illuminated. Action: Light a suitable photoluminescent prop, then turn it off. Application: Leave a temporary hint, collect a route from markers. Requirements: Rear LED and control from the application; Prepared props or external sensor. Conditions: Efficiency depends on material, spectrum and time; check before choosing mechanics. - Scattering and refraction. Action: Change the pattern of light with a diffuser, prism or other optical part. Application: Caustic pattern, experiment with materials, artistic puzzle. Requirements: Rear LED and control from the application; Prepared props or external sensor. Conditions: The form of the effect depends on the props; use a dry, stable installation. ## Context and limits Author's working classification for designing games and interactions. Options can overlap and combine; the list is not a generally accepted standard or proven exhaustive list. Application examples are conditional unless a specific verifiable observation is indicated nearby. Sources support individual techniques and technical limitations. ## 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. - [WildLight (research prototype)](https://junxuan-li.github.io/wildlight-website/) (id: source-486438ca6bfacdc6) CC-BY-4.0 · gamemechanics.pro contributors