This research aims to characterize how light passes through knitted fabrics to project dynamic patterns onto surfaces, inspired by the adaptive skin of cephalopods. By studying how fabric stretching alters light transmission, this project seeks to lay the groundwork for smart, flexible shading materials. Such responsive materials could replace energy-heavy mechanical blinds or help recreate precise lighting conditions for agricultural permaculture and environmental restoration.

To collect precise experimental data, I designed a specialized test setup using motorized mechanisms to stretch knitted fabrics under a controlled light source representing the sun. Using cameras and optical sensors, I measured changes in light intensity and analyzed the resulting visual motifs.

The results demonstrated that the direction in which the fabric is pulled has the greatest influence on both the overall light passing through and the geometry of the projected shadow motifs. Additionally, the analysis revealed that certain lighting conditions, such as large areas of dim light, cannot be produced using simple stretching alone.

The next steps for this project involve building a simulation model and expanding testing to various knitting patterns. Ultimately, this work will create a dual mapping system that can predict the exact fabric, pattern, and stretch required to achieve any desired shading pattern.