My Pixel Glasses Project
So, I got this idea stuck in my head the other day. Wanted some glasses that looked, you know, pixelated. Like something out of an old video game. Seemed like a fun little project to try out.
First thing, I had to figure out how to actually make them. Didn’t want anything too complicated. My initial thought was maybe just cutting tiny squares out of black plastic and sticking them onto some cheap frames I had.
Getting Started
I dug around my workshop and found some thin black acrylic sheets. Perfect. Also grabbed an old pair of sunglasses I didn’t care about anymore – the kind with lenses you can pop out easily. That would be my base.
Then, the tools. Needed something to cut the plastic precisely. A utility knife and a good ruler seemed like the way to go. Also grabbed some sandpaper for smoothing edges and strong glue.
Designing the Pixels
Okay, the design part. I didn’t use any fancy software. Just grabbed some graph paper and started sketching. I put the sunglasses frame down and traced the rough shape. Then, inside that outline, I drew blocky, pixel-like extensions around the edges. Tried a few versions until I got a look that felt right – chunky, but still recognizable as glasses.
Making the Frame Fronts
This was the fiddly bit. I transferred my paper design onto the acrylic sheet. Used the ruler and knife to carefully score the lines. Had to press quite hard and go over the lines a few times. Then, carefully, I snapped the pieces out. It wasn’t super clean, lots of rough edges.
- Scoring the plastic took patience.
- Snapping sometimes left jagged bits.
- Made two fronts, one for each side, mirrored.
Spent a fair bit of time sanding down all the edges. Wanted them smooth so they wouldn’t look messy or feel sharp. Got dust everywhere, of course.
Putting It Together
Next, I popped the original lenses out of the old sunglasses frames. Carefully, I applied glue to the front of the old frames where the new pixelated bits would sit. Lined up the acrylic pixel shapes I cut out and pressed them firmly onto the frames. Had to hold them steady for a while until the glue started to set.
One side didn’t stick perfectly the first time, lifted a bit at the corner. Had to add a bit more glue and clamp it gently overnight using some small clips.
The Result
Woke up the next day, removed the clips. They held! Popped the lenses back into the frames (well, behind the new pixel front). And there they were. My own pixel glasses frames.
They look pretty cool, definitely unique. A bit bulky, maybe not for everyday wear, but fun for messing around. It was a simple enough process, mostly just cutting and gluing. Pretty pleased with how they turned out, considering it was just an afternoon’s work with basic stuff I had on hand.