We have all heard the term thermochromic before—who hasn’t owned one of those mugs that change colour when you pour tea into them? While these materials have been used in products like beverage labels, their application has traditionally been limited to single-colour transformations.
In a groundbreaking fusion of traditional artistry and modern technology, researchers at MIT's Computer Science and Artificial Intelligence Laboratory (CSAIL) have unveiled Thermochromorph, a novel printmaking technique that enables images to change when exposed to heat.
Led by MIT Professor Stefanie Mueller and first author Ticha Melody Sethapakdi, the team sought to expand the capabilities of thermochromic materials, opening up new possibilities for dynamic and interactive designs.
The Thermochromorph process integrates digital and analogue techniques, combining CMYK imaging and laser cutting with manual printmaking using thermochromic inks. The fabrication involves several steps.
To explore the artistic potential of this new discovery, the researchers collaborated with visual artists, who envisioned applications such as colour-changing postcards that convey sequential narratives.
Beyond artistic endeavours, Thermochromorph offers practical benefits. For instance, it could be used to create cups that signal when a beverage is too hot or packaging that indicates whether perishable goods have been stored at safe temperatures.
Figure 1: Thermochormorph is a novel workflow for producing visually dynamic relief printed images.
The discovery is exciting but still requires refinement, with image resolution and print quality being two notable limitations. Future iterations aim to address these challenges by exploring different image-processing techniques to enhance visual outcomes.
There is no doubt that this represents a significant advancement in the field of printmaking, merging time-honoured techniques with cutting-edge materials science to create dynamic, responsive imagery. Its potential applications range from enriching artistic practices to enhancing consumer product safety and interactivity.
Before heating
After heating
Sethapakdi, T.M., Mueller, S. and Zhao, S. (2024) ‘Thermochromorph: Dynamic relief printing with thermochromic inks’, Proceedings of the 2024 CHI Conference on Human Factors in Computing Systems. Association for Computing Machinery (ACM). Available at: https://doi.org/10.1145/3680530.3695445 (Accessed: 21 February 2025)
