An anamorphic image is one that appears normal only when seen from some particular perspective or when viewed through something such as a mirror.

This rainbow is the shape you would expect it to be until you place it at a precise distance from a cylindrical mirror. It is then reflected as a striped rectangle.

This pattern was produced for a ‘mini pillar’ for the Mirror Pillar project which will be touring UK in 2018/19 and eventually resting at MATHSWORLDUK. The pillar for the project is 2 metres high and weighs 100 kg.

The rainbow uses very small amounts of each of the seven colours, with an optional white edging. It is fun to make the rainbow and see it reflected in a mirrored toilet roll tube but you might also be able to use the pattern, or its grid, for other purposes.