Kaleidoscope Glossary

Cell - Same as object case.

Dichroic - Glass treated with metal oxides, showing different colors depending on the angle of light falling on it. 

Dihedral - Two-mirror

First-surface mirror -  Same as front-surface mirror.  The most common type of mirror used to make kaleidoscopes.

Flamework - See Lampworking

Front-surface mirror -  Reflecting metal is on the front surface of the glass, rather than behind the rear surface as in a conventional mirror.

Fused glass - Colored pieces of glass joined together by heating in a kiln.

Lampworking -   A process using a specially designed torch or lamp to heat glass rods for sculpting, blowing, or beadmaking.

L.E.D. -   Light-emitting diode.

Lens - A piece of glass or other transparent substance with two opposing curved surfaces, or one plane surface and one curved surface.

Mandala - A circular design containing concentric geometric forms; the term for a kaleidoscope's interior image.

Millefiore -  Cross-section slices of multicolored glass in floral or other designs.

Object case -  Container at end of scope holding objects to be viewed.

Object chamber -  Same as object case.

Oil-suspension - Bits and pieces floating in an oil-filled object case.

Optically treated mirror -  Chemically coated to prevent discoloration.

Polarized light - Light that vibrates in one plane only (in contrast to ordinary light, which vibrates in all directions).

Puck - Same as object case.

Slumped glass - Flat glass placed over a mold and heated until it bends.

Teleidoscope - See Types of Scopes

Three-mirror system -  See Mirror Systems

Two-mirror system - See Mirror Systems