3D printing enabled by light and enabling the manipulation of light: feature issue introduction

Abstract

This feature issue aims at highlighting the two-way connection between optics and photonics and 3D printing. One direction concerns novel photoresist materials and technical advances in optics-based 3D additive manufacturing. The other direction uses such advanced optical 3D printing technologies for the realization of novel micro-optical components, micro-optical systems, 3D artificial materials called metamaterials, micro-robots, and more. All of these would be difficult if not impossible to manufacture otherwise.