Hard-light

“	For hard-light architechs...We gather what we sense and bring it into being. Most of us use very precise movements. Exact.	„
	~ Symmetra

Lifeweaver experimenting with hard-light

Hard-light (also spelt hard light) is a type of technology available in a post-Omnic Crisis world, considered to be a "radical" technology. It is the process of creating physical objects from a light source.

Background

Hard-light uses projectors, which increases the interactivity of photons and binds them together. Carbon molecules are drawn in, which collide with the photonic structures. The carbon bonds together, creating real, lasting, physical objects made from carbon fiber.

History

Vishwakarma Bhatt develops hard-light

Hard-light was developed by Vishwakarma Bhatt, who sought to find a way to manifest matter through the use of hard-light technology. After years of limited success, many in Bhatt's field had run out of funding and pivoted to other fields. Still, Bhatt persisted. A turning point was achieved via prototype photon projectors, which created incredibly powerful, destructive crystalline structures. Though not quite what Bhatt had intended, it had a hidden benefit, in that these structures could be tuned to attract carbon molecules.

Early trials were hopeful, though harnessing the technology outside the lab progressed slower than many on the funding side would have preferred. Still, the results were promising, and Bhatt sold the carbon-capture aspect to the public, given that the world had an abundence of CO2 in the atmosphere due to centuries of burning fossil fuels. In truth, Bhatt had admitted this early in the project, that his startup would have to build many permanent structures to make any sort of dent in CO2 emissions that came from construction. However, this moment stuck in people's minds. As the Zurich Archive later commented, "the public is often swayed more by the sound bite than the full scientific picture."

Additional grants were secured by the United Nations Global Recovery Program, which led to Bhatt's startup turning into the Vishkar Corporation. Over the years, Bhatt inspired his team to reach greater and greater heights, imagining a future where hard-light would eliminate housing shortages, transportation issues, even material inequalities. According to those close to him, Bhatt was firm in the belief that hard-light should be accessible to all, and was resistant to the idea of profiting from his designs. Bhatt hoped to share the technology with the world before Vishkar implemented more restrictions on the technology. Bhatt met his end in an unfortunate car accident one year before Vishkar's first public offering.

Symmetra 'weaving' hard-light

Hard-light has been heavily used by Viskar, who constructed the city of Utopaea out of hard-light, and instructs students in the process of light weaving in the Architech Academy. People who 'weave' hard-light are referred to as "architechs." When weaving hard-light, most use very precise movements.

Lúcio's skates project hard-light "blades," allowing for quick movement on any surface. Hard-light can also be used for incarceration (a hard-light wall for a cell), and in computing (Sombra's arm terminal uses hard-light technology).

Trivia

A hard-light barrier

• In the real world, "hard light" is unrelated to physically solid light, but instead refers to normal light which casts a crisp shadow (as opposed to soft light, which casts blurry shadows). In cinematography, hard light is often used when an object or individual is intended to appear to the viewer as morally dubious, harsh, and severe. The naming of "hard-light" technology could be related to the Vishkar Corporation's morally dubious actions.
• Symmetra's photon barrier ability may be an example of hard-light technology.
• Biolight is a variant of hard-light.
• Hard-light weapon skins are available.