Observed arrival · 2026-11-01
Pleochroma: a gemstone faceting studio with spectral optics
Pleochroma is free, open-source software for designing gemstone cuts and rendering how light behaves inside them, with desktop and browser versions described on the site.
○Open
⊠Login
$Paid
†Ads
✦Pretty
●Pro
◎Niche
◉Human
⚑Risk
ƒJS
- For
- Gem cutters and gemstone faceting designers
- Worth noticing
- Its rough planner compares the best ten layouts while mixing up to 99 designs against a block, pebble, or scanned rough.
Field notes
The listed workflow spans importing GemCAD-style .asc files, editing cutting instructions, and previewing a cut with material-specific optical effects. The homepage says the optional GPU kernel is checked against a CPU reference; browser GPU rendering is limited to isotropic stones in Chrome and Edge. Android access is described as build-from-source rather than an app-store download.
Observed signals
Read the marks
Editorial observations of this landing page, not a rating.
○OpenPublic substance visible
⊠LoginAccess appeared gated
✦PrettyNotable craft visible
●ProPolished or operationally mature
◎NicheUnusually specific use
One card from the complete issue