Learn how to do anything: How to Make Awesome Rubik's Cube Patterns

Tuesday, November 10, 2015

How to Make Awesome Rubik's Cube Patterns

Rubik’s cubes are 3-D combination puzzles. The standard Rubik’s cubes have 9 faces on each side of the square cube and each face has one of six solid colors. A traditional way to solve the Rubik’s cube is by returning the blocks so that each face of the cube has only one color.^[1] However, since the cube’s creation in 1974, there have been many other ways found to “solve” the Rubik’s cube. Each of them create some sort of repetitive design over the faces of the cube.

Steps

Creating a Zig-Zag

Start with your solved cube. Creating a zig-zag pattern is one of the easiest ways to create a pattern on a Rubik’s cube. Begin with your Rubik’s cube in the solved position—each face of your cube is one continuous color.
Turn opposite faces in opposite directions. Start, for instance, looking at your red face. Turn the right side of the cube one click forward so that there are three reds on the top right of your cube. Turn the left side of the cube one click backwards so that there are three reds on the bottom left. You’ll be left with three red cubes down the front middle of your cube.^[2]
Turn your cube and repeat. Turn your cube to the left so that the dark blue face is in front of you. Repeat the last step on this side. You will have a blue strip down the center front your of cube.^[3]
Turn back to the red side and repeat. Once again, turn the right side of your Rubik’s cube one click forward and the left side one click backwards. The only red remaining on this face will be in the center.
Repeat three more times. Turn back to your blue side and repeat this motion. Then once more on the red side and lastly on the blue. You will finish with a staircase-looking zig-zag across four sides of your Rubik’s cube.^[4]

Creating a Checkerboard

Start with the sides of your cube matching. You want to start with your cube in the solved position to make this pattern. Also known as a chessboard, your end result will be in a checkered pattern with each side featuring two colors.
Turn the opposite faces in opposite directions. Begin by looking at your green face. Turn the right side of the cube 180 degrees (the three greens will end on the opposite side from where they started). Take the left side and do the same.
Turn the top and bottom 180 degrees. Keep the green center cube facing you. Turn the top cubes clockwise 180 degrees. Do the same with the bottom cubes.^[5]
Make your final spins. With the green center block still facing you, spin the front face of your cube 180 degrees. Do the same with the back face of your cube. You’ve now created a checkerboard on all sides of your cube.^[6]

Making a Fish

Begin with your cube solved. Once again, you want to start off with your Rubik’s cube in its solved position. Making a fish pattern on your Rubik’s cube is simple. The end result will have swapped two edge pieces so that the remaining ones look like a fish with fins. If you hold it diagonally it will look like a fish swimming away from you.^[7]
Make two 180 degree twist. Start with the white surface facing you. Turn the front face 180 degrees. Now, take the right side and twist in 180 degrees.^[8]
Repeat this three times. Keep the white cube in front of you and again twist the front of it 180 degrees. Turn the right side, then the front face, and the right side one more time. Always keep the white face in front of you by making sure the center cube of the face is white.
Make your fish swim. Look at the top of your Rubik’s cube. You’ll see a fish shape that looks as though it is swimming away. The four center pieces are its body and the three remaining are the fins.^[9]