To demonstrate the possibility of manipula�ng the alignment in the microstructures, an octagonal plate (50 × 50 µm 2 , side length 10 µm) was printed in different environments, star�ng with no PDMS microscaffold in the vicinity and then increasing the level of confinement by including more PDMS par��ons un�l an octagonal cavity was formed (Figure ). As shown in the POM images, the birefringence underwent progressive changes, as a result of the different alignments. Ini�ally, the 3D printed microstructure appeared mainly black due to pris�ne homeotropic alignment. With the placement of two parallel PDMS, it turned into a linear texture with a rotated orienta�on.