Fig. 3: Various examples of elementary topographies.

a A liquid incline providing a tilted giant meniscus at equilibrium. The total height H of the spines gradually decreases along the lattice from left to right while the radius R = 0.2 mm is constant. b The same incline created by another lattice where the lattice spacing a gradually increases from left to right. c A sine wave topography created by sinusoidally varying the total height H of the spines of radius R = 0.2 mm. d A quadratic well created by varying quadratically the height H of spines of radius R = 0.3 mm. The experimental measurements and the predicted liquid elevation by Eq. (6) in devices c and d are plotted in the subfigures using dots and curves respectively. e A hemisphere created by radially decreasing the total height H of spines of the same radius R = 0.3 mm. f Two adjacent inclines with perpendicular slopes, therefore, creating a 90° turn in the height gradient. The inclines are created by varying the height H of spines of radius R = 0.5 mm. Scale bars: 10 mm.