You've heard of Bokode http://web.media.mit.edu/~ankit/bokode/ , right? The long distance microscope that lets you see detailed barcodes and data with only a digital camera? The one that uses a tiny 3mm lenslet to display highly accurate position and distance information from several meters away?

Yeah. That one.

Take a look at the writeup here: http://sinbox.org/bokode Get some sample microprint patterns here: http://sinbox.org/bokode/bokode%20samples.pdf Get the microprint printed here (~$80): http://www.pageworks.com/transparencymasks.html Follow the assembly diagram in the DXF.

This design is scaled for .11" acrylic, 4/40 .375" machine screws and nuts, and you'll need the lens out of a webcam, a power source, an led, and some tape for calibrating the focus.