Synthetic lightsaber crystal A Synthetic lightsaber crystal , commonly referred to as a Synth - crystal , was a type of lightsaber crystal that was artificially created , rather than naturally formed by geological processes . Due to the methods used in their creation , they were often formed with a red coloration , though they could be made with any color through special manipulations of either the creation process or the crystal itself , often through the Force , such as the green synth - crystal that powered Luke Skywalker ' s second lightsaber . Specifications . Description . Though synthetic crystals were ordinarily unsuitable for use in lightsabers , the Sith discovered that they could create synth - crystals that were energized , magnetized , and modified with the power of the dark side of the Force in special furnaces , causing the crystal to glow in harmonic vibration . As a result of their artificial origins , synthetic crystals created more powerful lightsaber blades and could be more easily augmented . Also , their common usage by Sith and other Darksiders after this discovery caused synthetic crystals to become something of a staple among such groups , and their use among Jedi was strongly discouraged . Most synthetic crystals were red , a result of the forging process , and often times the initiate ' s intentional manipulations , as most individuals who utilized synthetic crystals were Darksiders . The red - hued lightsaber blades generated by such crystals were often nicknamed " bloodshine blades " . The crystal ' s ability to change to reflect the intentions of the creator could be said to foster a stronger bond between the resulting lightsaber and the wielder . However , synth - crystals could be made in any color , requiring only slight adjustments of the creation process and special manipulations through the Force during the forging . Creation . Synthetic lightsaber crystals were manufactured within a machine known as a geological compressor . The original purpose of the compressor was to replicate geological conditions on distant worlds in a laboratory setting , and it was easily adapted for creating synth - crystals ; simply replicating the geological processes that create crystals . The raw materials that the crystal was fashioned from were easily accessible , simply being minerals with a high carbon concentration . The raw minerals would be placed within the machine and essentially left to bake for a period ranging from twenty - four hours to four days , during which time , the initiate creating the crystal would meditate on it with the Force , guiding the formation and increasing the potency . This level of control over the formation process allowed initiates to create crystals that best suited their needs . Variants . In addition to the numerous colors synthetic crystals could be fabricated in , there were also variations in the crystals themselves that affected how they focused lightsabers blades . Standard A standard synthetic crystal was created through the successful replication of the geological structure of natural crystals . Standard crystals set the baseline for synthetic crystals in general ; they generated a more powerful lightsaber blade than natural crystals , and often demonstrated a red coloration , though that was easily controlled . In fact , synth - crystal blades were so powerful that they had the rare potential to " break the blade " of standard lightsabers by overloading the energy matrix and instantly burning out the other lightsaber . Though this happened extremely rarely , it was a known and frightening possibility in combat . However , synth - crystal generated lightsaber blades were in general less maneuverable than the blades generated by natural crystals , and were generally more unstable . Compressed Compressed synth - crystals were a result of a failure to accurately replicate the natural geological process that formed crystals . The result was a crystal that was far more compressed than natural crystals , causing the blade generated to be considerably thinner than standard blades . However , a byproduct of this thinner blade was that it allowed for greater precision and control . In addition to a thinner blade , the other visual indicators for a blade generated by a compressed synth - crystal were oscillations of energy that rapidly ran along the length of the blade at regular intervals . Unstable Like compressed crystals , unstable crystals were the result of the initiate failing to accurately replicate the natural formation processes of crystals . The blades generated by unstable crystals were obviously more unstable than the norm , causing the blades generated to crackle with energy at erratic intervals , sometimes causing sparks to fly or streaks of electrical energy to run along the length . Due to the energy sparking from the blade , unstable synth - crystals caused more damage than normal when they hit enemies . However , they were much more prone to shorting out , causing the lightsaber to deactivate for a time . History . It is unknown when the Sith and other Dark side groups began using synthetic crystals , though red crystals have been in use since the days of the Old Sith Empire , with notables such as Karness Muur and his followers wielding such weapons . However , at the time , most Sith wielded Sith sword s rather than lightsabers , though red lightsabers would become the standard weapon after the reformation of the Empire . The first Sith - follower to take up a red - bladed weapon before the resurgence of the old Empire was the Dark Jedi Haazen , as the previous Dark Lord in power ; Exar Kun ; and his followers simply continued using their Jedi lightsabers in combat . Darths Revan and Malak followed suit when they rose to power , making the usage of red - crystals widespread among their Sith followers . Due to their common use within Revan ' s Sith Empire , red - hued crystals were marked as the staple of Darksiders . The primary reason for the usage of synthetic crystals among Sith and other Darksiders was the need to stay hidden , as most of the sites where natural crystals suitable for lightsabers could be gathered were frequented by the Jedi Order . Eventually , synth - crystal usage among such groups became a tradition , with most members considering the creation of a synthetic crystal superior to the more passive Jedi method of gathering of natural formations , which was looked on as relying on the " untamed wilds of space " to provide . In fact , synthetic crystal creation was viewed by Darksiders to be a sign of greater mastery over the Force . Conversely , the Jedi frowned on the creation and use of synth - crystals among their initiates , associating this with taking the quick and easy path , as they believed they should rely on crystals found naturally . However , sometimes Jedi were forced to create synth - crystals when a weapon was needed and no naturally occurring crystals were accessible . Notable examples include Luke Skywalker , who used a synth - crystal for his first lightsaber , because he had no knowledge of the natural crystals at that point , and his niece Jaina Solo . Synth - crystals made by the Jedi usually had colors other than red , to avoid similarities with the Sith . Skywalker created a green crystal , while Solo produced a violet one . In fact , because Darth Sidious had most of the sites where crystals occurred naturally looted or destroyed during the reign of the Galactic Empire , the New Jedi Order had to rely on synth - crystals almost exclusively . The Imperial Knight s crafted their lightsabers that featured synthetic crystals , using knowledge from Sidious ' Book of Anger , in a process bereft of ceremony or significance . To an Imperial Knight , a lightsaber was merely a tool , and their training devoted as much attention to fighting in vehicles , bare - handed , and with the Force . The blades of these lightsabers were uniformly a silver - white color . Not all red lightsaber crystals were synthetic . Adegan crystal s featuring a red coloration were not unheard of , Darth Vader utilizing such a crystal in one of his lightsabers , and red - hued crystals were known to form naturally in the Crystal Cave on Dantooine , along with blue , green , yellow and violet crystals . However , unlike the other crystals , the red crystals from Dantooine were typically found in unhatched kinrath eggs . Behind the scenes . As lightsaber crystals didn ' t make their appearance in Star Wars mythos until later , the color difference between Jedi and Sith lightsabers was originally thought to reflect the personality of the wielder . This erroneous viewpoint was even supported by the , which depicted Luke Skywalker ' s lightsaber emitting a red blade when Vader ignited it . While the idea that lightsaber blade colors reflected the personality of the wielders was eventually corrected , red crystals weren ' t actually established to be synthetic in nature until the release of Star Wars Insider 62 in 2002 , though the existence of synth - crystals was established in the Expanded Universe novel " Shadows of the Empire " , though they were not referred to as such .