I eventually built a laser drawing system too. I used a 532 nanometer optical filter taped to a webcam to isolate green laser pointer light, then drew a sampled approximation of the shapes. I recorded that somewhere, but never uploaded it...
In retrospect, I'm glad I didn't get in trouble for this.
Heh I was just about to say, people were doing stuff like this at Parsons/ITP a decade and a half ago, at least...haven't thought about GRL in a while, thanks for the flashback
Hi HN and สวัสดีครับ! I remember seeing this the first time in Vienna by a friend of mine, Michi who came back from NYC and I believe he learned about it at the local hacker space at the time: NYC resistor.
I knew Michi through the Metalab, our hacker space in Vienna. Originally the idea seems to have been from the Graffiti Research Lab, which is also what I've linked to on my page and in the repo's Readme.
I think the version that Michi used was a MacOS app (not sure which framework), but I've always wanted to make it a web app. So all you need now is a projector, a laser pointer, and a laptop (with a camera).
I've already tried a few fun setups (eg using the iPhone's camera or using AirPlay connected to the projector). It's quite flexible.
Let me know if you end up using it and please share videos / photos and I'd be happy to put them up.
I know the original is old-skool cool, which I think makes this a fun project.
I'll try to set it up at the next CCC (2027) - if you see me there, come say Hi (I'll probably be in a banana costume).
While this is interesting, what I really wanted to see was more 'graffiti' and less 'laser'.
Graffiti, fundamentally, is a defacement of public property as a form of artistic self expression. To that end, why not combine this with a laser engraver instead of a laser pointer?
Imagine hooking this up and then literally carving your graffiti into the side of a brick building. Or burning it into the paint on a metal container car.
Obviously such a thing has the potential for serious bodily harm and could start building or wild fires inadvertently, to say nothing of the energy consumption requirements such a laser engraver would necessitate.
> Graffiti, fundamentally, is a defacement of public property
Both wrong. Neither is defacement the point nor doing it to public property. Fundamentally it's a visual art form and whether that's on private or public property is insubstantial.
It's surely intervoven with anarchic protest and that's where the defacement angle comes in. Similarly, public property as a symbol of the state that is rejected plays often a role. Though that's ironic too since if the "artist" comes from a left-leaning anarchic background then damaging public goods is kinda counterproductive, as opposed to private property of the rich who are the more usual target for symbolizing oppression of the poor.
This is really cool! I wonder if for the drip on neon you could make it start from the bottom of the line to make it a little smoother. And maybe you could try making it translucent for the marker so it matches the marker ink.
Thanks! I'm not much of a social media person (went so far that I made an Apple shortcut app to launch IG in the messages screen[0], so I can avoid the feed). But maybe I'll try to post something there.
https://graffitiresearchlab.com/blog/projects/laser-tag/#vid...
everything old is new again, and toys will be toys
Thanks! This was absolutely the inspiration - and I've also mentioned it on the page (right under the video) and in the repository's Readme.
i’m so happy this is the top comment. i’m someone who found the GRL as… a middle schooler and boy was it the coolest thing i’ve ever seen at the time
I love this project!
I saw this back in the day and it inspired me to build this:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=x034jVB1avs
I hacked together some game jam games with it:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zd7A6TEthPQ
Alexis Ohanian commented on my video, which was awesome:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uF_OCvjq3ps
I eventually built a laser drawing system too. I used a 532 nanometer optical filter taped to a webcam to isolate green laser pointer light, then drew a sampled approximation of the shapes. I recorded that somewhere, but never uploaded it...
In retrospect, I'm glad I didn't get in trouble for this.
Heh I was just about to say, people were doing stuff like this at Parsons/ITP a decade and a half ago, at least...haven't thought about GRL in a while, thanks for the flashback
This is even older (I think), similar idea of building interactive experiences using off-the-shelf lasers: https://web.archive.org/web/20040202205307/http://www.monzy....
The video is referenced in the article as an inspiration.
This is what I immediately thought of as well, I'm just grateful you remembered the name of the project.
An absolute blast from the past, thank you for unlocking the memories of me reading these cool projects way back when!
kids don't think we have memories.
Always wanted to build something like this! Brings back memories of trying to control cheap laser pointers with an Arduino.
Hi HN and สวัสดีครับ! I remember seeing this the first time in Vienna by a friend of mine, Michi who came back from NYC and I believe he learned about it at the local hacker space at the time: NYC resistor.
I knew Michi through the Metalab, our hacker space in Vienna. Originally the idea seems to have been from the Graffiti Research Lab, which is also what I've linked to on my page and in the repo's Readme.
I think the version that Michi used was a MacOS app (not sure which framework), but I've always wanted to make it a web app. So all you need now is a projector, a laser pointer, and a laptop (with a camera).
I've already tried a few fun setups (eg using the iPhone's camera or using AirPlay connected to the projector). It's quite flexible.
Let me know if you end up using it and please share videos / photos and I'd be happy to put them up.
I know the original is old-skool cool, which I think makes this a fun project.
I'll try to set it up at the next CCC (2027) - if you see me there, come say Hi (I'll probably be in a banana costume).
Very cool. I remember seeing a video of some people doing this on a whole building… found it: https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=DKbtTPYZEig&t=30s
same crew as is referenced here too: https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=49513717
While this is interesting, what I really wanted to see was more 'graffiti' and less 'laser'.
Graffiti, fundamentally, is a defacement of public property as a form of artistic self expression. To that end, why not combine this with a laser engraver instead of a laser pointer?
Imagine hooking this up and then literally carving your graffiti into the side of a brick building. Or burning it into the paint on a metal container car.
Obviously such a thing has the potential for serious bodily harm and could start building or wild fires inadvertently, to say nothing of the energy consumption requirements such a laser engraver would necessitate.
Counterpoint: rule of cool.
> Graffiti, fundamentally, is a defacement of public property
Both wrong. Neither is defacement the point nor doing it to public property. Fundamentally it's a visual art form and whether that's on private or public property is insubstantial.
It's surely intervoven with anarchic protest and that's where the defacement angle comes in. Similarly, public property as a symbol of the state that is rejected plays often a role. Though that's ironic too since if the "artist" comes from a left-leaning anarchic background then damaging public goods is kinda counterproductive, as opposed to private property of the rich who are the more usual target for symbolizing oppression of the poor.
You’ll probably burn your retinas with the backscatter
"Can you tell the jury what you told investigators when you decided to use computerized directed energy weapons to target civllian infrastructure?"
"...rule of cool?"
Defacement is not the point of graffiti. It's fundamentally visual, not fundamentally destructive.
Ask the people who have to clean it off.
Always wanted to mess around with a projector like this! The alignment problem on weird surfaces must have been a fun challenge.
Immediately thought of WarGames. The applications for temporary outdoor displays are super interesting.
Reminds me of messing with old laser pointers as a kid, but way more sophisticated. Love seeing creative uses of tech.
Not drawing (yet), about to arrive, but I built a whole projected arcade system on the same vibe, but way before vibecoding… :)
https://s-argame.com
This is really cool! I wonder if for the drip on neon you could make it start from the bottom of the line to make it a little smoother. And maybe you could try making it translucent for the marker so it matches the marker ink.
So cool! I can see its application in presentation. Does this support more than 1 laser btw?
I haven't tried, but it should be possible to do so pretty easily.
These green laser pointers are bright enough to cause eye damage from the reflection off surfaces, for humans and pets.
very cool, I can imagine use-cases like a friends evening playing at home with the projector or even school doing didactic.
love the whole simplicity and the style too.
Consti, this could do well on IG and TikTok.
Love the take on AI
Thanks! I'm not much of a social media person (went so far that I made an Apple shortcut app to launch IG in the messages screen[0], so I can avoid the feed). But maybe I'll try to post something there.
[0] just open the URL instagram://direct-inbox
Looks cool!
Cool project
"Tanning invitation"
/Ob Real Genius