Show HN: Laser Graffiti

158 points - last Saturday at 12:28 PM

Comments

thot_experiment yesterday at 7:13 PM

https://graffitiresearchlab.com/blog/projects/laser-tag/#vid...

everything old is new again, and toys will be toys

lee_ward today at 5:03 AM

Always wanted to build something like this! Brings back memories of trying to control cheap laser pointers with an Arduino.

con today at 1:49 AM

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).

cold_boot today at 4:13 AM

Always wanted to mess around with a projector like this! The alignment problem on weird surfaces must have been a fun challenge.

d_finch today at 4:09 AM

Immediately thought of WarGames. The applications for temporary outdoor displays are super interesting.

nico yesterday at 7:11 PM

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

Vakaiser yesterday at 7:22 PM

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.

harlan_pdx today at 3:22 AM

Reminds me of messing with old laser pointers as a kid, but way more sophisticated. Love seeing creative uses of tech.

tabulatouch yesterday at 9:39 PM

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

deleted yesterday at 9:21 PM

TM_0624789 last Sunday at 1:47 AM

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.

doanthu249 last Sunday at 1:44 PM

So cool! I can see its application in presentation. Does this support more than 1 laser btw?

nixosbestos today at 2:54 AM

These green laser pointers are bright enough to cause eye damage from the reflection off surfaces, for humans and pets.

giov4 last Saturday at 1:33 PM

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.

AFF87 last Saturday at 12:52 PM

Consti, this could do well on IG and TikTok.

Love the take on AI

Tomlmmrs yesterday at 9:58 PM

Looks cool!

Transformanshen yesterday at 7:44 PM

Cool project

reaperducer yesterday at 7:27 PM

"Tanning invitation"

/Ob Real Genius

lovelyxyz520 today at 12:47 AM

[flagged]

hydropax yesterday at 9:29 PM

[dead]