Next.js Hacker News
Show HN: Laser Graffiti
150 points by con 2 days ago | 31 comments
  • thot_experiment
    https://graffitiresearchlab.com/blog/projects/laser-tag/#vid...

    everything old is new again, and toys will be toys

    • trial3
      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
    • ddellacosta
      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
    • con
      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.
    • thunderbong
      The video is referenced in the article as an inspiration.
    • amenghra
      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....
    • mapkkk
      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!

    • sleepybrett
      kids don't think we have memories.
  • cold_boot
    Always wanted to mess around with a projector like this! The alignment problem on weird surfaces must have been a fun challenge.
  • con
    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).

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

    • grufkork
      You’ll probably burn your retinas with the backscatter
    • trashcan_man
      "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?"

    • brianpan
      Defacement is not the point of graffiti. It's fundamentally visual, not fundamentally destructive.
  • harlan_pdx
    Reminds me of messing with old laser pointers as a kid, but way more sophisticated. Love seeing creative uses of tech.
  • tabulatouch
    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

  • TM_0624789
    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.
  • nixosbestos
    These green laser pointers are bright enough to cause eye damage from the reflection off surfaces, for humans and pets.
  • doanthu249
    So cool! I can see its application in presentation. Does this support more than 1 laser btw?
    • con
      I haven't tried, but it should be possible to do so pretty easily.
  • giov4
    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
    Consti, this could do well on IG and TikTok.

    Love the take on AI

    • con
      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

  • Tomlmmrs
    Looks cool!
  • Transformanshen
    Cool project
  • reaperducer
    "Tanning invitation"

    /Ob Real Genius

  • lovelyxyz520
    [flagged]
  • hydropax
    [dead]