While trolling through the Google referrals to this blog I came across something that I have to admit is a pretty bright idea: “the night writer”, a do-it-yourself light-up graffiti tag consisting of light emitting diodes, lithium battery cells and magnets:
The night writer extends the functionality of LED throwies by allowing a writer to catch a tag in lights. It’s cheap, easy to make and writes 12-inch glowing letters 25-feet in the air on any iron or steel surface…if you stand on a turned over garbage can.
While this use is suggested for graffiti I think it could easily be used as a distinctive and temporary way to support a cause or candidate, promote an event, decorate your house for the holidays or turn your car or van into a part-time billboard. I’m sure you can think of many other uses as well (if so, leave a comment).
The details are provided by the web-site Graffiti Research Lab, which says it is “Dedicated to outfitting grafitti artists with open source technologies for urban communication.” Despite the logo for this blog (which was originally created in a cruder form for my freelance writing business in the early 90s) I don’t endorse defacing public or private property (unless it’s your own) with spray paint. This light-up form, however, is a very creative idea and ultimately removable since it’s affixed with magnets. The link above provides simple instructions for creating a “tag” or whatever word or message you might want to display. All you need are inexpensive items such as foamcore, packing tape and the afore-mentioned LEDS, magnets and batteries — and a ferromagnetic surface.
Depending on weather conditions and the size of the batteries your message is self-sustaining for two weeks or so.
This will enhance my tagging hobby tremendously, thanks for the info John.
Yes, I was thinking of you when I wrote this.