LASER GRAFFITI

First the key parts!

You'll need

- a dlp projector (3500 to 5000 lumens)

- a laptop with a relatively good video card

- a laser pointer (Green)

- an infrared camera

- laser tag software

- usb video capture card

Step 1:

Then make sure the infrared camera is correctly connected to the computer through the usb capture card (usually with the program easycap you can check that out)

Once you have downloaded the laser tag software from the graffiti research lab webpage http://openframeworks.cc/lasertag/lasertag2002xpvista.zip and run it (note: make sure you hace quicktime installed before you run the software), you will have to test the camera settings so that is almost pitch black and you can only see the laser point in the surface you are pointing at.

Set the camera to everything manual; uncheck the box that says auto balance, everything that says auto turn it off.

Step 2:

Once you have your laser tag installed and running, and your ir camera connected through the usb card, connect your projector and restart your computer.

Note. This is for windows xp or vista, not for mac users. If you have a mac, you can install windows in a different partition and run it from there.

Once the computer restarts, set the projector as a extended desktop with 1024 x 768 resolution screen (this is very important), also set your laptop screen resolution to 1024 x 768.

Step 3:

Now running the software and having your extended desktop as your projector (projecting to a wall assuming) press the letter "f" on your keyboard and your main screen in your laptop would be converted to full screen, and the wall you are projecting will be converted into the magic wall where you point and it will draw.

Press the space bar, so the square grid appears, and align it with the camera view (the center square on top of the laser tag software)

Align it until it reaches a point where you point at one specific place and it will draw properly)

Step 4:

I have created a special wooden box to contain all the elements in place and for transport purposes.

Inside i have assembled the projector, the camera, a power strip, and the laptop so that it is everything in one unit and working properly without moving from their places.

Http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4d3rkck5g-0

Work finished!

Comments

[Phoniexskater26]

Do you need a projector to be displayed on a surface In order for the laser graffiti to work....or can it work without the projector

[SamN2]

all caps IS ANNOYING

[luifer78]

just fixed it!

[daniel_bisegna]

CORRECTION FOR THE DOWNLOAD LINK: http://openframeworks.cc/storage/lasertag/LaserTag2002TigerLeopard.zip

[luifer78]

Thanks Daniel!

[Defender_6241]

so incred,How?!!

[pradawinata]

Hi, for this setup, is it possible for using win8 and later? also the infra red camera, any specific camera to use?

[luifer78]

Hi pradawinata, we've never used the software in win8, I would recommend using windows vista or xp. For the camera any fair quality Infra red would help, of course the more powerful the camera the farther you can track the laser and therefore the smoother will be. Recommendation, WATEC (202D) CAMERA.

[pradawinata]

Hi Luifer, will it work with a watec 902B camera?

[luifer78]

Yes it should

[Techno Boy]

Nice , But how much is the kit ?

[luifer78]

write to [e-mail] for more info. Thanks/

[G51]

Hola luifer78,

me dirijo a tí en español, ya que también es mi idioma materno. muchas gracias por tu post. Estoy siguiendo los pasos que indicas y estoy por lo pronto buscando todo el material necesario. ya tengo el láser, el proyector, el ordenador,... me faltan 2 cosas por conseguir: 1) el programa. he probado el link que pones (http://openframeworks.cc/lasertag/LaserTag2002XPVi..., pero no funciona.

2) la cámara, que te quería preguntar cual me recomiendas y la capturadora de video USB. Con una cámara web de calidad no puedo hacerlo también? para qué es la capturadora de video USB?

gracias de antemano y un saludo!

[luifer78]

hola G51 disculpa la demora, puedes escribirme a [e-mail] para darte info del software y los demás detalles.

[luifer78]

I'm selling the entire LASER GRAFFITI KIT, if anyone interested, please write to [e-mail]

[instrumata]

Dear Sir,
Sorry for my English, It is not my native language, if I say anything wrong, my apologize.
Yes, you mentioned A DLP PROJECTOR, but can I use any projector? what is the different? I'm confused.
It is because I cannot afford a projector, and need borrow from college. The college projectors are old model.

I am beginner with no knowledge on this, by reading and looking through several time, I not understand why the infrared camera needed. I google the infrared camera, which one you recommend?

Your reply will be appreciated. Thank you.

[luifer78]

My Dear friend instrumata, i recommend DLP chip projector because of some color features, but is not necessary, any respectable projector would do, its all about the distance where you are projecting from and the intensity of brightness you want to ahve in your proyected area. Any projector with a 1024x768 resolution would do.

Iwas also a beginner when i started to follow the real inventors of laser graffiti GRL. The infrared camera is needed because of two things, one is because you will be using it during the night. Any ir camera will do, but if you want long reach (a building for example) i recommend a WATEC 232 camera, they are expensive but definetly the best for long throw, more than 15 mts. The cameras function is to track the GREEN beam of the laser and therefore, instruct the software to paint on that especific point.

It takes time and practice to really accomplish the proyect, but it is definitely worth it.

Hope this helps. oh... my native language is spanish by the way in case yours too.

Rgds.

[instrumata]

Thank you for reply and patiently explain and type out the information.

I checked many site that sell laser, almost all of them say they are IR filter. Does this cause any problem?

I definitely will try it! If I success, I will post a video or picture link here.

thank again! Really appreciated.

[slaveboy2000]

can it erase?

[luifer78]

of course, you can set an specific area on the proyected area where you point the laser and it will erase all.