Of the many schemes to make the government more efficient, this is probably the only one that involves typography. A middle schooler in Pittsburgh has calculated that by simply switching the typeface used in government documents from Times New Roman to Garamond, it would save taxpayers $400 million in ink.
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There is something about the colors in the older comic books that today’s comics just don’t have. They were bright and vibrant and just jumped off the page in a way that today’s do not. Maybe it was the ink that they used. Anyway, this amazing Batman tattoo captures this spot on.
This super detailed, full-color tattoo by British artist Ian Hopkins truly brings the classic Batman comic books to life. This is pre-Dark Knight Batman, when the colors were alive and stunning.
This tattoo won him a prize at the Titanic Ink Tattoo Convention in Southampton, UK and took him 40 hours of work to complete. Amazing job, Ian!
[Ian Hopkins via Neatorama]
Synergistic growth translates into one technology being able to complement the advances in another. The same principle can be applied to the recent innovations in ink making. Its technology is deeply integrated in electronic devices and systems, improving them as a result.
Behind these innovations is nanotechnology, which involves the use of small-sized membranes, tubes, and components that can be used for a variety of purposes. Currently, its use has been popularized within the healthcare and electronics industry. Nanotubes ensure that minute quantities can be delivered at the designated place, in a highly specific manner.
A recent innovation by Linde Electronics involves using carbon nanotube inks to generate new display technologies. These nanotubes provide an ideal use for ink making and printing because of their size (their diameter is just 1/10,000 of the diameter of human hair) and physical properties (they have a high stress resistance when it comes to heat and mechanical pressure).
The ink industry is also making progress with the advent of organic electronics. For example, ink-based tags for biomedical implants has led to the development of thermochromic displays which uses conductive wires to make patterns.
Aside from these, InkTechnologies.com brings another model to the table that uses an online platform to promote the usage of diverse ink and printing technologies. This is an example of R&D moving so fast that it has basically created an online exchange for ink-savvy and eco-conscious consumers.
Nanotechnology is still in its nascent phases, so the progress that has been achieved up until this point is just in its primer stage. Consider dye development through nanotechnology. If you think about it, numerous industries now need markers or fluorescent dyes for various applications.
Electro-wetting is another ongoing innovation which is massive because it would give e-paper the feel of classic ink on paper. Such displays have the advantage of being brighter than LCDs while consuming less power. Imagine how this can change e-readers
How ink technology will develop further – and the new tech it will spawn – is definitely something to watch out for.
[via LCN]
When dreaming up that world-changing invention, wouldn’t it be great if you could just sketch out the circuits and have them magically work? That’s the idea behind Circuit Scribe, a ballpoint pen that’s full of quick-drying ink that’ll help you doodle your circuits on notebook paper. Emerging out of research from the University of Illinois, the team is now accepting your cash through Kickstarter to help bring it into the real world. $20 will get you a pen and an LED component, while $30 will buy you a basic kit, complete with plenty of accessories to help you test the systems to their fullest. We imagine it’ll be a big hit with STEM educators as well as hobbyists, but if you’re not yet convinced, check out the video to watch it in action.
Filed under: Misc
Via: TechCrunch
Source: Kickstarter
You probably have no idea where the ink in your pen comes from, much less whether it’s a simple factory process or demanding of more expertise. Josh Velson, a chemical engineering consultant for bio and petrochemicals, has your answer.
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Modern miracle stuff graphene has been used by developers to print circuits on clothing, creating a genuinely wearable form of tech that doesn’t rely on bulky watches, AR glasses or sewing computers into your flesh.
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Oil and water don’t mix. It’s an idiom that feels as old as time. But photographer Alberto Seveso found a way to get oil and ink to play nice, and the results are stunning.
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You may not interact with ink as much as you used to, but you have to give it credit for powering millions of pens and a crap ton of printing. We still consume a lot of media that exists because of ink. And a good way to celebrate it might be to just let it flow and see what happens. Ruslan Khasanov, a Russian graphic designer, felt the same way so he mixed ink, oil and soap to make this trippy and awesome video called Pacific Light. Khasanov was inspired when he watched black beads of soy sauce form in oil while he was cooking. There are great stills and gifs on his Behance. Kind of makes me long for a tie die comeback. [Colossal]
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When you’re painting, drips are usually bad. But if you’re clever enough, you can put ’em to good use. That’s what artist Ben Dehaan did with his project "Uncured," by using a print loaded with some ultraviolet cured ink to create face-melting portraits worthy of Raiders of the Lost Ark.
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When most people say “bath salts” these days, you think they’re talking about the nasty drug trend that’s been sweeping through the nation lately, and not something you actually use for a relaxing soak in the tub. But there are still actual products that you can use to take a bath with and not turn into a maniac and eat someone’s face off. This particular bath acoutrement is unusual because of the addition of an unlikely ingredient – ink.
Instead of coming out of the package as clear or white crystals, these bath salts pour out with an unusual blue-black color. They’ve actually been made with ink from Japan’s Kaimei & Co., who have been producing india ink for calligraphy for over 115 years.
What’s unclear from the product description is whether or not the ink leaves any sort of residue on your skin. I’m doubting that it does, or else nobody would buy the stuff. If you’re interested in finding out if you can get an instant tattoo while you take a bath, you can order the Ink Bath Salts for $3(USD) a pack over at White Rabbit Express and try them out for yourself.
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