Creating Instantly Disappearing Prints Using Thermochromic Paint and Thermal Printer in an Interactive Art Installation

摘要

This paper outlines the techniques used in an interactive art installation, called Time Axis, created by the author. The installation invites viewers to take a portrait of themselves in front of a wall-mounted device that is embedded with a camera and thermal printers. The image captured by the camera will be printed on paper by the thermal printers. One of the thermal printers is loaded with some custom-made thermochromic paper that changes color reversibly when temperature is changed. Images printed on the thermochromic paper will disappear due to heat loss to surroundings after a few seconds of being printed out. Thus, the participants will witness the silhouettes of their portraits appearing and dissipating on paper instantly. The mechanical noise generated by the printers is manipulated by a digital resonator and sent through a pair of headphones to be listened by the participants to intensify their experience.