Reactive Paint

Published: Tuesday, October 09, 2007 in design » art by Thomas Baekdal

Shi Yuan has created a way to turn normally passive things into something with a life of its own. Like this wallpaper that reacts to heat, the painting that react when you touch it, or the daily calendar that fades away during the day.

It is made using heat sensitive paint - and it is incredible.

Heat Sensitive Wallpaper

Turn up the heat and your wallpaper starts to blossom. Here with the radiator is off...

...and now on.

A painting with feelings

Show people how you feel by touching the painting.

The day that simply faded away...

Watch how the day slowly fades away with this calendar

(Via Shi Yuan)

#1
Oct 9
2007
Taras Brizitsky

Taras Brizitsky

Excellent idea!

#2
Oct 9
2007
Sean

Sean

I remember when heat reactive inks made their way to clothing, with some unfortunate results for some people.

#3
Oct 10
2007
Tyll

Tyll

Way cool!

#4
Dec 10
2007
Yorick

Yorick

Where can i order this?

#5
Dec 10
2007
Thomas Baekdal

Thomas Baekdal

Writer, Project Manager and Interaction Designer

Yorick, Ask Shi Yuan

#6
Dec 10
2007
DARK AVENGA

DARK AVENGA

HOW MUCH IS THIS COSTING?

#7
Dec 11
2007
proka

proka

Very cool. Do you also have fade-away girlfriends?

#8
Dec 13
2007
Mike

Mike

rofl

#9
Dec 13
2007
kanti

kanti

wow, thats interesting, cool idea

#10
Dec 15
2007
D''Andra

D''Andra

wow! thats amazing, i want to go out and get all of that right now

#11
Dec 16
2007
becky

becky

That is so cool! It reminds me of on Willy Wonka, the first one, with the lickable wallpaper. Good one!

#12
Dec 20
2007
Neece

Neece

wow.. that wallpaper is wonderful! What clever ideas!

#13
Dec 23
2007
brianna

brianna

thats like totally awesome mon i mean like totally awesome!!!!! kool yeah. i want it

#14
Dec 25
2007
Rajat

Rajat

Thats a deadly idea.. any idea of the costing??

any website ??

#15
Dec 27
2007
Ric

Ric

I can think of a bunch of people that would love to have this in their home. It's so custom and unusual!

#16
Dec 27
2007
Tippy

Tippy

Yeah that's pretty fun! I was wondering if those posters are available somewhere?

#17
Jan 17
2008
uncle

uncle

hey... 15th feb is my birthday...

#18
Jan 17
2008
eldorado

eldorado

ile taka tapetka kosztuje?

#19
Jan 22
2008
ghirarda

ghirarda

it's fantastic!!!!

#20
Jan 26
2008
Sinu Kumar

Sinu Kumar

i'd defenitly like to have one of those.

#21
Jan 26
2008
Johann Rosario

Johann Rosario

This idea has been around for a while, but I've always wondered how it can apply to cars or motorcycles. I envision a car that gradually changes colors when you drive it in the heat or cold. Or a dark car the get lighter in the sun, thus reflecting more heat.

#22
Feb 5
2008
smn

smn

where can i buy this stuff?

#23
Feb 7
2008
Lily

Lily

OMG! this is very cool! Can it be applied on a cardboard or paper? I want to know more about this! very2 interested to know.

#24
Feb 7
2008
Lucas

Lucas

Where did you get the poster that is shown on the picture? "life is beautiful poster"

#25
Feb 8
2008
Yellow Sun

Yellow Sun

This is wonderful idea, but how does the artisan apply the material/paper, surely his/her warm hands will react and therefore strech the finished product when the drying out process begins. What type of adisive do you use, or is all of this just an illusion.YS.

#26
Feb 9
2008
Pranav

Pranav

This is way too cool!!!

#27
Feb 9
2008
Adverstaging

Adverstaging

This could be very fun!

#28
Feb 19
2008
Anonymous

Anonymous

Ha! That's awsome

#29
Mar 12
2008
Anonymous

Anonymous

Hay, where can i get this stuff from????????

#30
Mar 12
2008
Thomas Baekdal

Thomas Baekdal

Writer, Project Manager and Interaction Designer

Ask Shi Yuan (the creator)

#31
Mar 17
2008
Fabio Raphael

Fabio Raphael

Wow!

Nice work!

#32
Mar 24
2008
atifzain

atifzain

Really Innovative

#33
Apr 11
2008
Hardryve

Hardryve

Novel idea, add your idea to auto-manufacturer's and the Paint Companies and make yourself a billion,

from the Hardryve

#34
Apr 18
2008
SEO-PRO

SEO-PRO

Remember the hot wheels cars that changed colour when you put them under hot air or hot water? This reminds me of those cars!!

#35
May 14
2008
jj

jj

looks lame

#36
May 24
2008
mr.harris

mr.harris

okay so can we buy that poster?

i went to the guys website but it dosen't say anything about that. man i wan it!

#37
May 25
2008
Thomas Baekdal

Thomas Baekdal

Writer, Project Manager and Interaction Designer

Harris, I don't know. I suggest you contact them and ask.

#38
Jun 12
2008
matt

matt

this stuff is great

#39
Jun 18
2008
Anonymous

Anonymous

Why do all the pics except the poster one look like they were generated in a 3d program. It is really noticeable in the calender one. Is this fake? I know heat sensitive paint has been around like those Hyper color shirts . However, I am a bit skeptical about that calender one. that picture looks totally fake.

#40
Jul 13
2008
Kevin

Kevin

All fake.

What is to stop all the days on the calendar from fading away?

Also this is not a very marketable product because of climate differences. May be ok for businesses with regulated atmospheres but not for global residencial use.

Cost would be the final nail in the coffin for this idea.

#41
Jul 18
2008
Anonymous

Anonymous

that is so hot!

#42
Jul 31
2008
Dick Gozinya

Dick Gozinya

I want paint my cah this paints. vroom vroom

#43
Aug 11
2008
cchana

cchana

i like Dick Gozinya's comment, the paint on the hood of a car would be amazing!

really like the idea behind this and if it became reality would add a whole new level of customisation to your house. even more so if it was supplied as paint rather than a set wallpaper pattern

#44
Aug 25
2008
Mohit Singla

Mohit Singla

Where can i order this? How much is this cost..?

#45
Sep 1
2008
projectgrfix

projectgrfix

Truly amazing!! really cool work on graphics and the idea of heat sensitivity is excellent :)

#46
Sep 2
2008
janet

janet

Very nice product.....

Here are 2 proof-reading suggestions:

Add an "s" to react in the sentence that reads.."the painting that react when you touch it"

Instead of "here with the radiator is off", omit "with" to read "here the radiator is off"

#47
Nov 12
2008
gMoney

gMoney

But what about the lickable wallpaper? Do snozberries really taste like snozberries?

Sorry...couldn't resist. But seriously...I LOVE the color changing wallpaper.

#48
Nov 23
2008
Anonymous

Anonymous

wow. that would be an amazing calander... i want so of that wall paper.

#49
Nov 24
2008
Bunny got Blog

Bunny got Blog

what a wonderful creative idea. You can redecorate when you turn up the furnace and change the drapes and throw pillows. Love it

#50
Nov 30
2008
Affordable Web Design

Affordable Web Design

This is amazing! I knew about things like invisible ink and the such but to see uses of technology like this is amazing. I love the calendar example, thanks for posting!

#51
Dec 12
2008
Jenny F

Jenny F

My question is to Thomas Baekdal:

How can i get in touch with the designer and is this something i can buy? I loooooved the walpaper and the calendar and will be interested to buy a product like that or get a reference where i can order a customized item.

Cheers!

#52
Dec 13
2008
Thomas Baekdal

Thomas Baekdal

Writer, Project Manager and Interaction Designer

Jenny, Apparently "Shi Yuan", the creator if the reactive paint have decided to redesign his site, and I cannot figure out how it works (or if it works at all).

So I cannot find any contact details.

#53
Jan 8
2009
ANd then

ANd then

I love this idea. It would work out well using paints that changed colors at diffrent temps. Like one that appered green at 15 degrees, and another that showed up at 30, and one that faded out below 30.

#54
Jan 17
2009
TheOrangeDoor

TheOrangeDoor

This is a very creative use of the concept, and I cannot wait to see what other applications Shi Yuan and others might come up with.

Thanks Thomas for keeping us informed about the creator's website. It would be appreciated if you could post a link if/when there is a site at which the product could be purchased or further researched.

#55
Jan 27
2009
Sam

Sam

I love the idea and I want that kind of wallpaper but does it come in like peace sign funky color kinda things I want that instead of flowers

#56
Feb 6
2009
will

will

cool.

wow.

ahhhhhhhh

#57
Feb 11
2009
Kate

Kate

Excellent! I would love to have these. A non-invasive (not loud, not noisy or overly-excited) change in your space. Congrats to the developer!

#58
Mar 16
2009
Suchmaschineneintrag

Suchmaschineneintrag

this is freakin nice...

yours suchmaschineneintragung

#59
Apr 24
2009
Childrens bedroom furniture

Childrens bedroom furniture

Just like at Willy Wonka's house, but with touch rather than taste!

#60
May 1
2009
Tianbao

Tianbao

This is neat indeed!

#61
May 2
2009
web tasarim

web tasarim

good pictrues

#62
Jun 26
2009
K. Baker

K. Baker

What happens if this gets wet?

#63
Jun 26
2009
Thomas Baekdal

Thomas Baekdal

Writer, Project Manager and Interaction Designer

When it get wet it starts playing a movie

#64
Jul 2
2009
robb

robb

will the date re-appear again the next day ?

really loved the wallpaper idea.

brilliant.

#65
Jul 9
2009
www.ediedson.com

www.ediedson.com

Muito Bom!

Obras de arte do artista Edi Edson

http://www.ediedson.com

#66
Aug 11
2009
Aaron Kirsch

Aaron Kirsch

undefined

http://store.americanapparel.net/rsa6407tc.html?cid=200

American Apparel did this with a tee

The video is kinda cool

#67
Aug 11
2009
manaal

manaal

This an awesome idea that will make any space unique!

#68
Aug 12
2009
Anonymous

Anonymous

35 degrees C for the flowers to open??? That's 95F. Nobody wants their house that hot!

#69
Aug 12
2009
Jenna

Jenna

This is really cool. I definitely want that.

#70
Aug 13
2009
Anonymous

Anonymous

where can i find some of this paint?

#71
Aug 14
2009
Anonymous

Anonymous

too bad i live in texas and the paint would never vanish.

#72
Aug 17
2009
Katt Porter

Katt Porter

love it!!

#73
Aug 17
2009
Sientz

Sientz

This is an idea that could bring wall paper back to the fore front of design. I have always thought of Wall Paper as and older style of decorating, but with something that is dynamic...it brings a whole new life to it.

#74
Oct 22
2009
CanvasPop

CanvasPop

The easiest way to turn your photos into canvas art!

This is a very neat collection. I love the painting that changes as people touch it!

#75
Nov 19
2009
sandy

sandy

lovely idea!

The wall is looking absolutely ravishing and giving a glow to the room. One will not get bored with this kind of walls around : )

#76
Nov 23
2009
Loves To Spooge

Loves To Spooge

Thanks for the link to the original site!

#77
Nov 24
2009
Charmaine

Charmaine

Stumbled upon this site... It's an interesting idea, but the "wow" factor got drowned out by my laughter when I saw your (Thomas') reply to Baker. Haha! Good one! :)

#78
Nov 25
2009
E cigarette

E cigarette

that wallpaper is awesome.

#79
Dec 8
2009
Anonymous

Anonymous

awesomeness!!

#80
Dec 9
2009
Eric Xian

Eric Xian

Awesome, if you have my flat, i would like to decorate the way you did.

#81
Dec 12
2009
Vince

Vince

Really really nice idea. Very much photoshopped tho. All the 'before' and 'after' photo's are identical, apart from the added color. Why, though. Because the idea is magnificent and imo possible to actually carry out, in stead of having to 'fake' it?

#82
Dec 19
2009
Jenny

Jenny

....Where can I get this?!?!

#83
Dec 20
2009
Al

Al

I love that site. Stumble

Wowwwwwwwwwwwww

#84
Dec 21
2009
bobby davies

bobby davies

wow i want one of these!!!

#85
Dec 21
2009
Anonymous

Anonymous

them chinease people ares so freaking smart!

#86
Dec 23
2009
kj

kj

this is the coolist thing ever

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