Comments on: Render frosted glass transparent with Scotch tape http://boingboing.net/2011/04/23/render-frosted-glass.html Brain candy for Happy Mutants Wed, 22 May 2013 16:06:00 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.4.1 By: RobDubya http://boingboing.net/2011/04/23/render-frosted-glass.html#comment-1090561 RobDubya Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-1090561 Bam! Macgyver'd! http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1r5IqYpmwPI&t=5m48s Bam! Macgyver’d!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1r5IqYpmwPI&t=5m48s

]]> By: Anonymous http://boingboing.net/2011/04/23/render-frosted-glass.html#comment-1090563 Anonymous Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-1090563 This has been around since 2010, and it also was explained, that this only works on the side with the frosting - which normally is the side that you don't have access to in the first place. So nothing is gained with this "trick", because you can put as much scotch tape on the flat side of the frosted glass as you like, it will still be frosted on the other side... This has been around since 2010, and it also was explained, that this only works on the side with the frosting – which normally is the side that you don’t have access to in the first place. So nothing is gained with this “trick”, because you can put as much scotch tape on the flat side of the frosted glass as you like, it will still be frosted on the other side…

]]> By: Blaine http://boingboing.net/2011/04/23/render-frosted-glass.html#comment-1090564 Blaine Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-1090564 Yet another reason to donate money to the Phoenix Foundation. Yet another reason to donate money to the Phoenix Foundation.

]]> By: Anonymous http://boingboing.net/2011/04/23/render-frosted-glass.html#comment-1090569 Anonymous Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-1090569 Condensation does the same thing Condensation does the same thing

]]> By: djn http://boingboing.net/2011/04/23/render-frosted-glass.html#comment-1090570 djn Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-1090570 This is basically the same idea as something Babbage described: <blockquote>I will here mention another mode of treating glass, which may occasionally be found worth communicating.<br><br>Ground glass is frequently employed for transmitting light into an apartment, whilst it effectually prevents persons on the outside from seeing into the room. Rough plate-glass is now in very common use for the same purpose. In both these circumstances there is a reciprocity, for those who are within such rooms cannot see external forms.<br><br>It may in some cases be desirable partially to remedy this difficulty. In my own case, I cut with my diamond a small disc of window-glass, about two inches in diameter, and cemented it with Canada balsam to the rough side of my rough plate-glass. I then suspended a circular piece of card by a thread, so as to cover the circular disc. When the Canada balsam is dry, it fills up all the little inequalities of the rough glass with a transparent substance, of nearly the same refracting power; consequently, on drawing aside the suspended card, the forms of external objects become tolerably well defined.<br><br>The smooth surface of the rough plate-glass, not being perfectly flat, produces a slight distortion, which might, if it were worth while, be cured by cementing another disc of glass upon that side. In case the ground glass itself happens to be plate-glass, the image of external objects is perfect.</blockquote> <a href="http://books.google.com/books?id=Fa1JAAAAMAAJ">Passages from the life of a philosopher</a> (p. 383) This is basically the same idea as something Babbage described:

I will here mention another mode of treating glass, which may occasionally be found worth communicating.

Ground glass is frequently employed for transmitting light into an apartment, whilst it effectually prevents persons on the outside from seeing into the room. Rough plate-glass is now in very common use for the same purpose. In both these circumstances there is a reciprocity, for those who are within such rooms cannot see external forms.

It may in some cases be desirable partially to remedy this difficulty. In my own case, I cut with my diamond a small disc of window-glass, about two inches in diameter, and cemented it with Canada balsam to the rough side of my rough plate-glass. I then suspended a circular piece of card by a thread, so as to cover the circular disc. When the Canada balsam is dry, it fills up all the little inequalities of the rough glass with a transparent substance, of nearly the same refracting power; consequently, on drawing aside the suspended card, the forms of external objects become tolerably well defined.

The smooth surface of the rough plate-glass, not being perfectly flat, produces a slight distortion, which might, if it were worth while, be cured by cementing another disc of glass upon that side. In case the ground glass itself happens to be plate-glass, the image of external objects is perfect.

Passages from the life of a philosopher (p. 383)

]]> By: Revisorius http://boingboing.net/2011/04/23/render-frosted-glass.html#comment-1090571 Revisorius Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-1090571 What's weird to me is that things like this get discovered in 2011. What else are we missing? What’s weird to me is that things like this get discovered in 2011. What else are we missing?

]]> By: Anonymous http://boingboing.net/2011/04/23/render-frosted-glass.html#comment-1090573 Anonymous Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-1090573 Not an issue in privacy as long as you put the frosted surface on the inside of the room you're protecting. e.g. if it's a shower glass door, the frosting should be where the nekkid people are. Not an issue in privacy as long as you put the frosted surface on the inside of the room you’re protecting.

e.g. if it’s a shower glass door, the frosting should be where the nekkid people are.

]]> By: Anonymous http://boingboing.net/2011/04/23/render-frosted-glass.html#comment-1090576 Anonymous Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-1090576 Using a spray bottle of water generally works too. Using a spray bottle of water generally works too.

]]> By: Anonymous http://boingboing.net/2011/04/23/render-frosted-glass.html#comment-1090577 Anonymous Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-1090577 Frosted drinking glasses don't look so frosted when full of liquid. Probably the same principle. Frosted drinking glasses don’t look so frosted when full of liquid. Probably the same principle.

]]> By: Anonymous http://boingboing.net/2011/04/23/render-frosted-glass.html#comment-1090581 Anonymous Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-1090581 This is nothing new. Same effect if you have a frosted shower door and it gets wet. Only works though on the side with the imperfections, which is weird on MacGyver, since it's usually on the inside, not the outside. This is nothing new. Same effect if you have a frosted shower door and it gets wet. Only works though on the side with the imperfections, which is weird on MacGyver, since it’s usually on the inside, not the outside.

]]> By: dancentury http://boingboing.net/2011/04/23/render-frosted-glass.html#comment-1091352 dancentury Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-1091352 and to think: I've been using my face grease to turn these things transparent all along. and to think: I’ve been using my face grease to turn these things transparent all along.

]]> By: confluence http://boingboing.net/2011/04/23/render-frosted-glass.html#comment-1090586 confluence Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-1090586 This didn't get "discovered" in 2011; it just got put on YouTube in 2011. I'm sure a million people have also noticed that a similar thing happens when you put water, vaseline or any other clear runny thing on frosted glass. Other astonishing tape facts: you can write on matte tape in pencil and rub out the writing, repeatedly, without leaving much of an afterimage or damaging the tape. So you can use it to protect the parts of your tabletop RPG character sheet which see the most wear and tear, like the places you write down your hit points and ammo. In fact, you could coat the entire page in tape and make an everlasting, reusable character sheet in case you die and need to roll up a completely different character. Let me get my video camera... ;) This didn’t get “discovered” in 2011; it just got put on YouTube in 2011. I’m sure a million people have also noticed that a similar thing happens when you put water, vaseline or any other clear runny thing on frosted glass.

Other astonishing tape facts: you can write on matte tape in pencil and rub out the writing, repeatedly, without leaving much of an afterimage or damaging the tape. So you can use it to protect the parts of your tabletop RPG character sheet which see the most wear and tear, like the places you write down your hit points and ammo. In fact, you could coat the entire page in tape and make an everlasting, reusable character sheet in case you die and need to roll up a completely different character.

Let me get my video camera… ;)

]]> By: Pantograph http://boingboing.net/2011/04/23/render-frosted-glass.html#comment-1090589 Pantograph Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-1090589 <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_c6HsiixFS8">Rainbows! Near the ground!</a> Rainbows! Near the ground!

]]> By: PaulR http://boingboing.net/2011/04/23/render-frosted-glass.html#comment-1090594 PaulR Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-1090594 Licking the glass will work too! G'head, try it. Licking the glass will work too!

G’head, try it.

]]> By: PaulR http://boingboing.net/2011/04/23/render-frosted-glass.html#comment-1090595 PaulR Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-1090595 Someone needs to post a video of someone watching this video pointing out the spelling and grammar errors. /Am I the only one that suspects that lady is a Tea Partier? Someone needs to post a video of someone watching this video pointing out the spelling and grammar errors.

/Am I the only one that suspects that lady is a Tea Partier?

]]> By: ecobore http://boingboing.net/2011/04/23/render-frosted-glass.html#comment-1090603 ecobore Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-1090603 This is pretty common knowledge.. ever tried washing frosted glass? Does the same thing temporarily.. But of course all of this only works on the frosted side! This is pretty common knowledge.. ever tried washing frosted glass? Does the same thing temporarily.. But of course all of this only works on the frosted side!

]]> By: kjulig http://boingboing.net/2011/04/23/render-frosted-glass.html#comment-1090604 kjulig Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-1090604 <blockquote>But of course all of this only works on the frosted side!</blockquote> Really?!? Wow, you've blown my mind. But wait, what if _both sides_ are frosted?

But of course all of this only works on the frosted side!

Really?!? Wow, you’ve blown my mind. But wait, what if _both sides_ are frosted?

]]> By: Anonymous http://boingboing.net/2011/04/23/render-frosted-glass.html#comment-1091120 Anonymous Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-1091120 Only thing I would say with this is WATCH OUT!!! Some places, especially banks, are now using a vinyl laminate that gives the effect of a frosted surface. The stuff is very thin and scratches very easily, so if you put tape on it and scratch it up, you might put a hole in a $200 sheet of material! Only thing I would say with this is WATCH OUT!!! Some places, especially banks, are now using a vinyl laminate that gives the effect of a frosted surface.

The stuff is very thin and scratches very easily, so if you put tape on it and scratch it up, you might put a hole in a $200 sheet of material!

]]> By: EvilSpirit http://boingboing.net/2011/04/23/render-frosted-glass.html#comment-1090865 EvilSpirit Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-1090865 <blockquote>Since the glass, the glue, and the tape are clear, filling in the imperfections (the frosting) makes the glass clear.</blockquote> The problem with this explanation is that air, which is what was inside those imperfections in the first place, is <em>also</em> clear, yet it did not have the same effect. The missing link is probably that the adhesive and the tape also have a similar index of refraction to the glass.

Since the glass, the glue, and the tape are clear, filling in the imperfections (the frosting) makes the glass clear.

The problem with this explanation is that air, which is what was inside those imperfections in the first place, is also clear, yet it did not have the same effect. The missing link is probably that the adhesive and the tape also have a similar index of refraction to the glass.

]]> By: AJE http://boingboing.net/2011/04/23/render-frosted-glass.html#comment-1090627 AJE Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-1090627 Smearing glycerol (n~1.47) on the glass (n~1.51) should make it almost as clear as though it were never frosted if the frosting is merely fine scale etching and not painted- it's the refractive index that matters. drop a piece of glass into glycerol! Smearing glycerol (n~1.47) on the glass (n~1.51) should make it almost as clear as though it were never frosted if the frosting is merely fine scale etching and not painted- it’s the refractive index that matters. drop a piece of glass into glycerol!

]]> By: nemryn http://boingboing.net/2011/04/23/render-frosted-glass.html#comment-1090632 nemryn Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-1090632 Wouldn't this just be laminating your character sheet? Wouldn’t this just be laminating your character sheet?

]]> By: TooGoodToCheck http://boingboing.net/2011/04/23/render-frosted-glass.html#comment-1090893 TooGoodToCheck Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-1090893 Among a dozen replies which all correctly assess that this discovery is pretty meh, you sir have brought something pretty frickin awesome to the table. That the prior art on this discovery was Charles Babbage is _really_ cool. Among a dozen replies which all correctly assess that this discovery is pretty meh, you sir have brought something pretty frickin awesome to the table. That the prior art on this discovery was Charles Babbage is _really_ cool.

]]> By: Anonymous http://boingboing.net/2011/04/23/render-frosted-glass.html#comment-1090898 Anonymous Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-1090898 False. If you have ever owned anything that is frosted glass you would know that getting it wet disables the abilities of the frosted glass. So, putting the frosted side on the "nekkid" side would actualy make it bad. In fact, using frosted glass for a shower would be useless as well, that is why I have always used plastic frosted doors, or plexiglass. False. If you have ever owned anything that is frosted glass you would know that getting it wet disables the abilities of the frosted glass. So, putting the frosted side on the “nekkid” side would actualy make it bad. In fact, using frosted glass for a shower would be useless as well, that is why I have always used plastic frosted doors, or plexiglass.

]]> By: johnocomedy http://boingboing.net/2011/04/23/render-frosted-glass.html#comment-1090904 johnocomedy Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-1090904 didn't know that about frosted glass, also didn't know a youtube URL could start a video anywhere on the timeline, thanks <b>RobDubya</b> <break> two facts for the price of two Boings! didn’t know that about frosted glass, also didn’t know a youtube URL could start a video anywhere on the timeline, thanks RobDubya

two facts for the price of two Boings!

]]> By: Anonymous http://boingboing.net/2011/04/23/render-frosted-glass.html#comment-1090652 Anonymous Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-1090652 You can also do this with spray gloss. You can also do this with spray gloss.

]]> By: von Bobo http://boingboing.net/2011/04/23/render-frosted-glass.html#comment-1090917 von Bobo Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-1090917 magnets... how do they work? magnets… how do they work?

]]> By: Jerril http://boingboing.net/2011/04/23/render-frosted-glass.html#comment-1090672 Jerril Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-1090672 Yes, but with a different kind of plastic - normal lamination plastic does not take pencil marks at all, the smooth glossy surface doesn't provide enough friction. If the matte plastic from scotch tape was available in large sheets or for lamination, I would be all over that for RPG maps :) In large sheets all I need is some spray adhesive and voilla, home lamination with a pencil friendly surface. I would be all OVER that. You used to be able to get rolls of clear, adhesive-backed "shelf liner" at hardware stores, but apparently the natural wood look went out of fashion and they only have the opaque stuff now. It was the closest stuff to this concept, and it still didn't take pencil very well. Yes, but with a different kind of plastic – normal lamination plastic does not take pencil marks at all, the smooth glossy surface doesn’t provide enough friction.

If the matte plastic from scotch tape was available in large sheets or for lamination, I would be all over that for RPG maps :)

In large sheets all I need is some spray adhesive and voilla, home lamination with a pencil friendly surface. I would be all OVER that.

You used to be able to get rolls of clear, adhesive-backed “shelf liner” at hardware stores, but apparently the natural wood look went out of fashion and they only have the opaque stuff now. It was the closest stuff to this concept, and it still didn’t take pencil very well.

]]> By: farudo http://boingboing.net/2011/04/23/render-frosted-glass.html#comment-1090952 farudo Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-1090952 you could break the glass too. then its really easy to see thru you could break the glass too. then its really easy to see thru

]]> By: Anonymous http://boingboing.net/2011/04/23/render-frosted-glass.html#comment-1090701 Anonymous Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-1090701 I have found the transparent shelf liner at my local dollar store. They get it in 2 or 3 times a year. I don't know if you can write on it in pencil as I haven't tried. I purchased it to "laminate" some possible paper printouts and such but still haven't tried it on anything yet. I did a search on Amazon and found the following: http://www.amazon.com/s/ref=nb_sb_noss?url=search-alias%3Daps&field-keywords=transparent+shelf+liner&x=0&y=0 I have found the transparent shelf liner at my local dollar store. They get it in 2 or 3 times a year. I don’t know if you can write on it in pencil as I haven’t tried. I purchased it to “laminate” some possible paper printouts and such but still haven’t tried it on anything yet.

I did a search on Amazon and found the following:

http://www.amazon.com/s/ref=nb_sb_noss?url=search-alias%3Daps&field-keywords=transparent+shelf+liner&x=0&y=0

]]> By: BikerRay http://boingboing.net/2011/04/23/render-frosted-glass.html#comment-1090986 BikerRay Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-1090986 Grease on paper works well, too. Many years ago, a secretary where I worked showed me a trick... she sprayed people's pay envelopes with circuit cooler (freon or similar, I believe) and could read the pay amounts inside. When the coolant evaporates, it leaves no trace. Why she admitted the trick to me, I have no idea. Grease on paper works well, too. Many years ago, a secretary where I worked showed me a trick… she sprayed people’s pay envelopes with circuit cooler (freon or similar, I believe) and could read the pay amounts inside. When the coolant evaporates, it leaves no trace. Why she admitted the trick to me, I have no idea.

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