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What the hell?

This project began as simple conversation until Kris Smith (our implied leader) took initiative. Using the 3M website, he found RGB values for each of the Post-it note colors. He created a color palette using these colors in Corel Photo Paint Pro then tried various images with the palette. We found that photos did not generally work well, as the Post-it palette didn't represent an even distribution of the entire visible spectrum. Kris, being an art minor, created a dragon using the palette.

Cody Raspen created a python program to read the image, pixel by pixel. The program mapped the RGB values of the image to single letter codes which we chose arbitrarily. The colors were totaled and used as a shopping list for Staples. The program was then updated to output the grid of letter codes to a Tab-Separated-Value format which we imported into Microsoft Excel. Using Excel, we imported the TSV grid, formatted, and printed a copy for each person helping.

The simplest (but most time consuming) part of the project was actually sticking the Post-its to the wall, although it did require some strategy. Our only concern was dealing with security, should they happen to pass by. The plan called for the mosaic to appear overnight, just in time for club day. Using a level, we taped a string to the wall to give a horizontal guide. A plumb bob was used to affix a vertical guide. Posting began from the center of the wall moving outward. This was done to avoid mismatched rows and columns from people working inward from each end.

Before each sheet was posted, we swiped the bottom with a 3M Restickable Glue Stick, which is essentially the same type of adhesive used in Post-it notes. This was necessary to prevent the bottom portion of the Post-it Notes from curling away from the wall. The glue stick ran out near the end of construction, and we had to resort to using tape for the last few tiles. After the entire image was posted, we went over the sheets that were beginning to peel. Using a cloth and some extra force, we rubbed the Post-its into the texture of the wall, providing more surface area for the sheets to stick. Naturally, the project wasn't complete without several photos.

The next day

John Mishanski and Matt Bickert visited the mosaic at 7:30 the next morning to make sure everything was ok. To our amazement, only one note fell off. Since then everything has remained intact despite the mass of traffic through the lobby each day.

A link to the webserver containing the raw images was set up at approximately 4:30 PM. The link was posted in John Mishanski's AIM profile, and sent via IM to a few people. We watched the logs and soon noticed that word of the project was spreading quickly via word of mouth. We created this website to further explain the project and facilitate this spread.

Interesting Notes

Images

Beginning Construction.. med large med large med large med large med large med large med large med large

Nearing Completion.. med large med large med large med large med large med large med large med large med large med large med large med large