Create TRON-like Light Wakes With Your Bike [Instructables How-To]

The special effects and futuristic concepts of 2010’s TRON: Legacy have inspired everything from clothing and dance routines to magazine spreads and furniture, and the TRON-inspired projects keep on coming.

This week’s How-To from Instructables user Simon Haydn teaches you how to build a mechanism that lets you weave custom light trails from your bike à la Sam Flynn, as captured by long-exposure photography. The effect is reminiscent of the rainbow installation we blogged about yesterday, but much more accessible.

Some materials you’ll need to build your mobile light are electrical trunking, clear perspex, acetate, light bulbs and holders, wire, a heavy duty battery, a switch, zip ties, a drill, a screwdriver, pliers, wire strippers, scissors, and a bike. Haydn found that using lightbulbs (8 6v 6watt bicycle dynamo MES bulbs) worked better and were brighter than EL wire or LEDs, and built a casing for them using plastic electrical trunking and the acetate sheets. Hint: reflective electrical tape placed inside will increase the reflectivity.

Mount the light to the bike using zip ties and a bungee cord, placing the switch in a place you can easily access it while biking.

Grab a photographer friend and have them set up a tripod and camera set to a long exposure. This photographer, Laura Alrded, used a cable release to prevent unnecessary shaking. Reduce the noise by setting the ISO to 200 and the aperture to 18.0. Then experiment with different speeds and exposures to vary your light ribbons.

Visit the Instructables How-To for further instruction, more detailed photographs and tips on where to buy materials.