Or maybe it will prompt a return to the old days of painting graffiti with paintbrushes? (One still sees some really old slogans painted on walls in this fashion around here. I suppose you could pass off a revival of this method as post-ironic retro or something too.)
Even though there are obvious appeals to actually painting your graffiti, I think that speed is still a rather important factor for most. Stickerbombing anyone?
Or even stencilling. (see also: http://www.banksy.co.uk/ )
If you're going for the old-skool hip-hop look, aerosol is the go. Though crisp Adobe Illustrator-generated stencils are becoming more common. Then again, a lot of that has been appropriated by "guerilla" ad agencies and T-shirt fashion labels. These days, it's hard to tell what's culture-jamming agitprop, what's a logo campaign for a new energy drink or car, and what's connected with some dance-music night.
This technology may prove a deterrent for a short time, but I suspect it will have the same effect that any "zero-tolerance" policy has had on graffiti.
I.e., raise the stakes and make it into a more prestigious extreme sport?
Did you hear about the armed graffiti gangs in Spain who hold up trains, spraypaint them, and then send in photos to underground webzines, all for the prestige?
The printing of millions of stickers with the word "TOY" written on them, sticking those anywhere bad graffiti is found. That might work. Yeaaaah...
Or it might get the crap beaten out of you.
Most graffitists are weedy little fuckers, though.
Yes, but they move in groups, and listen to a lot of gangsta rap about "bustin' caps" of people who don't give you "respect".
They'll respect me with my cricket bat.
You've got a thing about cricket bats lately.
Graham, what effect would "TOY" stickers have?
As we all know (<http://ready.gov/biological_visual2.html>), terrorists will use spray cans to distribute biological agents. Maybe they got some Federal funding for this project....
Simple. Graffitists don't like being labelled "toys".
Big black drippy ugly lines from re-filled liquid boot polish bottles.
Mini sponge paint rollers plus stencils = silent and stylish + cheaper and option of mixing your own paints. Glass etch anyone?
It may discourage casual painters, but the pros will find a way to circumvent it, which might even be a good thing, because they have a sense of honour and aestethics and will most likely only target ugly, public structures. Still a 100 feet range? Sounds like it will be guarding very expensive neighbourhoods at best.