Banana Mania – it’s not a fake
November 12, 2010 @ 12:28 in Inspiration by Studio Ludens
Yesterday, this decorative banana was featured on BoingBoing. Some folks over there were convinced the laser-engraved banana was a fake, because (1) the pattern looks like an overlay, (2) the hand is too small compared to the banana and (3) none of the fingers actually curl around the banana.
The photo / banana / hand that was deemed “unrealistic”
I understand that deep-rooted skepticism is the safest stance in a world where most of what seems real isn’t actually so. Let me therefore help you regain your faith in laser-engraved bananas again 
.
This is a real lasercutter
The banana has been cut on this lasercutter in our office. It’s not a dummy, it’s real. And don’t get started about how the shadows look off…
This is a real hand
The hand holding the banana belongs to Lotte and is indeed not as humongous as mine. It is real nonetheless. And to those who called it a midget hand: that’s just rude. Feel free to use the comments to apologize to Lotte.
This is a real pattern
I made the pattern with Repper, our pattern tool. It’s not an ancient islamic pattern, it was created 1 day ago.
This is a real engraved banana
I guess only a video would convince the true non-believers. Granted, I could have imposed the pattern on this video as well, but that would take much more time than just engraving the banana (which took about 15 minutes).
This is a fake
Sure I can make a fake if I want to. Here is one. Now convince me it is real .
LuisDaniel said on November 12, 2010
Yay! I just see it in BoingBoing and, even doesn’t post a comment, my mind yelled “PHOTOSHOOP!” so yes, I’m sorry. I’m a believer now.
But the hand looked fine to me… just the banana is too big to curl fingers over it.
Benjamin said on November 12, 2010
Hey Wouter,
Hoe vet! Je bent gewoon onderwerp van discussie op mijn lievelingsblog! Keep up the good work en wie weet wordt dat laatste plaatje nog eens realiteit
Groet! Ben
Wouter Walmink said on November 12, 2010
Hey Benjamin,
I know, Boingboing is ook mijn dagelijkse dosis ‘interesting geeky news’; super om er zelf eens tussen te staan. Eigenlijk hadden we nu met Glow Repper patronen op de Admirant of zo moeten projecteren! Misschien een idee voor volgend jaar.
Saraj said on November 12, 2010
My friend sent me the link about your banana. Repper is a laser engravers dream toy
Love it. This is why I don’t try to make the photos of laser engraved iPads on my site look too perfect. Softboxes and white backgrounds always have a fake illustration feel to them, though they do look awesome.
Studio Ludens said on November 12, 2010
@Saraj you are totally right. Your laser-engraved iPads look awesome! I hope you will enjoy using Repper
Please share the results with the rest of the pattern-lovers in the community. Good luck!
Saraj said on November 12, 2010
Is there any way to create vector images from it as output? I guess since the input is bitmap the output has to be too… I’ll definitely share.
Wouter Walmink said on November 12, 2010
Vector is not supported yet, but it’s on our wish list too! For now you could convert ‘vector-like’ bitmap images to vector afterward using Illustrator (Flash is apparently also quite good at that).
Can’t want to see Repper patterns on iPads!
JEff said on November 12, 2010
Man, that sure looks like that banana has had that pattern drawn onto it.
(Hey – thanks – you made me giggle. Maybe if you showed the cutter burning the nana? With nana flavoured smoke and all.)
Studio Ludens said on November 12, 2010
@JEff no worries, we love to see people giggle
. Good idea to show the laser in action. I’ll see what we can do!
Scott Knauer said on November 12, 2010
Great post! I haven’t played with Repper in months. Now I know how I’m going to kill some time this afternoon when I’m caught up with client projects!
Studio Ludens said on November 12, 2010
@Scott nice to hear that you are picking up Repper again. Let us know what you are making
. You can upload your designs to the community.
leo said on November 13, 2010
and they call it art? or wast of time? rubbish sorry
Studio Ludens said on November 14, 2010
I -for one- don’t call it art, just a highly decorative banana and a fun experiment. I also think the segmentation between what’s art and not art is rather subjective, arbitrary and very much depending on your definition
Gourdo said on November 13, 2010
AAAAAHHH! An islamic banana. The terrorists have finally won!
Wouter Walmink said on November 14, 2010
Patterns equal Islam? I’d say it’s a Star of David in the middle!
Funny detail: when I was a kid I used to film ridiculous cooking shows with some friends called “Cooking with bananas”. In one episode, the bananas turned against us and invaded our home kamikaze style. Don’t bother searching, it ain’t on YouTube
Jamie said on November 14, 2010
Wish I had access to a laser engraver!
And since noone’s said it: Lotte has lovely hands and anyone who said otherwise should post pics of their hands to compare and contrast. and possibly laser engrave.
Lotte said on November 14, 2010
Thanks Jamie
Jeremy Hogg said on November 15, 2010
That banana peeled way too easily – it must be a fake banana.
Rachel said on November 15, 2010
How did the banana not go all squishy from the heat? Did you freeze it before hand? Or was it a lower heat?
Wouter Walmink said on November 15, 2010
Actually, it’s remarkable how much power you need to really burn the banana. Now I do wonder what would happen with a frozen banana….
patrick levy said on November 15, 2010
now my regular bananas look totally boring.
Julien Denoyer said on November 18, 2010
Nice one! Way to proove it…I didn’t even see anything wrong with it to begin with…
Sarah Farrukh said on December 31, 2010
wow its so Amazing banana can’t believe its real
Julia Marina said on November 20, 2014
Hey, how much power and speed did you use on the laser to engrave the banana? Thanks! btw amazing job!