Thank you for reading Blerline, Mobile Device Trace Pads Kickstarter Project Hands-On Review.
This project, blerline, feels like the exact opposite of the review I posted yesterday for the DotPen kickstarter project. That took an analog tool and used tech to make it digital. This project used tech, specifically Apple mobile devices and tablets, to inspire an analog use. I know that’s a bit buzzword happy but I hope that gets the point across.
This pad of sticky notes are semi-transparent and shaped specifically to fit the screens of these devices so many use and love. The idea is that everyone from crafters and hobbyist to engineers and designers can use their devices to find items that they can then transport over to the blerline page and further manipulate. I instantly thought of tracing particular shapes for my kids but I think they are a bit young. A huge plus is that you can manipulate the screen through the page which would also be a huge con for a three year old. I used these pages for several tasks that I think are only a hint at all the things people will find to do with this product. I must mention that the version I am reviewing is made to fit the iPad Air perfectly but I am using it with a full size older model. It might not hug the edges perfectly but it covers the screen completely and works fine.
I opened an atlas app on the iPad and traced the globe and some continents. I traced some rivers and mountains too but it was hard to get super detailed as the paper isn’t perfectly see through in a lighted room. If you turn the lights off you can see the screen almost perfectly and if you aren’t careful you can even lose things you’ve drawn if they perfectly match up with the screen underneath. I then did a quick search for hand lettering examples and traced a hand lettered script saying “Welcome” on to the blerline page. I love the idea of hand lettering but I have no training at all. I decided to go freehand after I got the outline and I turned off the iPad to further embellish the script. It works perfectly and if I had a bit more skill here it would have looked much better. The paper is a bit textured though so my lines weren’t crisp even when I was able to get a flowing line going.
After doing a few I decided to stick them to a wall in a row. I could see this as a great way to work on projects either professionally or as a hobby. I can easily display these pages that I’ve taken from my device so I can continue the project on paper or dive back into the device.
This project is exciting because even though anyone can take some tracing paper and cut it out and trace something from a device this particular format makes it a quickly repeatable and easy to have on hand.
To use these you simply peel off the top page from the pad and place it on your device screen once you have what you want to trace on the screen. Because the sticky part is on one side you can easily flip up the page if you need more detail or want to quickly navigate a menu. You can manipulate the screen through the paper so you have to be somewhat careful when tracing but I didn’t have any issues once I got used to it. I sketched in pencil first most of the time and then traced over with pen.
I think these are decent prices for the qty you get and they feel like they are a quality product. The project currently has just under a week left and needs just under $1000 more to hit their goal. I know some of you have already jumped on since I posted the project on social media but if you haven’t then you can go check it out here: http://kck.st/1m4IBC6 This is also one of the lowest entry point projects I can remember seeing on Kickstarter as just $8 will get you actual product. $4 would have as there was an early bird product level at that price but the slots are filled.
-Heath
@WeThePPIL
This product was provided by blerline for review. There was no monetary compensation for the review and all opinions in the review are mine.
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