Comments on: Help Me Find Invisiclues 2000

By: Kevin Savetz

Kevin Savetz — Mon, 31 Mar 2008 21:06:39 +0000

Jason: what are you quoting in the citation? An interview from Get Lamp or a book or …? Thanks.

By: Josh Renaud

Josh Renaud — Sun, 30 Mar 2008 04:08:51 +0000

I think the problem with the red cellophane, at least in Infocom’s case, is that you could too easily reveal clues inadvertently.

I don’t know if that bears on Jason’s usage or not.

By: Lazlo Nibble

Lazlo Nibble — Fri, 28 Mar 2008 10:11:06 +0000

I think the term of art is “pen reactive ink”. Seems like all you need is a) a supplier for the ink and b) a printer who’s willing to use it for your job if you tell them where to get it.

By: Anonymous

Anonymous — Fri, 28 Mar 2008 02:44:17 +0000

I’ll third the notion that having a hidden message that can only be seen by using the piece of red cellophane would be awesome. I don’t remember any old games that used invisible ink but I certainly remember a few games that came with the little red cellophane viewer thingies that would allow you too see hidden text.

By: Jim Leonard

Jim Leonard — Fri, 28 Mar 2008 00:33:04 +0000

An easier option, but not what you want, is to do hintbooks the other way: Print light gray answers underneath a perturbed red busy/noisy pattern. Then you look through the included red gel to see “through” the red pattern to see the answer. Sierra used this for both copy-protection and hint books.

By: Josef

Josef — Thu, 27 Mar 2008 20:52:57 +0000

“Another idea — you could autograph each copy of the DVD with one of those blacklight pens. That would be kind of neat and sneaky.” – Flack

Awesome idea, but no longer a secret or sneaky now you’ve posted that

By: Palad

Palad — Thu, 27 Mar 2008 17:10:03 +0000

OK, let's try this again. How about http://www.pharmagraphics.com/product-authentication.php ? They offer 'Chemically Reactive Ink - An invisible "watermark" is revealed with special pen authentication'.

By: Palad

Palad — Thu, 27 Mar 2008 16:48:11 +0000

Sorry, maybe I should read more carefully. I skimmed right over your whole “Lee Publications” paragraph.

By: palad

palad — Thu, 27 Mar 2008 16:44:39 +0000

You could see if the folks at http://www.leemagicpen.com/ would do custom orders.

By: Flack

Flack — Thu, 27 Mar 2008 16:41:20 +0000

Just brainstorming here … are you dead set on this specific technology? I remember lots of ways text was hidden or obscured back then. For example, I remember owning a code wheel that had blue writing on a red background. The text was impossible to read without one of those red plastic filters. That might be a neat thing to include on the DVD’s package.

Another idea — you could autograph each copy of the DVD with one of those blacklight pens. That would be kind of neat and sneaky.

My dad retired from the printing business after putting in 30 years. I’ll ask him if he has any ideas about your elusive ink.