We continue to receive interesting questions to problems that customers ask about that typically can be solved using our products. Here's one of the more recent questions that we answered.

"We are in need of a system to paint a circle on the ground with a diameter of approximately 20”. This could either be paint or lime or similar but must be environmentally friendly. The circle must be completely filled in and have well defined edges. They are to be used for aerial mapping targets. We would need some way of dispensing this quickly. We would need it for someone on foot who would only have one hand free, and to also use on a quad. We would be looking at creating approximately 40-50 targets each time. Would you have anything that fit’s this description, or any ideas if we had to get something custom made?"

And here is how we answered their challenge.

Here are a couple suggestions that I can offer.
1) Depending on how long you want these “targets” to last you could decide on the aerosol chalk (more temporary, yet eco-friendly) or EcoStripe water based paint (more long lasting yet environmentally friendly.
2) These products can be applied by hand in an inverted fashion after shaking. I would design a sleeve (similar to a beer can flexible insulating sleeve) and attaching a string/cable of the desired length with a spike or ballast device to mark the center of the circle.
3) A center point is fixed and then the aerosol product is applied following the stretched string in a circle.
4) While someone is scribing a new circle another team member can be filling in the previous painted circle.

The aerosol can of chalk or EcoStripe will cover close to 50 square feet. At about 2 square feet per target you should be able to cover those 50 targets with 2-4 aerosol cans.

The standard T-tip applicator provides for a nice uniform spray fan that works well for establishing a crisp boundary line.

There is a spray wand applicator which will reduce the bending over. This tool typically costs in the neighborhood of $25.00. The string arrangement would still work for this operation.

If you need a more permanent target then I would suggest the Durastripe aerosol field marking paint that can be used effectively on grass, rock, debris, etc. This is considered a permanent marking paint.

If an aerosol can not be used because of the pressurized can then you can use bulk acrylic latex paint or liquid chalk, dilute the paint at 1 gallon of water to 1 gallon of paint. You can put the diluted liquid in a manual pump-up sprayer used for herbicide or pest control. Also you could use a battery operated backpack sprayer. The liquid chalk will dissolve much quicker than the acrylic latex field marking paint.

One gallon of diluted paint/chalk should cover 100 square feet or 1-2 gallons of diluted paint/chalk.