Parallel invention goes on all the time and everywhere but maybe these two tricks wlll be new to a lot of halfbakers with an artistic flair and a need for immedate cashflow - like one of my grand-daughters. She arranges [and rearranges!] sprigs of graceful vegetation on the glass of a black and white photocopier and then adds touches of water-colour to the prints. Signed, they sell well at market-stalls, no two being alike. . . . The other trick which we invented/re-invented? together, was seeking a quick way to flatten flowers and leaves for the copier. We tried the microwave, with instant results. We arranged non-bunchy-type flowers and leaves between layers of paper under a weight and used very short time-settings.-- rayfo, Aug 13 2000 Uh, I think PeterSealy forgot the category of "just plain really stupid." (Not this idea, just for the record).-- rmutt, Aug 25 2000 why would you photocopy your microwave?-- benfrost, Mar 21 2001 random, halfbakery