About graffiti
Graffiti varies in size and form depending on the materials used, the surface written on and the style of the graffiti itself, from etchings on street furniture through to spray paint covering an entire wall.
Murals
These are also called ‘pieces’ (short for masterpiece) by graffiti writers and are the more ‘artistic’ forms of graffiti. They usually contain large complex lettering and are often a form of ‘tagging’ (see below) that cannot be easily deciphered and will usually include cartoon characters.
Throw up
A throw up can be from one or two letters to a whole word or a whole roll call of names. Throw ups are generally only one or two colours, no more. They are either quickly done bubble letters or very simple pieces using only two colours.
Tags
The most basic form of graffiti, a writer's signature made with marker or spray paint. It is the writer's logo, his/her stylised personal signature. The vast majority of graffiti takes the form of tags.
Etching
This is another highly damaging form of graffiti. It is very common on buses and trains and involves the scratching of glass with a drill bit or other sharp implement. Etching has become a serious problem for transport organisations and they are becoming more and more concerned about the increasing costs of replacing etched glass.
Scratching
Carried out mainly, but not exclusively, by juveniles, it is a very common form of graffiti and can occur anywhere where a mark can be scratched into the surface.