Inventor makes machine to create custom-made clouds

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If you thought cloud gazing was a good way to clear your mind of the pressures of modern life, then think again.

Pretty soon, when we're lying staring at the sky, we're likely to see Nike swooshes or Mercedes insignias floating above our heads thanks to a new cloud machine made by magician and Hollywood special effects entrepreneur Francisco Guerra.

His US-based company Snowmakers has developed a machine that can produce floating logos - or Flogos - made from soap and helium gas clouds molded into almost any shape a company wants.

Reaching new heights: Flogos come in all shapes such as a peace sign, a girl..

The shapes can be as large as 4ft across and travel for 30 miles at heights of up to 20,000 ft.

Mr Guerra envisages the Flogos being used for promotions and events but in a more environmentally-friendly way than other traditional ways of aerial advertising such as banners, sky-writing or balloon launches.

... the Olympic rings

... or even Mickey Mouse

But, like any outdoor promotion, success depends very much on the right weather conditions. Mr Guerra said: 'You want some wind because you want them to travel. If there's no wind they just spiral upward slowly.

'We've got a ghost shape and on a calm day it looks like everyone is going to heaven.'