I have been using an old red laser level for years for hanging pictures, checking door jambs etc. Whilst I still have it I was intrigued by it and decided to give it a try. It improves on the old technology in several ways!* The green lines are very bright compared to the red lines on my old device. However, Zokoun advises against using it outdoors, so it seems optimized for indoor use where it is really excels!* This unit can be used on a tripod or held in almost any position by attaching the included magnetic base. when placed on any type of metal surface. My old Black & Decker layer had to be placed against the wall you wanted to project the line onto to limit the surfaces that could be lit by the line. If you look at the second of my attached images you will see that you can use this plane in this way by holding it close to the wall and you will notice how bright the projected line looks. The picture on the left shows the result of setting up the spirit level on a tripod in the hall on the upper floor. If you look closely you can see that the line is projected on 5 faces - the floor, the ceiling, the left and right sides and the front wall. It is very versatile and useful, indescribable! One caveat with this use is that it can be difficult to position yourself to use some parts of the line, as your body can block the beam when trying to mark or align with a position. However, you must take this into account when using it in this mode. This is a self-leveling device that appears as a series of solid lines when held within approximately 4 degrees of horizontal. For stability, it is best to mount it on a tripod or use a magnetic base. If it's outside of those 4 degrees, the lines will flash, indicating that it needs to be moved slightly to achieve self-alignment lock. It can also be used at any angle to provide lines parallel or perpendicular to that angle. To do this, set the spirit level to the desired angle and manually engage the latch. If you cannot read by hand, you may find it difficult to turn off the laser. To do this, you must first turn on the manual lock and then press the power button. This is a protection that ensures the floating leveling mechanism is locked when the unit is not in use and can be left in a tool bag which could damage or fail the leveling system. This is a great tool and fun toy! If you're picky like me when it comes to aligning your photos or making sure your borders are even, you'll love this device!