We have developed a way to write and erase patterns in soft materials, such as polymer-surfactant gels or films. The technique involves mixing a photochromic compound with the gel and irradiating with light. Photochromism refers to the reversible color change observed upon UV or visible light irradiation. In the present work, initially the gels containing the light-sensitive molecules are colorless. However upon irradiation with UV light, it attains a color. Subsequent irradiation with visible light turns the photo-sensitive molecule, hence the gel, back into a colorless state. We have exploited this property of light-sensitive molecules in creating patterns. The initial photochromic gel is a colorless and transparent material. We irradiate this though a mask, and in turn create a 3D colored pattern inside the gel. Thereafter, we can make the pattern to disappear by irradiating with visible light. There has been a lot of interest in these light-sensitive materials as they can be used in variety of applications, such as: optical data storage and processing, optical fibers, UV-light sensors, security printing applications, and leisure products. We will present visual evidence towards few of these applications.