Thread: Disappearing Ghost...

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Hello all..

Just wondering if there's anyone out there that has tried what i'm about to...

I have plans to create a Disappearing Ghost effect in the upper front window to my townhome. I guess it will be most similar Paris Disneyland's Ghost Bride that they added to the "Endless Hallway" scene.

I have a "LED" flickering candelabra that will be floating in the window (possibly on a mini FGG-type mechinism). Then every so often a hooded spectre will slowly appear out of nowhere holding the candelabra!

I realize this is easiest way might be to use the "Pepper's Ghost" effect however I don't believe that'll work too well as visitors will be looking up at the window at up to a possible 45 degree angle. Note - I am familiar with that effect having setup a successful version at a local haunt at a fur-trade era fort called Fort Langley in a suburb of Vancouver.

Instead I wa thinking of placing black background material around the window forming a sort of space approx 3' deep by the width of the window (about 5' I think??).

The ghost will be made with black meshy material instead of the usual "FGG white" but will be doused with Blacklight hairspray or similar.

I intend to have LED blacklight cluster bulbs trained on the ghost and will periodically fade in and out. When the lights are off I'm hoping the ghost itself will not be visible against the black background.

Anyone tried the black FGG effect and does anyone have any thoughts on the best way to have the lights fading in and out???

Sorry for the long post... guess I'm just thinking out loud. :OP

Darren

Ahoy ShadowMan.. sounds like the fadin' blacklight might work on UV paint on a scrim or black sheet, bu' think ye can nigh use flourescents ta fade in an' out. Incandescent bulbs'll dim/fade, but nigh flourescents. Otherwise, th' idea be sound ta me.. Good luck tho.

Capt. Jack

Hey Capt. Jack,

Thanks for the response... I have several flourescent fixtures but last year also obtained 3 LED UV 'cluster bulbs' with standard threaded bases . (see below)

MIE27BLB - E27 Base 38 Ultra Violet (UV) LED Blacklight Bulb

Although I have not tested them, I am hoping these will dim to an extent. If not, then I'm likely left with mounting said UV bulbs onto an oscillating fan motor and having the UV light 'sweep' the ghost. Not my preference as there's always the possibility of scattered or reflected UV light still illuminating the ghost.

Time will tell. I'm confident I can pull it off in some manner or another, just not certain of how yet!

Well T Minus 151 days and....

Darren

(deleted message)

You could try to pepper ghost it this way.

I think the scrim idea might just give you what you need.. utilizing lighting on the frontside will make the candelabra visible.. lit from the back and front you should be able to see both..

If you can't dim the LED blacklight, you could set up a mechanism that slowly opens and closes in front of the blacklight, like a camera iris or something. The light stays on inside a sealed box. The slider or iris slowly opens letting the light out when you want it.

That should do it if a dimmer does not.

Very cool... lots of ideas... thanks all...

JacksonManor... I hadn't thought of usinf the pepper's ghost that way... Thanks..

scream1973 & halloweenbob... Both very good alternatives! Now I have to choose one! What a dilema... LOL! Too many options... oh well ... better than none!

Will keep you all posted on which route I go!

OK so I now have the candelabra (soon to be converted with LED flicker candles). CHeck this out...



I now also have the programable christmas light strings destined to be converted to allow me to control my black light LED bulb! See How To: 4 channel 8 function 3Amp animation controller for $5

Also I just came across an unused can of the UV hairspray that'll be used to coat the black FCG character (Didn't know I had that). Yahoo!

Things are looking up for this...now I just need the ghost!

nice candelabra, glad to hear youve got it figured out. just another thought i came up with, what if you took one of those spinning party lights( not disco ball, but the multicolored ones) and replaced the bulb with a blacklight bulb, then hacked the 1/4 of the outer cover that spins. then completely black out the colored dots with electric tape or something. now while the ball spins only a 1/4 of the black light shines and if it spins slowly enough will give the appearance of fading in and out. this is probably confusing, but it might work. good luck