Moonflower light tunnel = safer alternative to green laser vortex?
I'm still uncomfortable with the idea of pointing a green laser vortex at an audience, due to real or merely perceived safety issues. But searching around on YouTube I found what may be a cool and safer alternative - using a DJ style moonflower light plus fog. I'm interested in potentially setting one of these up in my two car garage. Here's the video I found. It also reminds me of the light tunnel effect seen at the beginning of Epcot Center Norway's Maelstrom ride, where you're starting to ascend at the beginning of the attraction:
In a garage, it should be dark enough and I wouldn't have to worry about wind dispersing the fog too quickly. However, it wouldn't be a Haunted Garage. Don't want it to be a walkthru or to attract interested trick-or-treaters. Is there any kind of inexpensive mesh netting I could hang to the outside of the garage door to discourage anyone trying to walk into the garage? Maybe like those child safety pool screens you sometimes see.
Wonder if there's something strong enough to keep little kids out. But that would let enough light in to see the moonflower light tunnel. Also makes me wonder about scrim. Having some sort of cool scene in the garage, viewable from the driveway part of the time, e.g. front lighting it, then backlighting it on a timer.
Anyway, I think the guy mentions using a ~$150 American DJ moonflower unit. That's a bit out of my price range. Any other model suggestions? Recently saw a large rotating multi-color "globe" light at Party City for $15. Can't help but wonder if I could mount it horizontally rather than have it stand vertically, and sub that in for a moonflower light tunnel effect. Don't know if it would be bright enough. Or if I could mod it to use a brighter light bulb.
Here's the Party City item:
Spinning Rainbow Light 9in SKU: 215559
http://www.partycity.com/product/spinning+rainbow+party+light.do?from=Search&navSet=spinning%20rainbow%20light
In a garage, it should be dark enough and I wouldn't have to worry about wind dispersing the fog too quickly. However, it wouldn't be a Haunted Garage. Don't want it to be a walkthru or to attract interested trick-or-treaters. Is there any kind of inexpensive mesh netting I could hang to the outside of the garage door to discourage anyone trying to walk into the garage? Maybe like those child safety pool screens you sometimes see.
Wonder if there's something strong enough to keep little kids out. But that would let enough light in to see the moonflower light tunnel. Also makes me wonder about scrim. Having some sort of cool scene in the garage, viewable from the driveway part of the time, e.g. front lighting it, then backlighting it on a timer.
Anyway, I think the guy mentions using a ~$150 American DJ moonflower unit. That's a bit out of my price range. Any other model suggestions? Recently saw a large rotating multi-color "globe" light at Party City for $15. Can't help but wonder if I could mount it horizontally rather than have it stand vertically, and sub that in for a moonflower light tunnel effect. Don't know if it would be bright enough. Or if I could mod it to use a brighter light bulb.
Here's the Party City item:
Spinning Rainbow Light 9in SKU: 215559
http://www.partycity.com/product/spinning+rainbow+party+light.do?from=Search&navSet=spinning%20rainbow%20light
21 - 40 of 53 Posts
This year I'm using this http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B004FODY6E/ref=oh_details_o04_s00_i00?ie=UTF8&psc=1 for my vortex tunnel. To turn it into a cone I just made a mask that goes in front of it and restricts the laser beams to a circle. There's also a secondary mask that blocks the cone so the laser is restricted to a confined area. I'm placing it at the end of a passage in my haunt so that you are walking toward it.
Yup, thanks Saruman. That would be one option to consider. Spookie also dug that up on another thread.
@Fred, thanks for posting the specs of your projector, for discovering that the guy used Adobe Flash CS3, and wishing you well with your experiment when you project with fog blowing.
@Chewbacca and @GodOfThunder, I simply didn't want to think about laser safety any more. Would rather use projection now that it looks viable. Good luck with your projects.
Attached are some test images to project with fog
Don't think I'll get around to testing with a projector and fog tonight. But I spent some time creating test JPG images to project, attached here as four zip files. My DVD player has a slideshow playback mode and will also play a single image--testing that on a TV to see how long it holds to make sure a screensaver doesn't appear; or that the unit doesn't turn off. Easier than making a movie and burning to DVD as such.
The images are primitive--used a combination of MS Paint and IrfanView. But it's a start.
Don't think I'll get around to testing with a projector and fog tonight. But I spent some time creating test JPG images to project, attached here as four zip files. My DVD player has a slideshow playback mode and will also play a single image--testing that on a TV to see how long it holds to make sure a screensaver doesn't appear; or that the unit doesn't turn off. Easier than making a movie and burning to DVD as such.
The images are primitive--used a combination of MS Paint and IrfanView. But it's a start.
Attachments
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looks like what I have. only I just concentrated on one green circle.
when I saved the image as a bitmap( in paint) and imported to windows movie maker it played for 7 seconds. so I kept adding that bitmap till I got about a minute.
then saved that and added that, ten times to windows dvd maker and made a dvd that looped. dvd seems to work fine on the laptop.
I wanted to test w/fog and dvd tonight. we'll see.
when I saved the image as a bitmap( in paint) and imported to windows movie maker it played for 7 seconds. so I kept adding that bitmap till I got about a minute.
then saved that and added that, ten times to windows dvd maker and made a dvd that looped. dvd seems to work fine on the laptop.
I wanted to test w/fog and dvd tonight. we'll see.
okay
I was setting up the dvd player, fog machine and projector.
even though the sun was still up ( you can see how much the sun is shinning against the back wall at the end of the video).
I couldnt resist running it.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hh0-eXoavXM
may still do another test in the dark.
I was setting up the dvd player, fog machine and projector.
even though the sun was still up ( you can see how much the sun is shinning against the back wall at the end of the video).
I couldnt resist running it.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hh0-eXoavXM
may still do another test in the dark.
Looks good so far, thanks for uploading the video.okay
I was setting up the dvd player, fog machine and projector.
even though the sun was still up ( you can see how much the sun is shinning against the back wall at the end of the video).
I couldnt resist running it.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hh0-eXoavXM
may still do another test in the dark.
forgive to bad video. but its hard to hold the camera and control the fog machine at the same time:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Gy9Lh_d9zG4
wondering if the is distance limitations. I am 6 ft from the opening of the garage (30"wide vortex at this distance). wind takes the fog away quickly at this point, can t tell.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Gy9Lh_d9zG4
wondering if the is distance limitations. I am 6 ft from the opening of the garage (30"wide vortex at this distance). wind takes the fog away quickly at this point, can t tell.
have no idea if this will work ...
instead of using a dvd ... what if you masked a green colored plastic sheet with say aluminum foil with just a thin circle cut out of it placed in front of the projector, or really you could probably use any high intensity light source, ... wouldn't you get a green cone of light projecting out?
i'm thinking this might be easier ... but i don't really know if this would work as i haven't tried this method
sorry if i didn't make myself clear
amk
instead of using a dvd ... what if you masked a green colored plastic sheet with say aluminum foil with just a thin circle cut out of it placed in front of the projector, or really you could probably use any high intensity light source, ... wouldn't you get a green cone of light projecting out?
i'm thinking this might be easier ... but i don't really know if this would work as i haven't tried this method
sorry if i didn't make myself clear
amk
do you mean , like a slide projector?have no idea if this will work ...
instead of using a dvd ... what if you masked a green colored plastic sheet with say aluminum foil with just a thin circle cut out of it placed in front of the projector, or really you could probably use any high intensity light source, ... wouldn't you get a green cone of light projecting out?
i'm thinking this might be easier ... but i don't really know if this would work as i haven't tried this method
sorry if i didn't make myself clear
amk
Good job. This proves the concept. Sorry, not sure what to say about fog dissipating too quickly. Maybe try two foggers at once?
I've read about people doing this with a "Holiday Projector"--which evidently is a kind of slide projector. And making your own "ring" glass slide. There are examples of it out there on HalloweenForum.com somewhere. Probably on one of the threads where I am asking about laser safety.do you mean , like a slide projector?
I'm interested in video projection because it would be a great use of the Wonderwall if it works, and for the variety of patterns abd colors I could cycle through.
I originally was going to display this behind a large stone-like facade with 2"cutout in the center.
My idea back then was to use a play tunnel behind the facade to contain the fog.
I had found one that was something like 30" in diameter.
But that was a couple of years ago.
I had shelved the whole idea due to safety concerns.
May revisit the vortex application for this year.
My idea back then was to use a play tunnel behind the facade to contain the fog.
I had found one that was something like 30" in diameter.
But that was a couple of years ago.
I had shelved the whole idea due to safety concerns.
May revisit the vortex application for this year.
wondering if leaving an image playing for hours will "burn" the image into the projector.
Never heard of LCD-screen burn-in. But then I really have no idea. Found out I don't like the JPG slide show function on my DVD player--has only one, slow transition type and I can't set the time between slides. So I may look for free open source slide show to DVD software. Or use Windows Movie Maker.wondering if leaving an image playing for hours will "burn" the image into the projector.
If you're concerned about burn in, consider changing the size, color, and position of the ring/cone from time to time.
The thing is, it's not so much about resolution as brightness and throw distance. I can project stuff with the DG-747 Digital Galaxy from a second story window onto a concrete pathway at ground level. Did this with my Ghostly Footsteps last Halloween. Also tested out projecting some snakes and spiders from the second story window and it looked great. I know for a fact that my Wonderwall can't do the same thing from the same distance. So I'm thinking it would be best to try the Wonderwall in my garage. Where it should be reasonably dark and wouldn't need much "throw" distance.thanks. I will look into it.
you might want to use the high power projector for the tunnel. and use the lower power for the spiders/snakes. dont need high resolution for them
Have not conducted any garage experiments yet. But I've pulled out the fogger and Wonderwall and have a DVD ready to try projecting a slideshow of the various JPG images I posted. Hopefully this weekend but no promises. If I don't get to it, then I really need to get both cars out of the garage and onto the driveway. I get up at a ridiculously early time each weekday morning to go to work. So that may be a good time to do a test of the simulated laser vortex via projection.
Disappointing results with Wonderwall projector for simulated laser vortex effect
I had very disappointing results attempting this effect with the Discovery Wonderwall early AM this morning, when conditions in my garage would be as dark as they'd ever be during trick or treating, e.g. there's a street light across from my house, etc. It was so disappointing that I don't feel it's worthwhile to post any videos. The digital point-and-shoot camera I use for video is fine for lights-on video but terrible in low light.
The concept is absolutely sound--it will work with a sufficiently bright projector. And possibly with the Wonderwall in very near or total darkness.
Thinking my ~2200 to ~2500 lumens Digital Galaxy DG-747 might work. But I'm reluctant to try. Because given the "confined space" of a garage, even with the garage door wide open, I don't know what the fog might do to my projector over an entire evening of use. Was really looking forward to the sheer variety of vortex effects a video projector would allow.
The key really seems to be brightness. And that's where a green laser, so to say, shines. But I'm done thinking about laser safety issues and so still won't deploy with a laser. Since I have two Wonderwalls, I'm potentially willing to sacrifice one by subbing in a different bulb. But so far, I don't know of a single person who has been successful at significantly boosting the lumens output of a Wonderwall.
Wondering how many lumens the Holiday Projectors (using glass slides) have. Anyone know? Or how many lumens an old-school slide projector puts out. May have to start looking through thrift stores again. Or search eBay.
I'd still encourage others with the Wonderwall, or equivalent "toy" projectors like the Shift3, to test. Maybe there's a way to tweak the brightness of the projected image, e.g. creating a thicker ring, using different RGB values for the ring, coming up with some other geometry that when projected is more noticeable (if anyone wants to move away from the classic single "green laser vortex" tunnel), etc. Or even mess with the Wonderwall settings. I think I turned the contrast way down and the color up. You know, when you're doing projected effects of images, you typically try to set the projector so that the border of the rectangle--the area that should be black--isn't noticeable. With this effect, maybe it's ok to pump things up so that the "rectangle" appears. Because the light source is so weak that it will disappear on its own when aimed from the garage to "infinity" (toward the outside). I also forgot to mess with focusing the Wonderwall. Not sure if that would have made a difference. Or playing with color settings on the DVD player itself.
Finally, it was tough getting constant fog--Fred, I experienced the same problem as you with fog dissipating too fast. So I brought in a second fog machine to help with that. I was also fumbling in the darkness with my DVD player in Slideshow mode. One thing I'd do next time is make individual videos of each image that run for several minutes each for easier testing. Although there's a way to get a JPG to play by itself and not cycle to the next one, in practice, fumbling in the dark--and the wee hours of the morning--I never got that to work.
I had very disappointing results attempting this effect with the Discovery Wonderwall early AM this morning, when conditions in my garage would be as dark as they'd ever be during trick or treating, e.g. there's a street light across from my house, etc. It was so disappointing that I don't feel it's worthwhile to post any videos. The digital point-and-shoot camera I use for video is fine for lights-on video but terrible in low light.
The concept is absolutely sound--it will work with a sufficiently bright projector. And possibly with the Wonderwall in very near or total darkness.
Thinking my ~2200 to ~2500 lumens Digital Galaxy DG-747 might work. But I'm reluctant to try. Because given the "confined space" of a garage, even with the garage door wide open, I don't know what the fog might do to my projector over an entire evening of use. Was really looking forward to the sheer variety of vortex effects a video projector would allow.
The key really seems to be brightness. And that's where a green laser, so to say, shines. But I'm done thinking about laser safety issues and so still won't deploy with a laser. Since I have two Wonderwalls, I'm potentially willing to sacrifice one by subbing in a different bulb. But so far, I don't know of a single person who has been successful at significantly boosting the lumens output of a Wonderwall.
Wondering how many lumens the Holiday Projectors (using glass slides) have. Anyone know? Or how many lumens an old-school slide projector puts out. May have to start looking through thrift stores again. Or search eBay.
I'd still encourage others with the Wonderwall, or equivalent "toy" projectors like the Shift3, to test. Maybe there's a way to tweak the brightness of the projected image, e.g. creating a thicker ring, using different RGB values for the ring, coming up with some other geometry that when projected is more noticeable (if anyone wants to move away from the classic single "green laser vortex" tunnel), etc. Or even mess with the Wonderwall settings. I think I turned the contrast way down and the color up. You know, when you're doing projected effects of images, you typically try to set the projector so that the border of the rectangle--the area that should be black--isn't noticeable. With this effect, maybe it's ok to pump things up so that the "rectangle" appears. Because the light source is so weak that it will disappear on its own when aimed from the garage to "infinity" (toward the outside). I also forgot to mess with focusing the Wonderwall. Not sure if that would have made a difference. Or playing with color settings on the DVD player itself.
Finally, it was tough getting constant fog--Fred, I experienced the same problem as you with fog dissipating too fast. So I brought in a second fog machine to help with that. I was also fumbling in the darkness with my DVD player in Slideshow mode. One thing I'd do next time is make individual videos of each image that run for several minutes each for easier testing. Although there's a way to get a JPG to play by itself and not cycle to the next one, in practice, fumbling in the dark--and the wee hours of the morning--I never got that to work.
Here's a link to some photos of the vortex using a holiday projector. The idea is to black out the center of a slide, using only the rim to project:
http://www.halloweenforum.com/halloween-props/119850-green-laser-vortex-where-cone-not-pointed-audience-other-light-source-3.html
http://www.halloweenforum.com/halloween-props/119850-green-laser-vortex-where-cone-not-pointed-audience-other-light-source-3.html
21 - 40 of 53 Posts
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