Halloween Forum banner
Cancel

Moonflower light tunnel = safer alternative to green laser vortex?

13845 Views 52 Replies 8 Participants Last post by  mikeerdas, 
M
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
See less See more
Reply
Save
Like
41 - 53 of 53 Posts
icemanfred
I remember seeing that pic. It was a project on the monster list.

I just don't feel that it gets the same effect.
The vortex needs a bright light to cut through, so you can see the cross sectionof fog. And a contained ssource of fog to keep it from disipating. It , the fog, needs to be constantly rolling. So when a narrow, bright light cuts through. You see a cross sectionthat is swirling alot.
Almost certain your fog need to be running constanly
Reply
Save
Like
M
icemanfred said:
I remember seeing that pic. It was a project on the monster list.

I just don't feel that it gets the same effect.
The vortex needs a bright light to cut through, so you can see the cross sectionof fog. And a contained ssource of fog to keep it from disipating. It , the fog, needs to be constantly rolling. So when a narrow, bright light cuts through. You see a cross sectionthat is swirling alot.
Almost certain your fog need to be running constanly
Click to expand...
I believe you're right that brightness is key for the best impact. Not that it won't work at all with less bright sources. Like you mentioned, it's also important to have sufficient fog for the best impact.

With two foggers in my garage, things may work well enough with my DG-747 projector. Definitely given up on the Discovery Wonderwall. Still haven't tested the DG-747. Lots of weekends left to try. Still need to make a new source video, with a few minutes of each pattern playing. Trying to test with my DVD's built-in slideshow function for JPGs was incredibly frustrating--couldn't set the display time per slide and tough to try to get it to pause with the remote in the dark.
Reply
Save
Like
M
Would an overhead school projector work?

Might an old-school, quite literally, overhead projector work for this effect? A transparency having all black and just a green ring? Wondering how many lumens an overhead projector puts out. Wouldn't get the variety of simulated laser vortex effects I'm after, but might be a cheap way to project a perfectly safe simulated green laser vortex on the cheap.

I recall other threads where people have converted overhead projectors into make-shift video projectors too. So who knows.

I'm still reluctant to use my higher end, higher lumens (compared to a Discovery Wonderwall) Digital Galaxy DG-747 projector (non-LED version) for this effect with lots of fog in my garage--don't know if the fog might harm the projector.
Reply
Save
Like
icemanfred
its worth a try.
post your results
Reply
Save
Like
M
icemanfred said:
its worth a try.
post your results
Click to expand...
I never was able to find a used overhead projector in local thrift stores. And I'm not a fan of Craig's List--too many scams. Guess I could try eBay, but the shipping would expensive. Also wondering what type of replacement bulbs/lamps overhead projectors take--and if they're expensive like lamps for so many projectors, e.g. $100 to $300+ bucks a pop. That's what I love about my DG-747 projector (non-LED version). Decent number of lumens and the replacement lamps are only around $20. And when I bought one new on eBay it came with a replacement lamp.

If I do go ahead and test with my DG-747 projector, I'll post results. May also deploy this *really* crappy "fogger" I bought from Target a few seasons ago when they had two models for sale. I didn't look closely, and it's really more of a hazer. Don't know much about foggers vs. hazers. But I do know stadiums often use hazers during concerts to help illuminate lasers and lighting beams. Wonder if "haze" stays around longer than fog. Anyone know?
See less See more
Reply
Save
Like
R4ZORx
OK, so i found this thread and thought it was awesome, so I decided to try a little something in Photoshop. I made a short video for you guys to try. My projector isn't bright enough. Please let me know if it works and improvements.

I made this to be setup inside an open garage pointing outwards.

Reply
Save
Like
M
R4ZORx said:
OK, so i found this thread and thought it was awesome, so I decided to try a little something in Photoshop. I made a short video for you guys to try. My projector isn't bright enough. Please let me know if it works and improvements.

I made this to be setup inside an open garage pointing outwards.

Click to expand...
Hey, thanks for creating this! Don't know if I'll get a chance to test but this would be a great way to try. What I really need: more high-lumens projectors.
Reply
Save
Like
M
Bumping up to see if anyone's going to use a projector as a (real) laser vortex replacement this Halloween. I love that it completely eliminates any real or perceived safety concerns. Doubt I will get to it this season.
Reply
Save
Like
kakugori
Yes, I will be using a projector. Works much better than the spinning mirror and laser pointer rig we built last year. The moonflower effect didn't work that well, though - I'm going for a rotating circle instead. One of those laser light show machines will work as well, best pointed away from people's faces.

I made another thread (that got no replies, but I'll admit I was rambling), laying out some ideas about how to build an even simpler shadow projector to get the same effect. Really, all you need is a circle shape projected out into a cone to get the basic effect.
Reply
Save
Like
M
How strong is Spirit Halloween's "DiscoBeams" LED moonflower-style light?

While it wouldn't / couldn't produce a cone for emulating a full green laser vortex, for around $30, Spirit Halloween sells a product named DiscoBeams that might be a good substitute effect, e.g. blowing fog through it. Anyone have it / seen it / used it / know how bright or dim it is:

http://www.spirithalloween.com/product/discobeams1

Also noticed Spencer's Gifts (same parent company as Spirit?) also sells the DiscoBeams unit:

http://www.spencersonline.com/product/discobeams

Incidentally, I'd super sad that the Maelstrom ride in the Norway Pavilion of EPCOT may be closing forever due to the Frozen Phenomenon. I say that because as you ascend in your ride vehicle at the beginning of the attraction, there's a moonflower lighting effect at the top. I'm a huge fan of Dark Rides and always sad to seem them disappear, Disappear, DISAPPEAR! :-( - that's a line from one of the scenes in that attraction. Gee, first they turn Test Track into Tron, removing some of my favorite effects / aspects: the Belgian Blocks (the really bumpy portion), plus the heat, cold, and corrosion test rooms. Always loved the effect of tons of heat lamps being blasted at me in the first chamber, the frigidity and color of the second chamber, and the mist and not-quite-identifiable scent of the Corrosion test chamber...

Engage more senses and you've got a deeper experience / effect. Remove them, and well, let's call me Grumpy in that regard... :-(
See less See more
Reply
Save
Like
M
Saw video of the unit in action on YouTube and, for me, it's a Do Not Purchase. Why? Because it seems to only have a horizontal outward beam spread; as opposed to what I'd call, probably mistakenly or inaccurately, a vertical beam spread that would get you a spinning tunnel effect:


And here's a kid unboxing the DiscoBeams unit. Definitely won't produce the tunnel effect I'd want:


Still don't want to waste a high lumens projector to achieve this effect--unless I roll the dice and try to grab a used, inexpensive-but-high-lumens, low lamp hour projector off eBay. Probably what I need to do anyway because I love projection effects so much.

mikeerdas said:
While it wouldn't / couldn't produce a cone for emulating a full green laser vortex, for around $30, Spirit Halloween sells a product named DiscoBeams that might be a good substitute effect, e.g. blowing fog through it. Anyone have it / seen it / used it / know how bright or dim it is:

http://www.spirithalloween.com/product/discobeams1

Also noticed Spencer's Gifts (same parent company as Spirit?) also sells the DiscoBeams unit:

http://www.spencersonline.com/product/discobeams

Incidentally, I'd super sad that the Maelstrom ride in the Norway Pavilion of EPCOT may be closing forever due to the Frozen Phenomenon. I say that because as you ascend in your ride vehicle at the beginning of the attraction, there's a moonflower lighting effect at the top. I'm a huge fan of Dark Rides and always sad to seem them disappear, Disappear, DISAPPEAR! :-( - that's a line from one of the scenes in that attraction. Gee, first they turn Test Track into Tron, removing some of my favorite effects / aspects: the Belgian Blocks (the really bumpy portion), plus the heat, cold, and corrosion test rooms. Always loved the effect of tons of heat lamps being blasted at me in the first chamber, the frigidity and color of the second chamber, and the mist and not-quite-identifiable scent of the Corrosion test chamber...

Engage more senses and you've got a deeper experience / effect. Remove them, and well, let's call me Grumpy in that regard... :-(
Click to expand...
Reply
Save
Like
annamarykahn
there's a program called music beam ... someone here posted more info on it ... i've never used it, but it does look kewl


amk
Reply
Save
Like
M
Looks like some nice software AMK.

Recently I found a pretty cool source video pre-made for projecting through fog, and another video showing what the source video looks like projected through fog. Neither video is mine. Now that I have some higher lumens projectors, I may consider using one for a Super Vortex show in my garage. Probably not this season but may run some tests.

Source video:

Source video projected through fog:

Soundtrack would certainly have to change for a Halloween application. Cool nonetheless.
Reply
Save
Like
41 - 53 of 53 Posts
This is an older thread, you may not receive a response, and could be reviving an old thread. Please consider creating a new thread.
Halloween Forum
Halloween forum - Keeping the Halloween spirit alive 365 days a year. Discuss decorations, costumes and more!
Full Forum Listing
Explore Our Forums
General Halloween Halloween Props Member Introduction Party Ideas. Experiences and Recipes Tutorials and Step-By-Step
Top