Wow, Terra this is gonna be sweet. Can't wait to see more!

 

This is going to be a great how-to. Can't wait to see the finished product as well!!!!

 

Ooo ooo Terra!! I am saving my 3-D glasses from Avatar just to watch your tutorial when it is done!!

What a master plan!! And - as always - way to inspire us all! BOO!

 

What a great surprise to see all the responses to my thread. Thanks so much everyone

Ooo ooo Terra!! I am saving my 3-D glasses from Avatar just to watch your tutorial when it is done!!

What a master plan!! And - as always - way to inspire us all! BOO!

Boo back Unfortunatly, the Avatar glasses won't work with this illusion. You need ChromaDepth glasses for this. ChromaDepth glasses are different from the movie 3D glasses because it uses colors to achieve the 3D. Red objects looks like it's hovering 2 feet from the panel and blue objects appear to be 2 feet behind the panel. So you get the illusion of four feet in depth. This whole thing is perfect for the saturated colors that you get when you use black lights and fluorescent paint.

Now, if you want to get a quick pair of ChromaDepth glasses, go pick up a pair of the glasses you get with Crayola 3D art kits. They use the same technology. Here's a link: http://www.crayola.com/products/splash/outdoor/3dchalk.cfm

Terra, don't know if this has been asked before or not, but "what do you do for a living?" You have so much talent girl. I love your storyboards and the large panels. BTW I've never seen anyone with such detailed preliminary artwork. I realize for what you are doing it's necessary and the best way to approach it, but man are you detail oriented. Everything looks amazing BTW and I'll be tuned in watching your progress. Thanks again for sharing your work progress. I can't wait to show my husband this thread later tonight. I hope the kids in your neighborhood realize how lucky they are to be living and ToTing where they do.

Hehe. Thanks, I learned from last year that I need to make better preliminary plans because it's much harder to change things on an 8' panel vs a .jpg in Photoshop

Maybe this is obvious to some who build panels, which I've never done--yet, but could you explain how you built your frames so that they are structurally sound. I'm assuming you stapled or stretched the landscaping fabric over the sides of the frame much like a canvas print? Love to see a pic of the back side of one of the panels and would love to have you share any tips on this stage of the work. Thanks.

I use furring (1"x 2") strips all along the fabric panel. Two 8' ones (vertical) and three 5' ones (horizontally). They are all screwed into each other using wood screws. I then attach the fabric using Velcro (nine 1" pieces) that I help support with staples. That way, I can remove the panels and flip over and repaint or replace all-together. All I have to do is remove the staples. To hang, I take some string and hoop it around the top furring strip at both ends. That's what you see hanging off the end of the panel when the wall is laying on my workbench.

 

Terra, don't know if this has been asked before or not, but "what do you do for a living?" You have so much talent girl. I love your storyboards and the large panels. BTW I've never seen anyone with such detailed preliminary artwork. I realize for what you are doing it's necessary and the best way to approach it, but man are you detail oriented. Everything looks amazing BTW and I'll be tuned in watching your progress. Thanks again for sharing your work progress. I can't wait to show my husband this thread later tonight. I hope the kids in your neighborhood realize how lucky they are to be living and ToTing where they do.

 

I just pulled out the airbrush and started playing with fluorescent paint the other day. I just want to do a UV clown room, or atleast at the moment my ever changing plans calls for one. I would of never thought of using white behind the fluorescent paint, but it makes alot of sense.

 

Wow! That is going to be cool!

 

Maybe this is obvious to some who build panels, which I've never done--yet, but could you explain how you built your frames so that they are structurally sound. I'm assuming you stapled or stretched the landscaping fabric over the sides of the frame much like a canvas print? Love to see a pic of the back side of one of the panels and would love to have you share any tips on this stage of the work. Thanks.

 

Chromadepth rocks! I stumbled on it at a Christmas Display. Found the classes online by the case and used them for another project. It went over great. Your skill far surpasses mine, so I know yours will be awesome!

 

Fabric

Hello Terra,
Why do you use landscape fabric? Is it the cost? Have you considered muslin or a painters tarp? Would either of those work?

I am very impressed with your process and talent. Great work!


HauntNWI

 

I use landscape fabric because of the cost. Plus, I was able to find it in 5 1/2' wide lengths. The brand I use is professional grade I get at a local nursery in a 300' roll for $180. I'm pretty sure this link shows the same stuff but hard to tell from this picture: http://www.northerntool.com/shop/tools/product_200381792_200381792

When I was looking at black fabric from a wholesaler it was nearly double that price. Also, unlike fabric, this is stiff, like very heavy paper. Fabric would be too flexible and probably wrinkle. Now painter's canvas or duck cotton would be great but I shudder to think how much that would cost to do the size of the maze I have. Now, if someone is doing this on a smaller scale it would be the way to go but it would be heavy. You'd probably have to reinforce the frame more.

 

Wow Terra like I said before you do some amazing work. I was telling my wife I need to hire you to do some 3-D work in my haunt. I need to find time and show pictures of our progress of our haunt. Again you do some amazing work.

Andrew

 

That's awesome Terra ! We used the 3D ChromaDepth last year on the haunt I worked on. The effect is amazing What brand florescent paint are you going to use ? We ended up using Wildfire florescent paint, but it's soooooo pricey ! http://www.wildfirefx.com/products/paints/luminescent.aspx
Thanks for sharing, you're the queen !

 

Thanks again

That's awesome Terra ! We used the 3D ChromaDepth last year on the haunt I worked on. The effect is amazing What brand florescent paint are you going to use ? We ended up using Wildfire florescent paint, but it's soooooo pricey ! http://www.wildfirefx.com/products/paints/luminescent.aspx
Thanks for sharing, you're the queen !

Yep, I'm using Wildfire paint too. And yes, it was pricey! Bought it last year and am still choking on the price. Is it worth it? YES! The fluorescing was so bright it almost is a problem. The lamps I bought were really powerful because I was expecting to have to help it as much as I could. Well, the paint is so good it was literally lighting the room! So, there is a balance there. I am considering taking one or two lamps out this year.

I did find another manufacturer that provides the paint for The Darkness. It's DayGlo and they are a less expensive. Haven't tried it but I've seen it at the haunt and it looks great: http://www.dayglostore.com/catalog_browse.asp?parNbr=570

My first go around last year I used Createx Fluorescent air brush paint. It just wasn't bright enough so I'd stay away from that. I ended up having to repaint all the panels.

I love this project Terra! I'm planning on using black lights this year and this would fit in perfectly. I was wondering if you are planning on supplying the glasses to the tots or not. If so, where would you get a large supply for cheap?

Last year I did plan to give the kids the glasses. It was intended to be their treat but I tempted them to trade them back in for candy or glow bracelets. To my surprise, they kind of automatically put them in the collection bin. I think they've been trained by 3D movies or something. Afterward, I counted them all up and every single one was returned and about 10 or so too messed up to be used again. I had 400 ToTs so that really took me for a loop...happily

I bought the paper ones (standard resolution) in a big bulk order but they were still kind of pricey (50 cents each). I'm hoping that the prices will come down soon too. It's still new 3D technology so there's just a few places you can get them. If anyone is thinking of trying this the good news I would just buy enough to be used rotationally. But I would get the plastic framed ones so they could take the beating better. For my 400 ToTs I would buy 20-30 of them and just make sure I got them back when they exited the haunt. This year, I will actually be collecting them in the center of the haunt when they transition to the normal lighted maze.

Which brings me to another point: You actually need to make sure you hand them the glasses just prior to entering the 3D section. Then as soon as they exit the 3D section, have them take it off. Last year we handed it to them telling them to not wear them until they met me (in the middle) who let them into the 3D part. Well, kids being kids, they just put them on at the start and so they were looking at normal lighting stuff with the glasses on. Grr...well, kids ....

 

I love this project Terra! I'm planning on using blacklights this year and this would fit in perfectly. I was wondering if you are planning on supplying the glasses to the tots or not. If so, where would you get a large supply for cheap?

 

Hey Terra, have you tried any of this ? : http://www.wildfirefx.com/wfi/amazing/items.asp?Cc=COS&Bc= That would be awesome in a haunt !

 

Oh yeah! That stuff is really fun. My nails, wig, costume and makeup in this picture all fluoresces. For 2010 I got fluorescent teeth paint

In fact, when my niece visited we had a black light party. We dressed up all in my black light makeup and wigs. It was hilarious!

You would be amazed what normal stuff fluoresces. When I'm Halloween supply hunting I carry around a small black light to test stuff out. The wig I'm wearing in the picture reacts (but wasn't advertised) and the fabric in the costume is hunter's fleece which really reacts. I also discovered that some neon swim wear fabric also reacts so I used that as fabric gateways:

 

Awesome Terra !

 

Girl this is awesome!!! I have been trying to figure out how to make cheap panels and never thought of using weed mat/landscaping fabric. My brain is twitching thinking of other ways I could use this while creating other artsy stuff.

Your haunt is going to scream!! As usual... you rock!

 

Holy crap that's a lot of work. Do you run a haunt or just do it for fun?

 

Awesome wall partitions !
I'm sure this will be a hit in your haunt !

 

Thanks everyone. Got the second coat on and Tuesday will start on the last coat of gesso.

Brother Grim: heheh...yeah it's a lot of work but I love my hobby. This is in my garage. Here's the layout for this year:

I know, I know...seven pneumatics?! Well, that's the goal at least. Yeah, I like to think big



Here's the progress shots so far:

Second coat of gesso is on.

This is an up close shot to show you that after the first coat of gesso dried, it fills in the tiny impressions in the landscape fabric. This also shows you the coverage a second coat of gesso will give you. Oh yeah....you can see the texture of the type of landscape fabric I use.

 

Looks good and progressing along very well.

 

You just leave the black landscaping fabric un-coated? Interesting. I have use for some large scale blacklight effects in my haunt this year and this is starting to look like a strong possibility. I think I might be commandeering the family's supply when the tomato planting is finished. We're still using the same roll we bought three years ago. I don't think they'll miss a few yards.

 

You make this look so "do-able" - even though I know it's a ton, ton of work. I'm starting to think about running the kiddies through our garage side door next year before hitting the porch for their treat. This might be the ticket. 2011 planning in progress...

 

holy cats great work!!!!

 

Girl has got some talent!

Hey Terra!

Trade ya some skeletons for some artwork/panels..................

Super job!!

Steve

 

Glad to be inspiring with this. I am really stoked about this year's illusions.

Hey Terra!

Trade ya some skeletons for some artwork/panels..................

Super job!!

Steve

Tempting... but your stuff is so awesome it wouldn't be a fair trade.

The pics of the gesso coverage were interesting. I wouldn't have thought it would have filled in the small weave holes. I can see now why you have been doing several coats to give you that solid bright white undercoating you are looking for before applying the ChromaDepth paint. What kind of paint tool you are using to apply the gesso (sorry if you already mentioned)?

BTW also found your haunt layout interesting to look at. How large is your garage area again? Bigger than a two-car garage? For some reason I thought you used part of a basement too. I know the past videos made the haunt look absolutely huge from my perspective.

Yeah, the fabric doesn't look like paint would go through. There isn't holes you can see... just stamped-in squares. But, boy, does it soak up the paint! Oh, I was at Home Depot the other day and I saw a similar product on their shelves but don't be tempted. It's much thinner. The stuff I get is what the pro's use and comes in 6' x 300' rolls. It's more like very thick paper/fabric with a felt-like feel to it.

The paint I'm using for the gesso is a recipe I made up. It's not a real gesso mix but it's working great so far. Generally it's 1 gallon of Sculpt or Coat, 1 1/2 gallons of cheap ceiling latex paint plus a tube of white acrylic to pump up the white (I'm still tweaking this recipe). For the eight panels I'm painting it looks like I will be using all 2 1/2 gallons I made. I am using a 1" flat brush for large areas and a 1/2" brush for tight spots.

My garage is technically a three car garage. It has two bays. One single and one double. It is neat how big it seems when you build a maze in it! I have parents that still remark that they swore they also had to travel in the house. They have a hard time believing the whole maze was just in the garage. Now, there are some skinny hallways there. Each square is one foot. Two of those hallways is only 2 1/2' wide.