Most people consult fortune tellers for advice. But during Halloween season, we will instead consult two Halloween decorators on how to create captivating, can’t-look-away props. These two AtmosFANs take two different approaches on creating the disembodied head of Madame Zolta of Halloween Hosts Decoration Collection inside a crystal ball. Which is better? As far as we’re concerned, any disembodied head is just what the neighborhood ordered for Halloween!
David T. - South Jordan, Utah
David T. uses a physical form as the projection surface to create his crystal ball. Placing a standard craft-store styrofoam head inside a clear plastic sphere, David adds a wig to create texture and depth. When he projects Halloween Hosts in “Head Mode” onto the styrofoam head, the result is a convincing illusion where the fortune teller appears to inhabit the sphere, making her prophetic pronouncements.
As good as the crystal ball looks, what really sells David’s display is the attention to detail in the surrounding props, mystical elements, and atmospheric touches that create a complete scene. Oh, and they also help to hide the projector! David’s great display is a great reminder that the crystal ball doesn’t exist in isolation – it’s the centerpiece of an entire fortune-telling environment.
Brian S. - St. Johns, Florida
Brian S. takes a slightly different technical route to achieve a similar effect. He also uses a clear plastic sphere, but instead of placing a solid form inside, he stretches Hollusion Projection Material across the open half of the sphere before closing it. This approach is necessary because projecting directly onto clear plastic won’t produce a visible image – you need a surface that can hold the projection. (It’s the same reason we all put Window Projection Material in our windows!)
Brian also displays Madame Zolta’s visage in Head Mode, and the Hollusion Projection Material creates the illusion that Madame Zolta’s face is floating inside the sphere. The semi-transparent nature of the material picks up excellent detail from the projection while maintaining the mystical quality of a vision appearing within the crystal ball. This method creates a particularly ethereal effect.
Either way, both approaches demonstrate the versatility of Head Mode displays and show how different technical solutions can achieve compelling results. And while Head Mode makes pretty clear sense with a fortune teller, know that there are several AtmosFX Decorations that have the Head Mode feature. Season of the Witch: More Witches includes the mode, as well as two decorations released this year: Boo Crew 2 and Barbershop Busts decoration collections.
Have you created a crystal ball display or found other innovative ways to use Head Mode projections? We want to see your approach! Send your photos and videos using this simple online form and you might become the next AtmosFAN of the Week. You’ll earn points for use in the AtmosFX online store just for submitting, and if you’re selected, you’ll win a free decoration collection!
