The Halloween season is a magical time of year – cool fall nights, fall leaves, trick-or-treaters moving from cleverly decorated home to another. Of course, it is also a magical time of year for witches – but in a completely different way!
Michael Lamb entertained trick-or-treaters by projecting Witching Hour Decoration on the backside of a giant pumpkin made from dense foam at his Rancho Santa Fe, Calif., home. Read about it at the AtmosFAN Hall of Fame.
Of course, it all comes together with AtmosFX’s Witching Hour Decoration Collection. The mischievous old crone that is the star of this playful decoration brings her unique style magic to your home, certain to entertain all who encounter her. So, what’s the best way to make sure she casts an enchanting spell on your guests during this magical time of year? We can show you how.
Cast a Spell with the 3DFX Form
One of the best ways to cast a spell on visitors is to display Witching Hour on AtmosFX’s 3DFX Form. What is it? It is an inflatable mannequin-like prop that appears to come alive when you project select AtmosFX Decorations onto it. This old witch was one of the first decorations designed for the 3DFX Form, and it remains a favorite to this day.
Place the 3DFX Form in front of your home on Halloween, or any other place that is likely to draw a crowd. Then project directly onto it. Because the decoration is optimized for the 3DFX Form, the old witch will appear to inhabit the inflatable prop – singing, telling stories and creating incantations.
Pro tip: Typically, when projecting on a 3DFX Form, you want to make sure the projector beam does not spill over onto walls or other objects. It ruins the effect! But Witching Hour has some scenes that are designed to spill over onto objects behind the 3DFX Form. For example when the old witch conjures up spirits from the netherworld, they really do look like they are flying above her!
For those who want to learn more about the 3DFX Form, including all of the AtmosFX Decorations that can be projected onto it, click here.
Windows and Walls are Great, too
If you do not have a 3DFX Form – don’t worry! Projecting on windows or walls is also an incredibly crowd-pleasing way to display Witching Hour. Why? There’s just something just captivating about this old witch – the songs she sings and the spells she casts are simply transfixing.
Projecting on walls is easiest. We’ve seen clever decorators create a giant display on their garage door, or other large exterior wall, and then place several props nearby to create a witch’s lair. Add some fog and some green lighting (to mimic the steam from the cauldron) and you’ll really have something. And remember, even though you can project Witching Hour on any surface, indoor or out, you’ll want to make sure there is space to allow people to gather. Because, almost like magic, they will!
The same scenes that are displayed on walls can also work on your TV or Monitor. We have found that people will sometimes display Witching Hour on a TV to entertain children at a Halloween party.
Projecting Witching Hour in your window can also create a crowd-pleasing effect. When you place Window Projection Material in your window, it will appear that the old witch has taken up residence in your home – and making something of a mess! As we mentioned above, you are sure to draw a crowd with Witching Hour, so make sure you select a prominent window where everyone can see.
Hollusion Effects Work Like Magic
Lastly, don’t forget Hollusion mode projections! Judging from the videos and photos we see, this tends to be an underutilized way to present Witching Hour. But those who do? They love it.
For those unfamiliar with the technique, a Hollusion mode projection is essentially training the projector’s beam onto a dark, mesh-like material (called Hollusion Projection Material) that practically disappears when darkness falls. There’s no background associated with AtmosFX Decorations optimized for Hollusion, so when you project onto the material, it appears that the old witch has materialized from thin air. And she’s a witch, so why wouldn’t she? This effect is really great if you hang the Hollusion Projection Material outside in a dark spot, surrounded with other witch’s lair props.
One last thing: Wherever and however you display Witching Hour, make sure you have a good speakers! People love to hear the dialogue, and children tend to sing along to the songs. The AtmoSonic Bluetooth Speaker by Philips is a great choice – but any strong sound system will do!
How do you use Witching Hour in your Halloween display? We want to see it! Send us your photos and videos using this simple online submission form and we will post some of our favorite examples!
How do others use Witching Hour? Check it out here!
Dane Haddock from Brisbane, Queensland, Australia turned a children's playhouse into a Witch’s Lair using Witching Hour.
Barb Landygo from Vancouver Island, British Columbia created a witch lair in her one-car garage. Read about it at the AtmosFAN Hall of Fame.
Dan Magee from Wake Forest, North Carolina created detailed plywood silhouettes which he then projected onto. Read about it at the AtmosFAN Hall of Fame.
Michael and Violet Soey from Mexico, Missouri built a witch's cottage and projected into its window at a campground. Read about it at the AtmosFAN Hall of Fame.
Check out how these and other AtmosFANs have decorated with Witching Hour and other decorations in the AtmosFAN Hall of Fame!
