Skip to main content

Will 2022 be the Year for Projection Mapping?

I've wanted to set up a projection mapped Halloween display for years but have been hesitant for a few reasons. First, finding a good projector location will be a challenge. Next, it's hard to tell which projector will work well. And lastly, it will cut off access to the driveway and trick-or-treaters. This last one may not be that big of a deal.

Given the way the porch comes out from the house, the projector location would be best over the driveway. But, this assumes that the side of the porch cover located between the porch and the garage would be mapped. This really isn't necessary.

Positioning a projector at the midpoint of the house would be the best approach when dealing with a traditional keystone correction. This location, however, blocks part of the house from the projection.

Last year I was able to set the garage projector to the left side of the driveway and still provide an approach to the porch. I belive that using this in conjunction with a projection map in the center can work as long as I provide a corridor in the projection map for trickers to walk up the right side of the driveway (like last year). With this setup, the garage door projector and the projection mapping will work to the desired effect.

Besides, after tests with the short throw Optima projector that I bought, running a dedicated, high output projector against the dark garage and leaving the short throw for the rest of the house seems to be the best idea.


Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

First Synchronized Video Produced for 2021

With the plan to use DMX synchronized video projections and lighting controllers, I have been getting busy with the setup for the 2021 Halloween display. This includes making sure the DMX hardware I have actually works and producing video content for the display. I feel that once I confirm the hardware will work, getting the hardware setup should be uneventful. The synchronized videos will require a lot more work, especially since I want to produce an hour long show (in order to not repeat the same scenes too often). I settled on four large video projectors for this season, but I know only where three of them are positioned. Figuring out where the fourth projector goes is eluding me and causing a little angst. I haven't tested the DMX controllers with the media players yet. I'm planning on testing them this weekend. This includes getting a DMX interface from the computer to the universe to work as well as sequencing software. I still have my Lynx USB-to-DMX interface but haven...
Post a Comment
Read more

Research and Planning for Canton Chills 2020

I spent some time conducting research this weekend on video projectors, DMX lights, fog machines, and wireless transmitters, digital decorations from AtmosFX, and computer show controllers. My goal was to get a good understanding of equipment and cost and keep that understanding in the back of my mind while planning out the display. The theme of the display will be kid-friendly with hints of creepiness scattered about. I imagine something more of a Disney experience: good attention to detail with a warmer, thematic feel. I am also adjusting my mindset such that I think of it more like a show than a display. I am just not skilled enough to know whether the show is built around the display or the display is built around the show. This perspective, I need to understand. On the display side, I also started a task I was curious about for some time. That was, what is the distance to screen size projection ratio for the video projectors I have. I managed to get measurements for the mini...
Post a Comment
Read more

Plan for Halloween 2020

I think Canton Chills has been a great success over the past 5 years. Big crowds formed in front of the house and children and adults alike have been entertained and terrified. The house has earned a reputation for frightening technical excellence. Dawn and I talk about delivering a more kid-friendly experience every year. I still want it to be entertaining and amazing from a technical perspective. This translates into lots of planning. Our goal: Provide a family-friendly experience that amazes all age groups. The "family-friendly" part simply comes from using more comical animations and toning down the sound and special effects so as not to frighten more sensitive children (and parents). Walkways will be well lit, but scene lighting will still be theatrical. Scary sounds will be toned down and fog will be moved away from visitors. Video projections, sound, and DMX driven lights (both static set lights and color settable floods, including strobe) will all be synchronized. A s...
Post a Comment
Read more