Adding Smoke F/X to Toys Using E-Cigarettes
It’s easier than you might think to add a smoke effect to a model or prop.
special effects
Adam Savage Learns About Creature Prop Restoration
The painstaking preservation of the animatronic puppets from the Gremlin films.
Nightmare Effects: The Evolution of a Horrifying Character Mask
Learn how Oakland, California-based Pandora FX special effects brought the stuff of nightmares to life for a short indie horror film.
The Surprising Practical Effects of the Star Wars Prequels
The Star Wars prequels, seen as a turning point in computer generated imaging, were more model-intensive than you might think.
DIY Hacks & How Tos: Glowing Treasure Chest
We have all seen movies and TV show where someone opens a treasure chest and the treasure inside is so shiny that the container is glowing as soon as it is opened. I thought that this would make a great effect for Christmas presents. So I made a small treasure chest with a built-in light that turns on when it is opened. The lights are activated by a normally open momentary switch.
DIY Hacks & How To’s: Haunted House Automation With Pressure Plates
One of the best parts of a haunted house is the automated special effects. To make sure that the effects are well timed, you need sensors to detect where your guests are in the haunted house. Over the next few weeks I am going to show you a variety of simple sensors that you can use to automate your Halloween setup. This week I am going to show you how to make a simple DIY pressure plate switch to automate your haunted house.
Steel Wool on Fire: DIY Video Effects from the Pros
Eli Stonberg and Jeff Greco are Fourclops, an interactive video directorial team. Their video for Au Revoir Simone’s “Knight of Wands” was nominated for “Most Innovative Music Video” in the MTV O Music Awards. Their work has been featured on the Creators Project, the Los Angeles Times, ESPN TV, and Mashable and clients include Coca Cola, Blu Dot, Smirnoff, Passion Pit, and Tune Yards. It’s inspiring to know that they created some of their special effects with simple household items like milk, food coloring, steel wool, and Alka-Seltzer. Anyone can do them.
