How to Create a Ghost Illusion for a Haunted House

Creating a ghost illusion for a haunted house is not as hard as one may think.

With a quick trip to the hardware store and some household appliances on hand, you can create a ghost like illusion as seen in Disney's Haunted Mansion and other amusement park rides. Continue reading this article to discover how.

Difficulty:

Moderately Challenging

Instructions

Things You'll Need

• Old television set
• Plexiglass
• Black curtains
• Window
• Table
• VCR or DVD player
• Recording of desired image

1. Prepare or purchase a video to use that will that will have the image you wish to project. As with other haunted houses, the popular image to have on tape to project is an individual's head that is either saying something or singing a song. If you choose to video tape yourself for this project, make sure that only your head is visible. You want the rest of your body (shoulders, chest, etc.) to be dark so they are not visible.

2. Place the video or DVD in the television or the video player that you will be using.

3. Play the video on the television that you will be using.

4. Use the contrast buttons or options on your television to make the background of the video as dark as possible and the image that will be projected as bright as possible without actually blurring the image.

5. Bring the television set with the video, completely ready to play, over to the window where you wish to show the image. More than likely, this will be your front window.

6. Place the television set upside down under the window so that the screen is pointing towards the ceiling.

7. Place a table by the window. Positioned it with the head of the table is pointed towards the window, leaving a gap large enough between the window and the table to allow the television's projection to shoot straight up unobstructed. In order, you should have your window, television set, and table lined up in a row with none of these items overlapping, as this will obstruct the projection coming from the television.

8. Place a piece of plexiglass at a 45-degree angle between the window and on top of the table (the table is specifically used for resting the plexiglass). Make sure that the plexiglass is directly over the television as this will be used to show the ghost projection.

9. Place dark curtains or any other dark material behind and around the table, television and plexiglass. This will keep any outside light from coming in behind your projection and will allow you to project much brighter.

10. Turn on the television set and watch your ghost-like illusion project onto the plexiglass.

11. Adjust the contrast on the television set if needed.

Tips & Warnings

• If your table is large enough, you can create a background for the projection. For example, if you are projecting an image of a scarecrow's head, you can place pumpkins in the background.

• If your piece of plexiglass is too long, it will most likely bend when you place it on the window and the table. At your local hardware store, you can find pieces of metal that will act as a frame to keep your plexiglass straight. If you do not do this and your plexiglass bends, this will distort the projection of your image.

• This article is meant to help guide you in the creation of a ghost-like image for your haunted house. This article in no way guarantees that you will be successful in creating this image yourself.

• If you have any questions, concerns, or problems setting up this project, you can find individuals on the Internet that deal specifically with such projections, or contact an electronics specialist who deals with projections.

Resources

• Making Your Own Ghost For Profit