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So if you want to plan a successful staged event with a hologram projection, you’ll love today’s guide.
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1. Pepper's Ghost Projection
If you’ve seen Tupac’s resurrection at Coachella or Micheal Jackson and Whitney Houston come back to life to perform on stage you’ve seen Pepper's Ghost technology.
Pepper’s Ghost was popularized by British scientist John Henry Pepper, who debuted his version in an 1862 stage production of Charles Dickens’s The Haunted Man and the Ghost’s Bargain. The basic mechanics involve a reflected image giving the illusion of someone or something in its physical form. For Tupac at Coachella, a live actor was made to look like Tupac using CGI. That performance was then projected downward on a reflective surface, which bounced the moving image onto a tightly pulled transparent foil screen.
The foil screen is specially treated to be both semi-transparent and semi-reflective in nature. It works because of the nature of light and reflection – if an object is very brightly lit (like you in the bright kitchen, or the actors in the orchestra pit), and its dark on the other side of the glass (or plastic), then you see an image much like you see in a mirror. Because the image is a reflection, it appears to be coming from BEHIND the glass. Also because it is a reflection, it appears 3 dimensional; meaning that if you move your head or eyes, you see another angle and it looks very “real”, if dim.
SPACE
Pepper's Ghost Projection needs space for equipment with projectors placed in front of the screen. The larger the screen, the larger the space required. Unlike front and rear projection screens that hang vertically, Pepper's Ghost Projection is achieved by placing a specially treated film at a 45° angle. Custom projection mounts need to be considered to allow projectors to be placed at an optimum angle or you can order kits specifically made for these events.
AMBIENT LIGHT
Pepper's Ghost Projection works best in darkened interiors with little to no ambient light. Key lighting of live performers is generally placed behind the frame and screen of the Pepper's Ghost Projection.
BRIGHTNESS
Since the foil transmits light from a reflected surface, lumens are slightly lost in Pepper's Ghost Projection. High-performance laser projectors [20,000+ Lumens] and the ability to stack projectors can offset this loss in high ambient light situations.
VIEWING ANGLE
Unlike front/rear projection set-ups, the Pepper's Ghost image is reflected from a set distance from the ground surface to the screen, providing a more diffused image that allows an evenly lit image and the widest viewing angle of 170°.
CONTRAST
The setup of the Pepper's Ghost effect is less affected by other sources of light and contrast is generally better than a front or rear projection. Ambient light does not affect contrast as much as front or rear projection.
Pros
- Provides the most realistic clarity of a projected image.
- The best method for projection for lifelike performances.
- A high screen gain without hotspots.
- Seating can be placed in a wide viewing angle (170°) relative to the screen and all seats will afford a similar viewing experience regardless of the angle of view.
Cons
- Cost of projectors to beam the required 30,000 + Lumens can be cost-prohibitive for smaller budgets.
- 45° placement of foil and framework requires a larger stage area and footprint, especially if you’re combining the projection with live performers. Most expensive option. How expensive? See our checklist below.
2. Front Projection
Front Projection is best used to combine a live foreground performance with pre-filmed foreground footage. Front projection projects the pre-filmed material over the performers onto an extremely reflective and translucent projection mesh. This material is sometimes called the following:
- Holo Gauze
- PepperScrim
- Hologram Screen
- Theatre gauze
- HoloVeil
If placing the holographic over the performers will diminish the desired outcome, special consideration should be taken to combine projection mapping software to place the projector indiscriminately to avoid line-of-sight viewing of the projector and the projected image that comes through the screen. Another workaround for an obtrusive installation can be solved with the selection of a long zoom lens that allows you to put the projector further away. However, these lenses are quite expensive, which only adds to the cost.
Front projection is best used to showcase visual effects over a performer, i.e particle cloud over a DJ. Front and rear projection can be used together on one screen, or several, depending on the desired outcome.
SPACE
Front projection doesn’t require space behind the screen, therefore, leaving more floor space. You must also take into consideration if people or objects will be obstructing the projector at any time. Using projection mapping software will allow you to place the projector indiscriminately to avoid line-of-sight viewing of the projector and the projected image.
3 easy hologram projector set ups using front projection
AMBIENT LIGHT
Front projection requires darkened interiors with little to no ambient light as any light source hampers the efficiency of the projector.
BRIGHTNESS
Typically, front projection screens are brighter when used in darkened rooms. Brightness, however, is highly dependent on projector output and screen gain.
VIEWING ANGLE
The viewing angle is largely dependent on gain. Typically, the higher the gain, the narrower the optimal angle of view. Recently, however, significant improvements have been made to widen the viewing cone with high gain holographic screens, image blending software, high-performance projectors, and projector stacking.
CONTRAST
The setup of the Pepper's Ghost effect is less affected by other sources of light and contrast is generally better than a front or rear projection. Ambient light does not affect contrast as much as front or rear projection.
Pros
- The best solution to showcase 3D imagery over and interacting with a performer.
- Cost-effective solution to Pepper's Ghost Projection.
- Provides maximum floor space for performance.
Cons
- An ambient light source can hamper the efficiency of the projector.
- Color changes in the picture may become apparent if audience members move around the screen viewing it from various angles.
3. Rear Projection
Rear Projection is best used to combine a live foreground performance with pre-filmed background footage. Rear projection is the most cost-effective option for motion graphics and CGI stage performances. Japanese pop star Hatsune Miku is a popular example of rear projection hologram stage performance. By placing the projector behind the screen ambient light hitting the back of the screen can be contained and controlled allowing you to achieve an optimal image. holographic rear projection and front projection screens use the same highly reflective and translucent projection mesh.
Front projection is best used to showcase visual effects over a performer, i.e particle cloud over a DJ. Front and rear projection can be used together on one screen, or several, depending on the desired outcome.
SPACE
Rear projection needs space for equipment and projectors behind the screen. The larger the screen, the larger the space required. If the audience is forward-facing, you don’t want the thrown image from the screen to blind the audience- special consideration needs to be made for the placement, brightness and of the angle of the projector.
2 easy hologram projector set ups using rear projection- and one to avoid
AMBIENT LIGHT
Contrast and color saturation are better on rear projection screens in areas with high ambient light.
BRIGHTNESS
Since the screen transmits light in both directions, lumens are lost in rear projection. This loss of light may be offset in high ambient light situations where the front viewscreen would not perform as well.
VIEWING ANGLE
The viewing angle on rearview screens is dependent on the material’s ability to diffuse light across the viewing surface. Some materials, especially darker surfaces diffuse light more evenly.
CONTRAST
Rear projection is less affected by other sources of light and contrast is, therefore, better if there is an external light source. Ambient light usually comes from a different direction than the projector and since the light goes through the screen rather than being reflected off of it, the ambient light does not affect contrast as much as in front projection.
Pros
- The best solution to showcase 3D imagery behind a performer or serve as a stand-alone performance
- Cost-effective solution to Pepper's Ghost Projection
- The best solution for areas with lots of ambient light
Cons
- Color changes in the picture may become apparent if audience members move around the screen viewing it from various angles.
- Reflects a lot of the brightness back toward the projector potentially increasing the cost for a brighter projector with higher lumens
- Smaller stage area space for performances
HoloStage Quote Checklist
Planning for a custom hologram experience may seem complicated, but it doesn’t have to be. To get an accurate quote for hardware, content, and set up you’ll be required to provide details about your project including your stage area, performers placement, content, projectors and more. Before you call a trained hologram expert for a quote, fill out this checklist. It’ll save you – and the rep – time on the phone since you won’t have to pause the process to think about the answers.
- Width and depth of stage or building rooftop
- Can you provide photos of the stage and the lighting condition at the time of the event?
- Width and height of the holographic effect?
- Do you already have content?
- Is the content motion graphics, green-screened footage of a live performer or a 3d animation of something else?
- Do you want the main performance to be a 3d recreation of someone? Living or deceased?
- Will there be live performers on the stage? If yes please provide an overhead sketch of where
they’ll be placed. - Do you want the imagery in front or behind any live performers?
- If the stage performers are moving please provide arrows of where they will be moving in your sketch
- Is the environment dark, slightly lit or brightly lit?
- Do you already have a projector? If so provide the make, model and estimated lumens?
- Do you know where you want to place your projector relevant to the stage? Estimate distance?
- Is there anything that can obstruct the light from the projector to the stage?
- What are the dimensions of the audience area?
- What is the closest and furthest distance of the audience to the screen?
- Is the stage area elevated higher than the audience? How many inches/feet?
- Do you require interactivity from the audience or the on-stage performers?
- Where is your event?
- When is your event?
