Smoke FX

[Austin Schmidt]

I know this isn't exactly a lighting question however it still pertains to the aesthetic look of the film so bear with me. Have any of you had experience with different smoke/mist fx? I need to create two different atmospheres over a small area, one with rising smoke mimicking a smoke bomb (I can see some of you mentelly rehashing the good old days of the ninja turtle movies) and the other with floating mist that covers just above the ankles of a walking person (dry ice is not an option though). I need to cover a 400ft. square area. The question being, is it just a difference in solution poured into the smoke/fog machine? Any suggestions on the various liquids out there for these effects.

[DavidSloan]

You should probably speak with a professional special fx person. If this is exterior no fog machine will work; you'll need one of those heavy duty puppies that the special fx guys use.

 

Have a look through this site; this guy is my pal and he does awesome work. If you want to blow s**t up, smoke s**t up, etc he's your man.

 

http://djfx.com/effects_smoke.html

[Allen Achterberg]

from what I've seen, and all I know is that Ice will make fog stay low to the ground longer...but dont go by what I say, listen to homie and seek professional advice on that one. or maybe just keep checking and someone here could help.

 

Good luck mate

[John Mastrogiacomo]

from what I've seen, and all I know is that Ice will make fog stay low to the ground longer...but dont go by what I say, listen to homie and seek professional advice on that one. or maybe just keep checking and someone here could help.

 

Good luck mate

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

Try

http://www.martin.com/productnews/productnews.asp?id=196

http://www.smokemachines.net/buy-ice-heavy-fog-machine.shtml

http://www.fogfactory.com/index.htm

 

:)

[Alvin Pingol]

and the other with floating mist that covers just above the ankles of a walking person (dry ice is not an option though).

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

 

If dry ice is not an option, which really is unfortunate as it would be the perfect solution, you can build a custom cooling chamber if you end up using one of those standard "party foggers." The fog these things pump out is usually very dense, but dissipates quickly into the air because it is hot when it comes out of the nozzle and rises. I don't have a link with me right now, but there are simple plans on the net showing how to construct a chamber. Essentially, it's nothing but a very large holding container (like a plastic storage tub/box) with two holes on either side, one for the smoke in (hot), and one for smoke out (cooled).

 

Haven't tried it myself but I don't see why it wouldn't work. One could probably make it much more efficient by putting some ice inside the chamber, as well.

[Kevin Zanit]

High End Systems used to make a chiller unit to work with their fog machine, the F100. That combined with their "low lying" fluid did a fairly good job at creating the fog that hugs the ground.

 

As I am sure you realized the key to the low lying fog is that it needs to be chilled. Fog machines use heat to make the fog, heat rises, so you must cool the fog, so it will fall.

 

The problem with using a non dry ice/ Co2 solution is that when the chilled fog heats up, it will just rise again.

 

As was said, dry ice or Co2 are the best ways. A company called Le Maitre makes some of the best fog solutions out there.

 

As for the smoke from the explosion, well the best way to do this (I assume you are after a "ball" of smoke) is with pyro. There are many ways to do this; it usually just involves non-smokeless gun powder.

 

You could also use Nitrogen or Co2 for this effect.

 

Sounds like you need to find a special FX man.

 

 

Kevin Zanit