Pepper’s Ghost Effect

Learn the secret behind the illusion

This is the ultimate guide to creating a Pepper’s Ghost effect in 2021.

In this new guide, I’ll show you how to create a professional illusion. This can be used in theater productions, museums, haunted houses, and amusement parks.

Here’s how a Pepper’s Ghost illusion works and a comprehensive breakdown.

What is Pepper’s Ghost?

The earliest known reports for the use of the ethereal images, dates back to the 16th Century. Neapolitan scientist and scholar, Giambattista della Porta, is known to have mentioned this. This was mentioned in his 1584 book known as Magia Naturalis (Natural Magic).

Some of the topics covered in his book focus on geology, optics and invisible writing. In total, there are 20 versions of the book, thanks to so many alterations and additions to the writing. This is the first place to hint at the concept of what would become Pepper’s Ghost.

After Porta came Henry Dircks , who was the first man to lead the way in bringing Pepper’s Ghost to life. Dircks’ found inspiration in old Italian optical illusions using glass and light. His interest le him to his Dircksen Phantasmagoria. This was based on phantasmagoria performances during that time.

Referred to as “horror theaters”, these performances used magic lanterns. As well as projections to show frightful projections on stage . Dircks’ invention proposed a new method to project these images. His goal was to sell his concept to theaters in the area, but many rejected the new concept. To use Dircks’ idea, theaters would have to be completely redesigned. Not to mention, it was very costly and complicated, this was a risk that many people did not want to undertake . This fact kept theater owners uninterested in changing their current setup.

John Henry Porter came next in our lineup of inventors. He was a chemist and professor at the Royal Polytechnic Institute in London. Later on he became the director and sole lessee at the Institute in 1854. It was there that he came across Dircks’ work with projected images, and came into contact with Dircks. Porter then modified Dircks’ idea to make it easier to incorporate into theaters. In 1862, Pepper created his first working Pepper’s Ghost display.

This simpler design received welcome from theater owners. It was even used during a performance of Charles Dickens’s The Haunted Man . Though Dircks is the true father of Pepper’s Ghost, Pepper’s name is forever tied to the effect. Pepper tried to give credit to Dircks work. Though Dircks allocated all financial ownership to Pepper . Both men are the father’s behind Pepper’s Ghost. One brought the concept to life through invention, while the other brought it to the stage.

How the illusion works:

Now that we’ve covered some of the lore behind Pepper’s Ghost, let’s get into the technical portions of how this works. Below is an example of one of the method you can use to make this visual illusion.

• Skip ahead to 1:26 to see how Disney uses the world’s largest Pepper’s Ghost effect in their Haunted Mansion ride*

There are two versions to make this illusion come to life through the designs of Dircks’ and Pepper. Both father’s had their own method to create Pepper’s Ghost. Companies of today are less likely to use these older methods. Today, computer based projects and animation software are more often utilized.

Dirck’s Version

Dircks’ design used crafty lighting and reflection manipulation through glass panes. An actor playing a ghost stayed out of sight of the audience by being under the stage. Hence why most theaters didn’t want to use this method and redesign the stage floor to fit an actor beneath. The actor would stand across from a glass pane placed perpendicular to the theater floor. Through light manipulation, the ghost would illuminate onto the stage. The strength of the light determined how strong the apparition appeared on stage. The placement of the glass on the stage then reflected the actor to the audience on stage. This simple technique is still used today in amusement park attractions and rides.

Pepper’s Version

Pepper’s method was able to bypass the issues Dircks’ creation faced. His technique could fit into almost any existing theater venue design. To use this trick, two rooms are necessary. The audience is facing one room, unaware of a second identical room. The second room holds objects or the actor out of sight of the viewer, only to be visible once light enters the space. The main room has a plate of glass placed at a 45 degree angle. When light enters the second room, the main room dims its lights to make the effect stand out. The reflection shows the hidden objects and actors within the second room. Then appearing in the main room out of thin air. This method is still popular in carnival shows like Girl to Gorilla, a film you can preview below this text.

Tools & Materials Needed

• Glass Mirror
• A Light Source
• An Empty Room
• A Display Box

Step 1: Building at Home

To design a haunting hologram for Halloween, you will need a few materials to get started. The main components throughout are a pane of glass, a light source, and a space to set up your scene. I recommend starting small with a shoe box sized display to test your idea. Once you’ve tested your illusion, you can go bigger by setting up two rooms like the slider display below. Have your glass be placed 45 degrees between the two spaces. Then project your light into the second room holding your objects. While your main room remains empty . You can play around with the amount of light you want to use. As well as if you want a stationary object or live actor in the second room’s space .

This trick can work with photos, videos, or live performances

Step 2: Alternative Version

An alternative method to making this age old illusion, is to use modern day technology. Pre-made 3D models get made on computers, smartphones and animation software. These images are then projected onto an Optical Beam Splitter on stage. Compared to the ghost-like look of Pepper’s Ghost, CGI holograms are view-able from all sides. These holograms come across in crisp, clear high definition displays. This helps make the holograms appear even more life like being rendered. Video projection and motion capture technology combined create CGI “digital doubles.” Digital doubles can be of celebrities, politicians, and world leaders of today. Old footage of performers can be altered in animation software. This is able to bring dead celebrities back to life. The use of this technology recreated famous performances. Performances such as Tupac at Coachella. As well as Michael Jackson at the Billboard Music Awards in 2014 performance.

Pro Tip 1:

Programs like p5.js allow you to create an animation that can be projected onto a glass mirror on stage. This gives an even more life Pepper’s Ghost effect without a live actor on standby.

Pro Tip 2:

You are also not limited to using a glass mirror or Plexiglas to bring holograms into the real world. A smartphone can be all you need to summon fantastic illusions and holograms.

Pepper’s Cone

Pepper’s Cone is where you place a curved surface on a table to reflect the image on a 2D display. There are a few tips and tricks you will need to get this illusion, which can be found in the video above.

Pepper’s Dome

This hologram dome is like the Pepper’s Ghost Illusion. It creates 3D images off a 2D surface.

Pepper’s Glass

The looking glass is a unique interpretation of the Pepper’s Ghost effect. It creates an object inside of a piece of glass that you can interact and play with.

DIY Smartphone Version

You can even create your own Pepper’s Ghost illusion with your smartphone.

Other Applications

Pepper’s Ghost is made through stage illusions in theater. Though it has also been shown in amusement parks, museums, television shows and movies. Even at live concert performances. Some of today’s modern rides use computer generated images. Rather than real models reflected back to the audience. Here is a list of other Pepper’s Ghosts you may come across at these locations.

Twilight Zone (Walt Disney World)

The above video shows the ballroom dancing from the Twilight Zone attraction. This is at Walt Disney World. The video gives you insider footage of the attraction, and how it works.

Mystery Lodge (Knotts Berry Farm)

The above video shows a part of the Mystery Lodge (Knott’s Berry Farm). This is where he creates the Pepper’s Ghost illusion in fire.

Ghost of the Library (Abraham Lincoln Presidential Library and Museum)

The Abraham Lincoln Presidential Library and Museum exhibits a Pepper’s ghost illusion. The ghost of Abraham Lincoln makes an appearance.

Hogwarts Express (Universal Studio)

The Harry Potter Universal Studios uses the Pepper’s Ghost Illusion. This allows people to “walk through a brick wall” to reach Platform 9 3/4.

Aside from the wonders that amusement parks can offer. These illusions and live concerts have upgraded their style. This is done by bringing performers to life! They can even sometimes bring deceased performers back to life as well. Singers like Gorillaz, Tupac Shakur, Michael Jackson and Frank Zappa have all been brought back to life.

These types of displays take more custom projection media server software. As well as specialized stretched film with added animation overlays.

Bringing Non-Living Celebrities to life

The video above shows a performance that was created using the Pepper’s Ghost Illusion. This allows artists who are no longer living to perform for a live audience.

Tupac Shakur

In 2012, Tupac was able to perform with Snoop Dogg and Dr. Dre for a Coachella live performance. Tupac was created using the Pepper’s Ghost mirror illusion.

Michael Jackson

Michael Jackson was also able to perform for a live audience as well using the Pepper’s Ghost illusion

Gorillaz 2006

The Gorillaz were able to create a Pepper’s Ghost effect, too!

Graveyard Games

This haunted house is a Universal Studios original. They created the story-line, characters and implemented realism. This was able to make the story behind the house come alive.

When you are waiting in line, they have a huge projection screen showing a live Facebook feed. This is of two teenagers, Sid and Nancy. They are to damage the cemetery where the glowing mother resides and watches over. She likes children but not when they are there to do wrong.

This haunted house has two mirror illusions. An infinity mirror and a pepper’s ghost illusion. I’ll outline them in the details below and a timestamp of a walk-through from YouTube. The video is not mine but it does show the illusions quite .

One of my favorite parts is actually not a mirror illusion but a sound illusion. At the very end there is a dark tunnel that has been completely soundproofed.

When the person turns the camera toward the skeleton they are frightened. Then in an instant the scare-actor disappears. You don’t see a mirror though in its place so it has to be a pepper’s ghost effect. The reason is to show the wall behind where the scare-actor appears and disappears.

At 1:38 when the person holding the camera rounds the corner, they are met by the same actor coming from behind a black curtain. This is because in order for the pepper’s ghost effect to work, the actor has to be in a dark area and illuminate themselves to be seen

Originally published at https://www.twowaymirrors.com on January 26, 2021.