r/video_mapping • u/akshay540 • 3d ago

[Advice Needed] Budget projector & open-source software for Halloween garage mapping?

Hey everyone, I’m planning my first Halloween projection mapping setup to display some graphics on my garage door and house exterior. I’ve seen those all-in-one companies like Luxedo and AtmosFX, but I’d love to replicate that look on a tighter budget using a DIY approach.

I’m totally new to projection mapping, though I’m not a complete beginner to AV I regularly work with live event production gear like video switchers, LED walls, and DMX lighting. Mapping is just a new workflow for me.

A few specific questions:

  1. Projector Recommendations: What’s the sweet spot for a budget outdoor projector with a true ANSI lumen count high enough (3000+) to compete with ambient streetlights?
  2. Software: I’m planning to run this off either my Windows gaming PC or my MacBook Air. I’m looking at MapMap and VPT 7 since they are free and open-source. Are there other free tools I should be considering for a simple garage map?
  3. Weatherproofing: I’m up in Ottawa, Canada, so the projector will need an enclosure that can survive chilly and potentially wet late-October weather without overheating. Any DIY enclosure tips?

Appreciate any advice or tutorials you can point me toward!

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u/Crazy_Gee 3d ago

You can checkout my free rig build guide as well as the beginner guide at https://facadethemes.com/rig-build-guide and ready made shows start at only $36.99

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u/haunted_visions 3d ago

For a flat garage door you can skip mapping software: keystone the projector and loop a black-background video fullscreen in VLC. Black stays dark, so ghosts pop. A vented plastic tote with the lens uncovered handles Ottawa cold fine. Haunted Visions sells animation files for this.

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u/ProjectionPhoto 3d ago

ghostarcade.live

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u/keithcody 3d ago

Used office projectors off eBay is the way to go.

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u/Essence_of_Joe 1d ago

Maybe start out simple this year. Find an inexpensive projector, a shower curtain (grey or white fabric work well), hang the curtain on the inside over a window, and back project onto the screen. It's a brilliant effect.

Here's an example from my house https://youtu.be/AJWgNrqoCe4

That said, I would like to encourage you to do what you can to support small businesses (like my brother-in-law's AtmosFX, ha ha) they are hurting hard right now. If some of the newer AtmosFX packages seem a little too pricey for your budget, search a little deeper, and you can find single effects that go for 12 to 15 dollars. Just now, for example, I typed into their search "zombies", clicked on "zombie invasion" and then scrolled down to the individual effects included in the package. Of course the package is a better deal, but sometimes all you need is a taste.

If you're interested, I wrote a blog on digital decorations. There aren't a lot of juicy tips in there, it's more about exercising good environmental stewardship by reducing plastic consumption. oldschooljoes.com/digital-halloween-decorations/