Parabolic Projection Praxinoscope

I built this praxinoscope with a parabolic mirror to create the illusion that the character is actually standing in front of the curtains and in the middle of the stage. It needs to be viewed with both eyes for the illusion to work properly. This effect was used in the early 90s for the Sega arcade game Time Traveler.

Category:

Film & Animation

Tags:

• Praxinoscope
• Parabolic
• optical toy

[kcfreeloader]

Very good job. I guess this would this work if you projected a video on the mirror instead?

[yonkel]

Thank you. Yes you could view a video monitor screen in the mirror which works very well. I hope to build a larger version of this project with a video monitor and a larger mirror. You can find more information by researching the Sega Time Traveler game.

[kcfreeloader]

@yonkel Time Traveler is what brought me here. Not so good game play, but boy did it look neat. I'm trying to build a display for a museum.

1. I'm guessing you are using one of the "mirage" mirrors for this right?

2. Have you found a source for a larger concave parabolic mirror?

3. I noticed the mirrors at the bottom and top of the illustration. Do those serve a purpose in the illusion or are they just for light amplification/concentration?

[kcfreeloader]

4. In Sega's Time Traveler (and Holosseum ) do you know if a special lens was used or if the video was manipulated to a certain shape to make it shaped properly for the parabolic mirror?

Thanks again. I just can't get over how great the thing you made looks. I am very impressed with your craftsmanship.

[yonkel]

I'm not aware of a special lens used. I'm guessing that the mirror created for the game was made specifically to receive the reflection from the monitor. I used a convex lens for my project because it helped to place the reflection exactly where I wanted it. Without it, the image pushed too far forward and had some slight distortion. The whole set up is a very careful balancing act and will take some experimenting to suit your project. Thanks for the kind words!

[yonkel]

I did use the top half of a mirage mirror carefully cut to fit the cabinet I made.

You may be able to find a 22" larger version of the Mirage from the manufacturer.

I'm not exactly sure what illustration you are referring to. Is it one you found in researching Time Traveler?

[yonkel]

Check out green power science

[GuyOnChair]

Gee wilikers!

[acronhym]

Yeah, I've been doing t he research on the parabolic dish and video monitors. I'm using a projection source to turn a 2.5 inch image into a 60 inch viewable display upto 360 degree viewing. I thought i was the only one working on this. Good job. I've got something like USC with a spinning image and you can put your hand through it(_kind of a rush.) I haven't released it yet. But i have an OS control system made. check out the schematic at thekingbullet[dot]com

[EDDYJM00]

lovely

how do you that?

if dont my see my videos, is not like, but still.

thanks

EDDY