Laser Beam in a Cleanroom?

[Eidetic]

I've just been told that our marketing team wants to make a video showing off the high tech holography lab they hired me to build. That's cool, but the lab's in a cleanroom (with a perforated floor), and the lasers I use are either UV or 10mW at 633 or 532nm (for testing). I'm thinking a cigarette lit out of frame above the beams. Would a mineral oil fogger be better? Does that fog coat onto optics? The shoot is planned for early next week. Are there any good filters to try on the camera's lens to make laser beams or things they hit look better (polarizer, star?)? I suppose I'll be using a fluorescent card in the beam to trace out the UV laser's path, but really want to get some beam shots into the video!

[dave]

You dont want to use a oil hazer! - that has the potential to coat everything with oil.

[swamidog]

what about some dry ice just out of camera?

I've just been told that our marketing team wants to make a video showing off the high tech holography lab they hired me to build. That's cool, but the lab's in a cleanroom (with a perforated floor), and the lasers I use are either UV or 10mW at 633 or 532nm (for testing). I'm thinking a cigarette lit out of frame above the beams. Would a mineral oil fogger be better? Does that fog coat onto optics? The shoot is planned for early next week. Are there any good filters to try on the camera's lens to make laser beams or things they hit look better (polarizer, star?)? I suppose I'll be using a fluorescent card in the beam to trace out the UV laser's path, but really want to get some beam shots into the video!

[dsli_jon]

Yeah, avoid heavy-oil, fo' sure.. Martin / Jem's "iFog" http://www.martin.com/product/product.asp?product=i-fog - is the 'densest' (...need very-little for great-effect..) and 'cleanest' I've personally found / used... If Chief Swami can hook u up with a small water-based-fluid fogger, there, (though, not trying to 'speak' for him / volunteer his gear, jus sayin'.. I'll be happy to 'loan' ya a 1/2 liter of the 'iFog'.. ship in a cleaned-out 1L soda-bottle, etc.. fwiw..

..also, the 532 will give you the most 'beam for yer buck', and you can use less fog, etc... Worst-case (if they say NÖ FOGG!!!) you can turn an 'air-can' upside down / sideways, and shoot a 'small burst', down the path of the beam, while the camera is 'down-beam'... Yeah, I know there's 'special laser-visualizing spray' from a million years-back, but don't know if that is still avail., - especially if the shoot is early next week.. air-cans are plentiful.. But I've also been very-pleased / impressed with how 'good' the 445 looks 'in-camera'... I think Swami might have a little 445, too..

fwiw..
j

[swamidog]

i have no fogger, but i could probably provide some 445, 532, or 638 in relatively high powers.

Yeah, avoid heavy-oil, fo' sure.. Martin / Jem's "iFog" http://www.martin.com/product/product.asp?product=i-fog - is the 'densest' (...need very-little for great-effect..) and 'cleanest' I've personally found / used... If Chief Swami can hook u up with a small water-based-fluid fogger, there, (though, not trying to 'speak' for him / volunteer his gear, jus sayin'.. I'll be happy to 'loan' ya a 1/2 liter of the 'iFog'.. ship in a cleaned-out 1L soda-bottle, etc.. fwiw..

..also, the 532 will give you the most 'beam for yer buck', and you can use less fog, etc... Worst-case (if they say NÖ FOGG!!!) you can turn an 'air-can' upside down / sideways, and shoot a 'small burst', down the path of the beam, while the camera is 'down-beam'... Yeah, I know there's 'special laser-visualizing spray' from a million years-back, but don't know if that is still avail., - especially if the shoot is early next week.. air-cans are plentiful.. But I have been very-pleased / impressed with how 'good' the 445 looks 'in-camera'... I think Swami might have a little 445, too..

fwiw..
j

[dsli_jon]

i have no fogger...

We should fix-that.. ..Cause some of yer LSX-werk is going to further-melt our minds, 'as fog-laced aerials'... Perhaps some horse-trading, down the road..

Sir Bob, you could prolly find a small water-based-fluid mini-fogger at 'Spencers' / or a local sound / dj-shop, on the-cheap.. Not sure, but you might even be able to get a reasonable rental... But, in any-case, deffo would-recommend the 'iFog' over anything-else.. ie: it was 'clean' enough to pass-muster for the NASA air and space museum in VA, a few years-back - probably the 'fussiest' venue we've ever-shot, so.... But I'd for sure 'replace' any fog-juice that came with a small-one, and *only* use the iFog.. (..again, happy to 'donate' a small-quantity, for the low, low price of postage..

Lemme know..
j

[Displaser]

I just tried this with a Sunbeam ultrasonic humidifier - seems like it did a pretty good job lighting up my projectors output. You also gain some control over direction, as mine allows you to pivot the output.

Good luck with your project.

Greg

[dsli_jon]

...Sunbeam ultrasonic humidifier...

...Uh... Brilliant! Forget the fogger, Bob, that's a Gr8 idea.. .. (.. but offer still-stands if ya need / wish..

j

[Eidetic]

GREAT suggestions everybody! I'll look into both the dry ice and humidifier options. Thanks too Jon for the offer. Let me stew on it a few days and see what I can dig up here.

[planters]

Use only distilled water in the U/S humidifier. Unlike evaporation and condensation(dry ice) these will atomize anything in the water including minerals and after a little while will leave a chalky deposit on everything.