Special Effects

Atmospheric and physical effects for stage, events and touring: smoke, haze, low fog, dry ice looks, snow, bubbles, confetti, wind and the fluids that keep it all running, from ADJ, Chauvet DJ, Chauvet Professional, Equinox, LEDJ and Elumen8.

Start from the look rather than the machine. Haze Machines produce a fine, even atmosphere that makes light beams visible without anyone noticing the haze itself, which is what most lighting designers actually want. Smoke Machines give visible clouds and vertical bursts for hits and reveals. Low Fog and Dry Ice Machines keep fog at floor level for first dances and theatre moments, and they work by chilling the output, so they need consumables or a chiller rather than just a bigger machine. Snow, Bubble and Wind Machines cover the literal effects, Confetti Canons handle drops and big finishes, and Smoke & Haze Fluid holds the consumables, scents and cleaning fluid.

Three practical points decide whether an effect works on the night. Match the fluid to the machine as the manufacturer specifies: the wrong fluid is the most common cause of poor output and blocked heaters, and it will usually void the warranty. Warm-up and duty cycle matter for cue timing, since a machine that needs to reheat between bursts cannot deliver a hit on a downbeat. And deal with the venue side early, because smoke detection is what stops most shows: many buildings need the system isolating or putting into a different mode, which is a conversation with the venue rather than a setting on the machine.

Residue and clean-up are worth planning too. Fog and low fog leave floors slippery, confetti has to be cleared and some venues charge for it, and haze can linger long enough to affect the next event in the room.

The smoke, haze and low fog guide compares the machine types and fluids, and confetti, streamers and CO2 covers the big moments. The DMX control, rigging and cabling to integrate any of it sit in the neighbouring categories.

Special Effects FAQs

Smoke, haze or low fog? Start from the look: haze makes beams visible without reading as smoke, smoke gives visible clouds and hits, low fog hugs the floor for first dances and theatre. The smoke and haze guide matches machine to look.

Will haze trip the venue’s fire alarm? It can, always speak to the venue about detector isolation before the event, and use the right fluid for the machine.

What about confetti and streamers? Powered launchers, handheld cannons and the loading choices are covered in confetti, streamers and CO2 effects.