Creating Special Effects for TV and Video, 3rd Edition

The Smoke Gun

 

Smoke that can be turned on and off when needed is an essential requirement for the making of television programmes. Generated in special devices known as smoke guns (although terms such as smoke machine and smoke generator are also used), they are heated either electrically or by gas.

Most of these devices employ a common principle: smoke fluid is passed through a small bore tube or restricted passage which is heated to a critical temperature. The super-heated fluid, which is pressurised, emerges from a nozzle, vaporising into white smoke.

Although this is the basic principle, there are other important features which must be incorporated in the design before any smoke gun can work efficiently and safely. Thermostats, pressure ...