Pepper’s Ghost Halloween Illusion

A DIY Spooky Witch Projection Using a Monitor, Perspex and a Self-Built Frame

Bring a bit of classic stage magic to your front door. This tutorial shows exactly how I built a Pepper’s Ghost illusion for Halloween using a monitor, a wooden frame, a sheet of Perspex and a witch video I filmed myself. It creates a floating, ghostly witch that appears to speak to trick or treaters.

This project is simple, low cost and very effective. Below are full steps for filming, building, wiring, and setting up the illusion.

Electronics and Display

1. Monitor with HDMI input
2. Media player or small HDMI video loop device
3. Speakers (or monitor speakers if loud enough)
4. Power cables and extension reel
5. HDMI cable

Materials

1. Sheet of Perspex or acrylic (around the size of your monitor)
2. Timber or MDF to build a simple frame
3. Black paint (optional)
4. Screws, brackets, wood glue

Tools

1. Drill
2. Saw
3. Screwdriver
4. Roller and brush if painting
5. Measuring tape
6. Safety gear (goggles, ear protection)

1. Set up a plain wall as your background. A flat white wall works well because it is easy to remove in editing.
2. Film yourself acting as the witch. Keep gestures contained to the centre area so they will sit nicely in the reflection.
3. Remove the background in your editing software. (I used CapCut and Final Cut Pro but you could use Canva or any other editing software)
4. Add a colour filter to make the witch look spooky or spectral.
5. Add atmospheric or Halloween themed music.
6. Export as a looping video file so the witch can repeat without a visible start or end.

Tip: Leave a few seconds of stillness at the beginning and end to help with looping.

1. Measure the height and width of your monitor.
2. Cut timber to create a snug frame around the monitor. This helps hide the edges and directs the reflection.
3. Screw the pieces together and reinforce the corners with brackets.
4. Add a support behind the monitor so it sits upright.
5. Test fit the monitor before painting.
6. Paint the frame black so it blends into the background and does not draw attention.

This frame will help position the Perspex at the correct angle and hides the hardware from the front.

1. Cut the Perspex so it is slightly larger than your monitor’s visible area.
2. Remove the protective film just before installation to avoid scratches.
3. Clean both sides with a microfibre cloth so the reflected image is crisp.

Tip: The Perspex will sit at roughly a 45 degree angle in front of the monitor. Adjust this later based on your setup.

1. Place the monitor inside the wooden frame.
2. Connect your media player using HDMI.
3. Plug in your speakers.
4. Play the witch video to check brightness, audio levels and loop timing.
5. Rotate or flip the video if needed. My first export was the wrong way round so I fixed this before final setup.
6. Make sure the monitor is bright enough to create a clear reflection on the Perspex.

1. Choose a position by your front door where trick or treaters approach straight on. Pepper’s Ghost works best when the viewer looks directly at the Perspex.
2. I had a window beside my display which would have given away the setup, so I covered it with paper. This stops people seeing the monitor and breaks the illusion.
3. Keep the rest of the area dark or dim so the reflected witch is the brightest thing in view.

1. Place the Perspex at roughly 45 degrees in front of the monitor.
2. The monitor should face upward or downward depending on where your audience stands. For a doorway illusion, the monitor sits flat or angled slightly up.
3. Adjust the angle until the witch sits exactly where you want them to appear in space.
4. Secure the Perspex to the frame using small clips, brackets or tape.
5. Step back and check the reflection from the audience viewpoint.

If you need to trim the Perspex, do it now.

1. Hide all cables behind or under the frame.
2. Reduce any light reflections on the Perspex.
3. Check the audio one last time.
4. Make sure the illusion is stable and safe for outdoor use.
5. Run the loop for a few minutes to ensure it repeats smoothly.

When trick or treaters approach, they see a floating, ghostly witch talking directly to them. The monitor remains hidden behind the frame and the angled Perspex creates the classic Pepper’s Ghost effect.

This is a brilliant way to deliver a spooky surprise using a bit of filmmaking, woodworking and a timeless optical trick.