interactive Halloween mirror

We have made an interactive Halloween mirror.

It is a computerprogram with a face recognition module. It use a webcam to take a live video and put funny Halloween masks on the faces on the screen.

Remove these ads by Signing Up

Step 1:

You need just a few things for the Halloween mirror:

Computer with a monitor or a Laptop
Webcam
Computerprogram (can download here)
Decoration for the monitor (like dark cloth, spiderwebs,...)

lalder says: Oct 8, 2012. 10:45 AM

It worked great!! Thanks!!
Souce code wou be cool thou

webman3802 says: Oct 2, 2012. 12:05 PM

Is it possible to change out the frame and the mask files? I'd like to use this for our church's fall festival and change some of the bloody masks to some that are more friendly for small children.

fstone35 says: Sep 18, 2012. 10:09 PM

I know that the last comment is over a year old but I'm hoping the author still checks occasionally. I just stumbled upon this instructable today and am trying to get it to work on my Windows 7 SP1 computer but all I get is a gray screen. I see that others have had this problem but I haven't seen anyone post a definitive answer to this problem.

I have followed the instructions step-by-step, first installing OpenCV_1.0, then rebooting, then copying the DLLs and running Halloweenspiegel.exe. I even copied the DLLs to the SysWOW folder along with the system32 folder, just to make sure.

When I run the program, the activity light on my webcam turns on but all I get is a gray screen. If I run the program without the webcam I get a message complaining that no webcam was found.

Halloween is only a few weeks away and, along with all the other preparations, I would like to get this working in time to set it up for the kids. Does anyone know what might be wrong? As I said, I've followed the step-by-step instructions. Any help would be much appreciated. Happy Halloween!

lighttamer (author) says: Sep 19, 2012. 11:29 AM

I've checked it with Win7. The gray screen comes if the OpenCV is newer than 1.0 and if these DLLs MSVCP71.DLL MSVCR71.DLL couldn't be found.
If these DLLs are there it works.
Please check it.

mattyew says: Oct 6, 2011. 1:36 PM

I have also installed this program and have the gray screen issue. I installed OpenCV, and I have placed the DLL files in system32, however this hasn't resolved the issue. I think there should be detailed instructions on how to setup the folders and properly name them because it didn't say I had to create a "lib" folder until I got an error saying it was required. Would love to get this working in time for the halloween party next week! :)

lighttamer (author) says: Oct 6, 2011. 11:55 PM

Hello,

you can also do it step by step:
- first install openCV V1.0 (not an other version)
- reboot
- unzip the Halloweenspiegel_install.zip
- copy the folder "halloweenspiegel" (with lib) to your programmfolder
- copy the DLL to your system32 folder: DSVL.dll myron_ezcam.dll
- check that you have the following DLL in system32: MSVCP71.DLL MSVCR71.DLL

hope that works
Greetings from Germany

mattyew says: Oct 11, 2011. 12:57 PM

Thanks, it works now! On my computer, I had to put V1.0 instead of V2.3.1

Is it possible to use different mask / frame? I would like to design a high resolution version in photoshop that will go well with the decorations! I can share them on here

Thanks again, this is lots of fun! :)

ruadolt says: Nov 9, 2011. 11:28 AM

I still am having the same issues I would get a grey screen and the pc reboots

Here is what i did for the instal am i doing something wrong??

1) installed Java ( have tried multiple versions from 1.4,1.5,1.6 latest)
2) installed open CV V1.0
3) installed Halloweenspiegel to C:\Program files
4) copied halloween dll's (DSVL.dll myron_ezcam.dll) files to win\system32
5) verified MSVCP71.DLL MSVCR71.DLL are in system 32
6) rebooted

After doing these steps once I launch Halloweenspiegel I get a grey screen and the system reboots.

if I disconnect the usb camera I get an error message stating no camera detected

my only thought is I missed something or the camera I am using is not compatible (which is a Logitech Quickcam pro 4000 Model# V-UT16)

BTW I am running this on a XP sp3 machine as well

I anyone can shed some light on this it would be greatly appreciated. Thanks

jjckps says: Sep 16, 2010. 4:07 PM

Ugh, this looks way kewl, but it is not working - indicates a file is missing. Can you advise? Not sure if this is for this year.

lighttamer (author) says: Sep 17, 2010. 12:05 AM

Ups, yes you need two more DLLs. Most Computers still have them.

MSVCP71.DLL
MSVCR71.DLL

in the SYSTEM32 folder

sorry

jjckps says: Sep 17, 2010. 4:18 PM

Oh My - also just visited your website! Your glasses are amazing! I'll be sending you a separate email for some more information. Beautiful work!

jjckps says: Sep 17, 2010. 4:06 PM

Thanks much for the reply! I checked these and have them, but also realized after reviewing your instructions very closely that I installed version two. I uninstalled version two and reinstalled version one, however, now I get the gray screen some have referred to below. I also made sure I had the myron_ezcam.dll in the sys32 as well but still getting the gray screen. :( Any other suggestions? This looks so incredible! :(

m1middleton says: Oct 12, 2009. 4:08 PM

If you're getting the grey screen, make sure the myron_ezcam.dll is also in sys32, with the two others mentioned above.

Great! Can't wait to hack in some of my own pics!

Yandle says: Oct 4, 2009. 10:10 PM

Really cool idea, i just wish i could get it to work on my computer. All i get is the blue screen of death :P

lighttamer (author) says: Oct 5, 2009. 10:20 AM

Hi, do you have installed Java and openCV (don't forget the restart)? And is DSVL.dll and myron_ezcam.dll in your system32 directory? Maybe your Webcam didn't work with opencv?

ryborg says: Sep 19, 2009. 2:22 PM

I have installed OpenCV. Processing, and Java Runtime. When I run the Halloweenspiegel only see a blank grey screen?? How can I fix this :(

lighttamer (author) says: Sep 21, 2009. 6:17 AM

Hi, do you have restart your system? And is DSVL.dll and myron_ezcam.dll in your system32 directory?

framillo says: Sep 14, 2009. 12:12 AM

Source code pleaseee!

garywpalmer says: Sep 12, 2009. 7:15 PM

This is wundervoll! I hope that translated correctly. Thank you for sharing this before Halloween. We always invite the neighborhood over to set up on our driveway. We set out a long table at the front of the driveway for all the neighborhood candy bowls. The kids in costume go from bowl to bowl. One stop covers about 10 houses. Every family brings their own home made chili and we mix it all together in one pot. It turns out to be the greatest chili you could ever eat. I'm going to set my laptop up on a table outside so any one without a costume can look in the "mirror" and instantly be transformed. Thank you so much. Gary Palmer - Phoenix, Arizona, USA