Musion Eyeliner

The Musion Eyeliner is a modern commercial variation of a stage illusion called Pepper's ghost, using high definition video projection or LED screens to allow moving images to appear within a live stage setting.

The system works by placing thin metallised film across the front of the stage at angle of 45 degrees towards the audience; recessed below the screen is a bright image supplied by an LED screen or powerful projector. When viewed from the audience's perspective, the reflected images appear to be on the stage. The system was created by Uwe Maass.

Because the system uses a thin film as its reflective surface, the screen is relatively low-cost and light-weight, and can cover a large area without seams (thus helping maintain the illusion); however,this lightness can make the screen vibrate due to atmospheric effects such as wind outdoors, or powerful sound systems indoors.

The system's effect is described by the company Musion Systems Ltd. as "3-dimensional" and "holographic", though strictly it does not comply to either defiition, as it consists of a flat (two-dimensional) image that produces the illusion of being three-dimensional and suspended in free space. It does not, for instance, recreate stereoscopy as most 3D displays do, nor it is a hologram.

The technology involved is the subject of a US patent application.

Applications

Applications of the technology include tele-conferencing and mixed-media entertainment and educational events. Its most famous usage may be that at the Live Earth conference, or the later concerts of the band Gorillaz, where it was used to allow the band's cartoon musicians to join the actual musicians on stage. The Genki Rockets also utilize the technology for any of their 'live' events, due to the lead singer, Lumi, who appears in the group's animated music videos, being a fictional character.

The 2009 tour of Jeff Wayne's Musical Version of The War of the Worlds used a Musion Eyeliner system which projected an image of Richard Burton's face in the role of the Journalist.

Musion Eyeliner projections have also been made for product launches such as the Toyota Auris car and an LG phone launch in which the technology was used to provide a stage illusion for magician David Blaine. In 2010 animation specialists SquareZero successfully recreated two performances by people who have been deceased for a number of years. The first was Paul Arden - a former creative director of Saatchi and Saatchi who appeared to talk at the Cannes Lions advertising festival. Also using digital techniques they recreated Frank Sinatra who performed Pennies from Heaven for the birthday of Pop Idol judge Simon Cowell.