Low fog: dry ice, cooled smoke or water mist

Three ways to make low fog

Low fog stays near the floor because the fog is cold and heavy. A normal fog machine makes warm smoke that rises, so low fog needs either a way to cool the smoke or a different way of making the fog. HYRED rents three systems. They differ in what they consume and in what you have to arrange.

Dry ice: the Creeper Ice

Dry ice goes into heated water, and the cold gas that comes off carries the water vapour along as a dense fog that rolls across the floor. The Showven Creeper Ice works this way: it runs on dry ice and clean water, with DMX control. The water has to be heated first, so the warm-up is much longer than with the other two systems.

• Advantages. Dense fog that stays low, and no fog fluid at all: only dry ice and water.
• Drawbacks. Dry ice is not part of our range, so you source it yourself and it has to be fresh, because it sublimates and cannot be stored. The amount you need grows with the running time. Handle it with insulated gloves. It releases CO2, which settles near the floor and displaces air in closed or poorly ventilated rooms.

Cooled smoke: with CO2 or with a cooling element

Here an ordinary fog machine makes the smoke and a cooler brings its temperature down, so it stays low. There are two ways to cool it.

• With CO2. The Le Maitre Freezefog Pro set is a smoke cooler fed by CO2 cylinders. It is used with a compatible Le Maitre fog machine that runs on low fog fluid. The set is rented without CO2, so the cylinders have to be added. The Look Solutions Cryo-Gate and the Smoke Factory Carpet Crawler work the same way: a cooler on CO2 cylinders placed in front of a fog machine.
• Pros and cons of CO2 cooling. CO2 gives the most beautiful effect, and no dry ice is needed. The drawback is that the CO2 consumption can add up quickly: the cooler uses CO2 for as long as the effect runs, so you plan cylinders and spare cylinders. In closed rooms the gas collects near the floor.
• With a cooling element. The JEM Glaciator Dynamic cools the fog in a closed refrigeration circuit, so it needs neither CO2 nor ice.
• Pros and cons of the cooling element. No cylinders, no dry ice, and a continuous output under DMX or RDM control. The drawbacks: a ready time before the first use, and a heavy machine that is connected to the mains with a fixed cable.

Water mist: the Creeper AQ Plus

The Showven Creeper AQ Plus makes low fog without cooling the smoke and without ice: it mixes fog fluid with an ultrasonic mist of water and spreads it along the floor. It works from a water tank with a water connection for automatic refilling, and it has a short warm-up.

• Advantages. No dry ice, no CO2 and no refrigeration unit. Continuous output, DMX control, and the set comes with a flightcase and ducting.
• Drawbacks. It uses water and fog fluid together, so you have to arrange a water supply (or refill the tank) and the right fluid from the product sheet. Check the coverage and output on the sheet against the size of your room.

The three systems compared

• Consumables. Dry ice and water for the Creeper Ice; CO2 cylinders and fog fluid for the CO2 coolers; mains power and fog fluid for the Glaciator Dynamic; water and fog fluid for the Creeper AQ Plus.
• Warm-up. The Creeper Ice takes longest, because the water has to be heated. The Glaciator Dynamic needs several minutes to be ready, the Creeper AQ Plus only a short warm-up.
• Logistics. Dry ice has to be delivered fresh and CO2 cylinders have to be swapped. The Glaciator and the Creeper AQ Plus need only power, fluid and (for the Creeper) water.
• Choice. Dry ice gives a fog without fog fluid if you can arrange the dry ice on the day. The Glaciator is the machine without cylinders or ice. The Creeper AQ Plus suits a venue where neither ice nor gas cylinders are practical.

Indoors: points of attention

• CO2 in closed rooms. Dry ice and CO2 cooling release CO2, which is heavier than air and settles near the floor. Ventilate, and do not use them in closed rooms without a fresh-air supply. Think of performers who lie or sit on the floor.
• Smoke detectors. Low fog can trigger smoke detectors. Agree with the venue how detection is handled during the show; never switch it off on your own.
• Slippery floor. Fog can leave the floor damp and slippery. Check the floor where performers move, and keep cables and ducting out of walkways.
• Draught and ventilation. Draught from doors, ventilation or air conditioning breaks up low fog. Agree on the air flow with the venue.
• Ducting and placement. Fog blades and ducting guide the fog where you want it: see the low fog accessories.

Book low fog

Send us the venue, the size of the area and the show times; with your quote we propose the machine, the ducting and the fluid that suit it. Machines are in low fog machines, ducting and fog blades in accessories, and fluids in Distribution.