How to Make an Invisible Mask for Video Cameras

PDF download Download Article
PDF download Download Article

The increasing use of surveillance cameras in response to concerns about terrorism means that when you're in public, there's a chance you're being watched and recorded. While such security measures make some people feel safe, others worry about the implications of being watched by "Big Brother." By embedding a hat with high-brightness infrared (IR) LEDs, you can obstruct your face from being recorded by any kind of hidden, security, paparazzi, or personal video camera. To do so, follow these instructions.

Steps

PDF download Download Article
  1. {"smallUrl":"https:\/\/www.wikihow.com\/images\/thumb\/2\/27\/Make-an-Invisible-Mask-for-Video-Cameras-Step-1.jpg\/v4-460px-Make-an-Invisible-Mask-for-Video-Cameras-Step-1.jpg","bigUrl":"\/images\/thumb\/2\/27\/Make-an-Invisible-Mask-for-Video-Cameras-Step-1.jpg\/aid573607-v4-728px-Make-an-Invisible-Mask-for-Video-Cameras-Step-1.jpg","smallWidth":460,"smallHeight":306,"bigWidth":728,"bigHeight":484,"licensing":"<div class=\"mw-parser-output\"><p>License: <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noreferrer noopener\" class=\"external text\" href=\"https:\/\/creativecommons.org\/licenses\/by-nc-sa\/3.0\/\">Creative Commons<\/a><br>\n<\/p><p><br \/>\n<\/p><\/div>"}
    Wire the LEDs . Make sure your wires are long enough (around 15cm / 6 in each) depending on how big your hat is. Start wiring up the LEDs one by one, making sure to note the positive and negative terminals. (Color-coding the wires is highly recommended: for example, you can use a white wire for each positive terminal and a color wires for each negative terminal.) Wrap the wires tightly to each LED so they won't fall apart. You can even solder the connections, though it's probably not necessary.
  2. {"smallUrl":"https:\/\/www.wikihow.com\/images\/thumb\/8\/89\/Make-an-Invisible-Mask-for-Video-Cameras-Step-2.jpg\/v4-460px-Make-an-Invisible-Mask-for-Video-Cameras-Step-2.jpg","bigUrl":"\/images\/thumb\/8\/89\/Make-an-Invisible-Mask-for-Video-Cameras-Step-2.jpg\/aid573607-v4-728px-Make-an-Invisible-Mask-for-Video-Cameras-Step-2.jpg","smallWidth":460,"smallHeight":306,"bigWidth":728,"bigHeight":484,"licensing":"<div class=\"mw-parser-output\"><p>License: <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noreferrer noopener\" class=\"external text\" href=\"https:\/\/creativecommons.org\/licenses\/by-nc-sa\/3.0\/\">Creative Commons<\/a><br>\n<\/p><p><br \/>\n<\/p><\/div>"}
    This part is also crucial, as you need to pick logical (but inconspicuous) spots to place the LEDs: if you place them too far apart from each other, the light beam won't be strong enough to blind a camera, but if you place them too close, they will hide your face from a certain angle but not others. Think this out and position them well. Mark each spot with a marker, then cut a few holes with a pair of small scissors in the middle of the front of the hat as well as a few on the sides.
    Advertisement
  3. {"smallUrl":"https:\/\/www.wikihow.com\/images\/thumb\/f\/fd\/Make-an-Invisible-Mask-for-Video-Cameras-Step-3.jpg\/v4-460px-Make-an-Invisible-Mask-for-Video-Cameras-Step-3.jpg","bigUrl":"\/images\/thumb\/f\/fd\/Make-an-Invisible-Mask-for-Video-Cameras-Step-3.jpg\/aid573607-v4-728px-Make-an-Invisible-Mask-for-Video-Cameras-Step-3.jpg","smallWidth":460,"smallHeight":306,"bigWidth":728,"bigHeight":484,"licensing":"<div class=\"mw-parser-output\"><p>License: <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noreferrer noopener\" class=\"external text\" href=\"https:\/\/creativecommons.org\/licenses\/by-nc-sa\/3.0\/\">Creative Commons<\/a><br>\n<\/p><p><br \/>\n<\/p><\/div>"}
    Turn the hat inside out. Take each LED and place it tight in its hole. For extra stability, secure each LED with a dab of glue so that it won't fall out; however, try not to cover the bulb, focusing instead on holding the wire in place. Hot glue will work well for this purpose. When you’re done, flip the hat right-side-out.
  4. {"smallUrl":"https:\/\/www.wikihow.com\/images\/thumb\/f\/f6\/Make-an-Invisible-Mask-for-Video-Cameras-Step-4.jpg\/v4-460px-Make-an-Invisible-Mask-for-Video-Cameras-Step-4.jpg","bigUrl":"\/images\/thumb\/f\/f6\/Make-an-Invisible-Mask-for-Video-Cameras-Step-4.jpg\/aid573607-v4-728px-Make-an-Invisible-Mask-for-Video-Cameras-Step-4.jpg","smallWidth":460,"smallHeight":306,"bigWidth":728,"bigHeight":484,"licensing":"<div class=\"mw-parser-output\"><p>License: <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noreferrer noopener\" class=\"external text\" href=\"https:\/\/creativecommons.org\/licenses\/by-nc-sa\/3.0\/\">Creative Commons<\/a><br>\n<\/p><p><br \/>\n<\/p><\/div>"}
    Tape all the wires together using electrical tape and secure them to the inside of the hat.
  5. {"smallUrl":"https:\/\/www.wikihow.com\/images\/thumb\/d\/d2\/Make-an-Invisible-Mask-for-Video-Cameras-Step-5.jpg\/v4-460px-Make-an-Invisible-Mask-for-Video-Cameras-Step-5.jpg","bigUrl":"\/images\/thumb\/d\/d2\/Make-an-Invisible-Mask-for-Video-Cameras-Step-5.jpg\/aid573607-v4-728px-Make-an-Invisible-Mask-for-Video-Cameras-Step-5.jpg","smallWidth":460,"smallHeight":306,"bigWidth":728,"bigHeight":484,"licensing":"<div class=\"mw-parser-output\"><p>License: <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noreferrer noopener\" class=\"external text\" href=\"https:\/\/creativecommons.org\/licenses\/by-nc-sa\/3.0\/\">Creative Commons<\/a><br>\n<\/p><p><br \/>\n<\/p><\/div>"}
    Connect a small 9v battery to the wires and secure it with electrical tape. (This is where having color-coded wires will really come in handy, as they will tell you which wires to connect to the positive and negative terminal of the battery.) You can even add a little on/off switch if you want. In this example, the battery is placed on the inside back of the hat.
  6. {"smallUrl":"https:\/\/www.wikihow.com\/images\/thumb\/e\/eb\/Make-an-Invisible-Mask-for-Video-Cameras-Intro.jpg\/v4-460px-Make-an-Invisible-Mask-for-Video-Cameras-Intro.jpg","bigUrl":"\/images\/thumb\/e\/eb\/Make-an-Invisible-Mask-for-Video-Cameras-Intro.jpg\/aid573607-v4-728px-Make-an-Invisible-Mask-for-Video-Cameras-Intro.jpg","smallWidth":460,"smallHeight":306,"bigWidth":728,"bigHeight":484,"licensing":"<div class=\"mw-parser-output\"><p>License: <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noreferrer noopener\" class=\"external text\" href=\"https:\/\/creativecommons.org\/licenses\/by-nc-sa\/3.0\/\">Creative Commons<\/a><br>\n<\/p><p><br \/>\n<\/p><\/div>"}
    7. Advertisement

Expert Q&A

Ask a Question
200 characters left
Include your email address to get a message when this question is answered.
Submit
      Advertisement

      Video

      Tips

      • The bright light being on top of the head may still leave at least portions of the face visible. Placing some LEDs in the shirt collar and/or wearing LED earrings or ear pieces (like fake or modified bluetooth headset) would improve the mask.
        Thanks
        Helpful 11 Not Helpful 3
      • Since the infrared is invisible to the naked eye, you will have to use your own video camera to make sure it is working.
        Thanks
        Helpful 16 Not Helpful 7
      Submit a Tip
      All tip submissions are carefully reviewed before being published
      Name
      Please provide your name and last initial
      Submit
      Thanks for submitting a tip for review!
      Advertisement

      Warnings

      • This works about as well as shining a light in someone’s face – except CCTV never blinks. Thus, it requires one to be able to continually face the camera at the right angle. (Notice almost half of the face is visible in the photo despite good positioning.)
        Thanks
        Helpful 8 Not Helpful 2
      • This method works best in lower light conditions; in full daylight or brightly lit areas, there is less of a light discrepancy, making the LEDs less blinding to the camera. (This can be seen in the video when the finished product is shown: you can clearly see the hat and the individual LEDs, with no blinding effect.)
        Thanks
        Helpful 4 Not Helpful 10
      Advertisement

      Things You'll Need

      • Though approximate prices are given, this project should cost about $11 USD.
      • 8 or more high-intensity, infra-red LEDs ($0.30 apiece; $2.40 total)
      • A hat/cap ($6.00 if you don’t have one already)
        • make sure it can accommodate all the interior parts
        • choose one with a design that will camouflage the LEDs
      • 16 thin wires from a 2-meter long UTP cable ($1.00)
      • Electrical tape ($0.80)
      • A 9v battery ($1.00)

      You Might Also Like

      How to
      Blind a Surveillance Camera
      How to
      Tell if a Mirror Is Two Way or Not
      How to
      Create an Adult Movie
      How to
      Use a Green Screen
      How to
      Draw Storyboards
      How to
      Add Subtitles to a Movie
      How to
      Make a Movie
      How to
      Create a Storyboard
      How to
      Do Chroma Key on Adobe Premiere Pro
      How to
      Make a Movie As a Kid
      How to
      Make a Short Film
      How to
      Make an Animated Short Film
      How to
      Make a Horror Film
      How to
      Make Your Own Movie
      Advertisement

      References

      1. Instructables - Original source, shared with permission.

      About This Article

      In other languages
      Thanks to all authors for creating a page that has been read 357,644 times.

      Did this article help you?

      Advertisement