Mac-O-Lanterns
This Halloween season, Fusebox is bringing some old computers back from the dead.
It wasn't something we planned to do. In fact, the idea sprang from a conversation on Twitter just a couple of nights ago. I had been looking to unload a bunch of old Mac Classics (we had been collecting them for an art project that never developed). That started a Twitter conversation that soon turned into a Twitter brainstorming session. The idea of the Mac-O-Lantern was born.
Two days later, an old Mac was alive and smiling.
There's still time to make your own. Besides a working computer and a little technical know-how (very little), all you need is three cans of spray paint and a bit of epoxy. And here's the best part...no slimy guts to clean out!
How to Make a Mac-O-Lantern
- Find your old, working Mac. Give it a nice cleaning.
- Mask off the screen with tape. We used clear shipping tape.
- Paint the entire body orange. We used Krylon Fusion Pumpkin Orange. We started with another type of paint, but it didn't adhere very well. The Fusion line is made especially for plastic and worked great.
- Paint the mouse brown for a stem. We used Krylon Fusion Satin Espresso.
- Cut the keyboard cord into leaf and vine sections and paint them green. We used Krylon Fusion Hunter Green.
- Let the paint dry completely, preferably overnight.
- Attach the mouse and cord pieces with epoxy.
- Create your face. We made ours in Illustrator and then turned it into a JPEG through Photoshop. We had to dig around a bit, but we found an old external floppy drive and transferred the artwork via disk.
- Display your face. We downloaded JPEGView from The Mac Orchard and have multiple faces rotating on the screen like a slide show.
Have fun. Use our rather basic design as a springboard for your own creativity. Add some animation. Bring sound into the mix. Here's your chance to show off your old-school programming skills.
Just be sure to come back and leave a link to some photos in the comments. (You can see more of our Mac-O-Lantern photos, including some assembly shots, on Flickr.)
These are so cool. I'm sending this link to every computer geek I know, as a Halloween greeting. Great idea!
Posted by: Scarlet | October 26, 2007 at 07:30 PM
And I thought halloween had turned commercial.
Posted by: Roland | October 26, 2007 at 10:00 PM
Just Great!
Posted by: jpblogger | October 26, 2007 at 10:36 PM
HA! To think I just had mine sitting in the basement as a clock. This is a much better use for it. The best thing is, after 20 years, they're still working. I love those old things.
Posted by: Peter | October 26, 2007 at 11:14 PM
Wonderful job! Making me feel bad I unloaded all of ours already. Congrats!
Posted by: Hooeyspewer | October 27, 2007 at 10:53 AM
WOW! Those are soooo cool.
Great idea. I'm jealous.
Posted by: Bryan Mohr | October 28, 2007 at 05:02 PM
These are awesome! I have one in the basement that I couldn't bring myself to trash because it still works. What a great idea. Thanks.
Posted by: Kim Mickelsen | October 29, 2007 at 10:20 PM
Very cool! Can you upload or post a link to the jack o'lantern faces, too?
Posted by: mws | October 30, 2007 at 09:16 AM
wOw! yOur bLog is reaLLy great! :-)
Posted by: ZuZa | October 30, 2007 at 09:43 AM
When you make one do you call it My IMac'o'lantern?
Posted by: Jamie V | October 31, 2007 at 07:58 AM
Yeah i know, Halloween is over but can i get those Faces displayed on the Screens?
Posted by: MrVolley | November 01, 2007 at 05:27 PM
Awesome!! I just posted a link on my blog. yeah I know I'm a bit late for Halloween, but this really is brillintly creative!!
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Posted by: Alex Palma | April 18, 2008 at 02:49 AM