How To Make an Invisible Mask for Video Cameras

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. Such security measures can make you feel safe, or they can make you feel like "Big Brother is watching you". In this article, you'll hack a hat into a face mask for any kind of hidden, security, paparazzi or family member's video camera. By embedding the hat with high-brightness infrared (IR) LEDs as instructed here, cameras won't be able to record your face.

Step 1  

Wire the LEDs. Make sure your wires are long enough around (15cm each) depending on how big your hat is. Start wiring up the LEDs one by one, making sure the wires are secured well to each LED and they won't fall apart. You can even solder to be extra sure but it's probably not necessary.

Step 2  

Mark and cut the hat. This part is also crucial, as you need to pick good spots where you want the LEDs to go. If you place them too far apart from each other, the light beam won't be strong enough to blind a camera. If you place them too close, they will only hide your face from a certain angle but not others. Think this out and position them well. Mark the spots with a marker, then cut a few holes with a pair of small scissors in the front (middle of the hat) and a few on the sides to get a wide beam. See Tips below.

Step 3  

Attach the LEDs. Turn the hat inside out. Take each LED and place it tight in its hole. Make sure each LED is secure and it won't fall out. You can even use a dab of hot melt glue for extra stability!

Step 4  

Secure with tape and power up. Tape all the wires together using electrical tape. Make sure you remember each LED's plus and minus wire; if you get them wrong, you may burn out some LEDs or risk some of them not working. For example, you can use white wires for each positive terminal and color wires for the negative terminal so you won't get them wrong later. Connect a small 9v battery to the wires and secured them on there with electrical tape. 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.

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.
• Since the infrared is invisible to the naked eye, you will have to use your own video camera to make sure it is working.

Warnings

• This method works best in lower light conditions, as in full daylight or brightly lit areas the camera easily adjusts. This can be seen in the video when the finished product is shown. You can clearly see the hat and the individual LEDs, no blinding effect.
• Works about as well as shining a light in someones 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.

Things You'll Need

• Approximate prices are given; this project should cost about $11 USD
• 8 or more High Intensity IR LEDs = $0.30 each that's $2.40
• 1 Hat/Cap that looks good on you = $6.00 (you may have one already)
  make sure it's a hat that all the parts will fit inchoose one with a design that will camouflage the LEDs
• 16 thin wires from a 2 meter long UTP cable = $1.00
• 1 Electrical Tape = $0.80
• 1 9v Battery = $1.00