Melissa Ng Combines 3D Printing with Adafruit’s EL Wire to Create Incredible Glowing ‘Nightmare Mask’

There is something about masks that has always caused chills to run down my spine. Whether it is the creepy Halloween masks that I have to see every year, or even the friendly masks you see at parties, there is always something about masks that seem to open up a whole new perspective for me. It is through facial expressions that we relate to one another when it comes to trying to determine what someone else is feeling. Masks hide this, and in some cases present an entirely different perception to the onlookers.

For one woman, named Melissa Ng of Lumecluster, masks are her passion. Particularly 3D printed masks, which she completely designs herself.

“Each of my masks aims to raise a discussion about hopes and fears; specifically among those of us who are self-professed entrepreneurs, creat[ors], makers, dreamers, etc,” Ng tells 3DPrint.com

Dreamer Mask: Illumination

Ng offers several different mask options to choose from in her Shapeways shop. They are broken down into two categories: the Dreamer Masks, and the Nightmare Mask. The Dreamer Masks are a symbol for the Dreamer Revolution which Ng believes is taking hold, encouraging individuals to dream; dream of the future, dream of possibilities and dream of what could eventually be. The Dreamer Masks are quite friendly looking, depicting someone who is willing and able to dream. The Dreamer collection includes designs called Illumination and Breakthrough, for example.

The Nightmare Masks, on the other hand, are not quite as friendly looking. The first in the Nightmare collection is designed to represent Fear; the fear that consumes us in our sleep as well as our waking lives. Fear is quite the opposite of dreaming, as it has the ability to turn our dreams into nightmares.

“You and I both know that we can’t put an end to all of our nightmares,” writes Ng. “After all, it’s part of the learning experience. What we can do is help each other persevere and remember why we do what we do. But sometimes, words alone are not enough.”

Rather than just 3D printing and offering 3D prints of the Nightmare Mask on Shapeways, Ng decided to take thing a step farther with the help of our friends at Adafruit.

“I figured Adafruit’s EL wire was a good place to start,” Ng explained to 3DPrint.com. “My hot glue gun was handy for this quick DIY and didn’t make anything too permanent. I basically took the EL wire and followed the external layer pattern as best as I could and glued [it] onto the inner mask. The Nightmare Mask: Fear is of course meant to look a little scary and maybe even a little creepy. The EL Wire was perfect to create this effect and it also really helped to enhance the mask design.”

As you can see in the video below, the combination of the EL wire along, with the intricate details of Ng’s mask, provides for quite the unique appearance. The outer layer of the mask is 3D printed 4.5mm from the inner portion of the mask, in order to provide a gentle, eerie shadow, especially when lit up.

Ng tells us that she will also create a glowing model of the Dreamer Mask as well, offering a warmer and hopefully “more ethereal glow.” There will be many more glowing masks coming from Ng in the future.

What do you think of Ng’s masks? Would you wear something like this? Discuss in the 3D Printed Dreamer and Nightmare Masks forum thread on 3DPB.com. Check out one more video of this glowing Nightmare Mask below: