About HoloPath
HoloPath started with a reel of a hologram projector built from Magna-Tiles. I'm Kenneth Cross, and I wanted to try it with my kids, and I didn't want to be limited to whatever hologram videos already existed on YouTube. Our first build wouldn't hold the middle square tile upright; my four-year-old daughter suggested bracing it with the larger triangle tiles, and that version worked. The translucent tiles make decent reflectors, and the effect is much better in a dark room. Photos of the build and a goldfish GIF run through HoloPath are in the original write-up on Substack.
HoloPath solves this by providing a free, browser-based generator that applies realistic holographic effects — scan lines, glow, chromatic aberration, glitch, noise, and more — to any image, GIF, or short video. The output is formatted specifically for hologram display hardware, not just for social media aesthetics.
What Makes HoloPath Different
Unlike simple Instagram-style hologram filters, HoloPath produces output in the correct layout for actual hologram hardware. It supports five display formats:
- Pyramid 360° — the classic 4-sided layout for smartphone pyramid projectors
- Pyramid 270° — 3-sided layout for commercial showcase displays
- Hologram Fan — circular crop for LED persistence-of-vision fan displays
- Pepper's Ghost — positioned for angled glass or acrylic reflectors
- Single Image — direct hologram output for sharing or custom use
Each frame runs through a 13-stage rendering pipeline built with JavaScript and Canvas 2D, producing effects that look authentic rather than gimmicky. Five carefully tuned presets (Classic, Cyberpunk, Ghost, Glitch, Matrix) provide a starting point, and every parameter is adjustable.
How It Works
For static images (JPG, PNG, WebP, BMP), HoloPath generates animation by varying effects like scan line position, flicker phase, and glitch offsets across frames — creating the illusion of a live holographic display from a single photo.
For animated GIFs, each source frame is individually processed through the hologram pipeline, preserving the original animation while adding all the holographic effects.
For videos (MP4, WebM, MOV), frames are extracted in your browser via the HTML5 video element at 10fps, processed through the hologram pipeline, and output as an animated GIF. Longer videos use more browser memory but there is no hard duration limit.
Privacy
All processing happens entirely in your browser. Your files are never uploaded to a server or stored anywhere. HoloPath is a static website with no backend — there is no database, no user accounts, and no way for anyone to access your files. See the full Privacy Policy.
Support Development
HoloPath is free and always will be. If you find it useful, consider supporting the project to help cover hosting costs: