Two Sizes, One Decision
Coloured smoke is the cheapest big visual you can add to a frame. A single unit turns a flat location into a colour wash in seconds, which is why it shows up in music videos, fashion editorials, gender reveals, sports promos and horror shorts. SPFX Supply stocks two sizes from the same family, the EG18 and the EG25. The only real question is how long you need the smoke in frame.
EG18: 90 Seconds of Dense Smoke
The EG18 produces a massive volume of vivid coloured smoke for roughly 90 seconds. The unit is 55 mm in diameter, easy to hold, and pull-wire activated. Ninety seconds is a long time on set: it covers a full set of stills, a reposition, and a second angle. For video it covers a walk, a dance section or a slow push in without relighting.
Best for: photo shoots, music videos, wide shots that need a continuous colour cloud, anything where the talent moves through the smoke.
Price: $25 per unit, nine colours. EG18 Coloured Smoke
EG25: 25 Seconds, Compact
The EG25 emits a surprising volume of smoke for its size over about 25 seconds. It is the compact option when you need a short burst: a single hero frame, a quick insert, a reveal, or a run of short setups where you would rather fire several small units than one long one.
Best for: single frames, short takes, handheld use in tight framing, multiple small bursts across a day.
Price: $20 per unit, nine colours. EG25 Coloured Smoke
Colours and How They Read on Camera
Both sizes come in pink, blue, black, white, red, purple, green, yellow and orange. A few things we see on shoots: white and black read as atmosphere rather than colour and are the choice for horror and drama. Pink, blue and purple are the fashion and music video colours and hold their saturation best in overcast light. Yellow and orange read warm and are strong against a blue sky. Red goes dark quickly as it thins, so use it close to camera.
How Many Do You Need
Count setups, not shots. One EG18 per setup is the usual ratio for stills; for video count one per take where the smoke is in frame the whole time. Build in two spares per colour. At $20 to $25 a unit the spares are cheaper than the reset.
Placement and Wind
Smoke goes where the air goes. Outdoors, place the unit upwind of the talent so the smoke drifts through the frame instead of away from it. A light breeze is your friend; still air makes a column, strong wind makes nothing. Hold the unit low and let the smoke rise into the frame rather than firing it at eye level.
Safety
Pull-wire units get hot at the body during the burn. Hold them by the designated grip, keep them away from faces, hair and wardrobe, and set them on a non-flammable surface if you are not holding them. Use outdoors or in a large ventilated space, and have water on hand. No licence is required, but municipal fire bans and venue rules still apply.
For Interiors, Use Fog Instead
Coloured smoke indoors trips detectors and leaves pigment on surfaces. For interior colour, a fog machine with coloured lighting gives the same look with none of the cleanup. See the fog fluid guide for which fluid to use.
Frequently Asked Questions
How long does an EG18 coloured smoke last?
The EG18 burns for about 90 seconds and produces a large volume of dense coloured smoke. The EG25 burns for about 25 seconds and is the compact option for a single frame or a quick take.
Which coloured smoke is best for photography?
For a photo shoot the EG18 gives you the longest working window, about 90 seconds, which is enough for a full set of frames and a reposition. The EG25 is better when you only need a few seconds of smoke in frame or you are shooting several short setups.
How are EG18 and EG25 activated?
Both are pull-wire activated. Pull the wire, the smoke starts within a second or two, and you place or hold the unit for the duration of the burn. No electronics, no battery, no firing system.
Can I use coloured smoke indoors?
They are designed for exterior and well-ventilated use. Indoors they will set off smoke detectors and the pigment settles on surfaces. For interior colour we recommend a fog machine with coloured lighting instead.
Do I need a pyrotechnics licence for EG18 or EG25?
No. The EG18 and EG25 are consumer-grade products that any adult in Canada can buy and use without a pyrotechnics licence or special effects permit. You are still responsible for safe use: hold the unit by the body, keep it away from faces and fabric, have water nearby, and check location and fire-ban rules before use.
What colours are available?
Nine colours in both sizes: pink, blue, black, white, red, purple, green, yellow and orange. EG18 is $25 per unit and EG25 is $20 per unit.
Can I pick up in Toronto or have it shipped?
SPFX Supply is at 333 Bering Ave, Unit 100, Toronto, ON M8Z 3A8. The showroom is open Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday, 9am to 5pm for pickup. We ship across Canada and to the United States. Call 416-487-3211 or email sales@spfxsupply.com to confirm stock before a shoot date.