Compromises of small pieces of coloured material (tissue or metallic). Each piece is incredibly light with a large surface area, so it falls slowly to the ground once it has been launched.

Advantages:

• Can be fired from a range of devices, allowing for greater flexibility.
• Available in a variety of shapes including hearts, petals or even fake money (perfect for a Las Vegas themed party).

Disadvantages:

• When fired from any device above, it will only travel a short distance (5-20 metres).
• Clean-up is difficult (thousands of pieces of confetti will need to be swept or hoovered up, especially if metallic confetti is your preferred choice).

Advantages:

• Each piece is significantly heavier and more aerodynamic than a piece of confetti, meaning they can be propelled further – approximately 12-50 metres.
• Far easier to clean up (can be simply gathered and coiled in your hands).

Disadvantages:

• Can only be fired from a compressed air cannon (Stadium Shot or Handheld Confetti Cannons), so the range of devices to fire from is limited.
• The extra weight means that it falls to earth quicker than standard tissue and metallic confetti.

• Metallic confetti is more popular because of its bright and shining material. However, it’s non-biodegradable and therefore more commonly used at indoor events.
• Tissue confetti is biodegradable and will dissolve within 3 months, so this is most commonly used at outdoor events.
• Streamers can be fired up to 50m, whilst confetti up to 20m.
• Streamers are easier and quicker to clear up than confetti.

• On average, a confetti shower will last between 30 and 60 seconds.
• Tissue and metallic confetti shapes will generally be fired continuously throughout the period.
• Streamers will be fired in a number of consecutive volleys in order to produce a constant stream of colour.

Confetti machines and cannons have the fewest health and safety considerations of all special effects because the products don’t contain any explosive content or generate heat. All of our streamers and loose confetti is also flame retardant.

Important factors to consider:

• It is important to ensure that there are no obstructions in front of the machines or cannons, looking at the trajectory firing angle and the distance that the confetti will travel. Common obstacles include lights, ceiling height and of course, the audience, crowd and guests.