I was able to get an up close look at Hiller's mask and he guided me through some of the design elements. Adam Brady took pictures which he is going to post on the Ducks site, but not sure how well they will show up.

Hiller has used the same guy for masks for the past three or four masks. He is Swiss as well and does an excellent job and he's also become a friend. It took longer to get than he expected, but it was worth the wait. It arrived the last week he was in Portland and he used it once there.

The gold D logo on the side is not gold paint, but gold leaf that is then covered in protective lacquer. There are the orange stripes around the front and sides and lurking behind them are views of the Honda Center and palm trees and there are stars in the night sky on top. There is almost a holographic "D" logo in the front as well that blends in with the mask.

The chinese symbol stands for good luck and he also has his girlfriend's name written under one of the straps. Hiller's name is also on the back at the bottom. There is a small Swiss flag symbol on one side at the back.

On the chin part there is a great picture of a girl in swirling water - it's for his zodiac sign, Aquarius. Hard to describe and I hope Adam gets a good picture of it. There is a lot of detail and it is really nicely done.

Hiller was very happy with the results and there are lots of little nuances and subtleties that you can keep finding the more you look at it. Pretty cool stuff!

Pictures of Hiller's mask

Adam has the pictures up. Correction on my part - it's not a girl - it's a guy - the long flowy hair threw me and I'm nearsighted. Adam got a got close up of that part.

It's cool I guess. I am not a big fan of the orange stripes. But it isn't my mask.

That's my new favorite Anaheim Ducks mask i think it beats Jiggy and Leighton. I love how you can see the palm trees and Honda Center under the stripes. Tese are one of those reason they should sell replica mask's like the McFarlen Characters I'd buy it in the drop of a hat.

I really like the mask too....I think its my favourite ducks mask so far.

I like the stars and the honda center on it. I'm not a fan of the stripes but it's perfect about from that .

Yep it's true that we care about starsigns over here in Europe because most people read up their star sign.

It is an awsome looking mask and they need to sell replicas. I bet that would be a hot selling item

Hiller's mask is sick . Aside from that, I thought he had an ok game yesterday and I'll cut him some slack since he just returned, but I'm expecting more out of this guy. He definitely has potential

I like the colors, but the vertical bars surrounding it makes it look like his head is in a birdcage.

But if it floats his boat, that's all that counts. As long as he keeps the puck out of the net...

That good luck symbol didn't help much last night. He'll get better, though.

I love that he used gold leaf for the 'D'. It was the first thing that caught my eye while watching the game last night - it is very striking. I also like the gold grill in the front.

Good job all around! Thanks for the article and pictures!

So, you wrote the piece for anaheimducks.com?

By the way, the "guy" with the swirling hair is Neptune, or Poseidon if you prefer, Roman and Greek versions of the god of the oceans and of horses, complete with his trident. Apparently that little detail didn't get covered Interesting body for a girl, hey B?

Same here. The vertical bars detract from the overall symbols on the mask.

I'm sure they have some sort of symbolic meaning, but they're not too attractive. Also I think the full logo on the bottom left can go.

Here are the rest of the pictures. I guess it would be too much to ask to have a picture of the top of the mask











I agree LIU, it's very unbalanced. But, as ladiesandgentlemen said, whatever floats his boat.

I think they're just stars.

The whole mask really has no flow. It goes from Poseidon, to palm trees, two different Ducks logos, vertical orange bars, stars, a Chinese symbol for luck, the Swiss national symbol, and his girlfriends' name (that breaks a major rule somewhere). Although it all looks cool separately, together it makes no sense and makes for a poor design.

I personally love it. But that's mainly because I think the gold leaf is just stunning. It is a bit jumbled and such, but I think that about almost all goalie masks.

Love that mask. It is totally different from most other masks. Some of the goalies have their kids and wifes name on the mask and all sorts of stuff. This is no different.
Cool colors and better flow than most masks. I give it a 90% as he forgot to put my name on it.....

^^^^^^^^^^^ Your signature ^^^^^^^^^^^^^
would look good and appropriate on some goalie's mask, now that you mention it!

I was looking at it last night I didn't really understand what he was going for but I still liked it. I finally figuered and yes I know I'm stating the obvious. He just wanted to have a California theme the palm trees, Honda Center, the god of the OCEAN. I think it's a great inbetween the lines mask so to speak.

You can like the elements that went into the mask's design just fine. What LIU, ladiesandgents and I are complaining about is the design quality. A bunch of things thrown together doesn't mean you have a design

The Gold logo's look odd to me

The pictures don't do the mask justice, but give you an idea. The top is just twinkling stars in a night sky. When you realize the gold on the "D" is gold leaf and not gold paint, it is impressive. Up close, the mask is really beautiful and there are a lot of subtleties that you miss in the photos.

As I said, a bunch of things thrown together don't make a design. The mask may be pretty and the gold leaf may be impressive, but it has more in common with a ransom note than a design.

DK - no, I didn't write it up for the Ducks site. I was getting the "tour" with Hiller and Adam came over after we were done. Hiller got to give Adam the walk through a second time. I knew Adam was going to post when he was taking the pictures. Neither of us were sure if the photos would do it justice.

I personally like the design. It reminds me of Bryz's orange feel with the stripes. The gold metallic paint is a nice touch as well.

Is this the first time someone has put the actual arena on their Ducks mask?

Nope. It's on JSG's chin with the palm trees.

Hasn't Jiggy got the Honda Center on his mask?

Edit: DK has answered my question

I don't find it "thrown together". I find a nice flow to the design of the mask and the bling? Well, enough said!
It's too cool.....

Ok. Explain the flow and the rationale behind it. And I don't want your opinion or taste. I want to know the mechanics of the "flow."

hiller has got the coolest mask i think i have ever seen. the part i like most about the mask is the gold cage part. very unique and i think it looks awesome i dont think i have seen anyone with the gold. mostly the silver.

A couple goalies have a gold cage. Harding on the wild is one that comes to mind.

I don't like the vertical bars. They make him look like he's bald on top and has long stringy hair hanging from the sides. Other than that, I like it, but, Jiggy's is still the best

Explain design? That's like explaining art......it's pleasant to the eye, it flows easily so.....what do you want boy?
Show us how you would do it.....

You're the one who thinks it has "nice flow to the design." Those of us who design, disagree and we've explained why. What's your explanation, other than you "like it" and that "art can't be explained"?

Design can be explained, believe me.

Back in the "dark ages" when Veca was in school, we didn't do any of that weird design stuff in art. We just had art. From my very productive art back ground, I find that what matters in matters of good art is the "ebb and flow" of the design just as I was taught. Hillers mask ebbs and flows.....Veca likes and that is all that matters.....silly boy!


Who's this we you speak of of mystery man???

I like Hiller's mask. I still prefer Hardings old mask (I'm not sure if he is still using that mask)



I like that helmet because I am huge on Breast Cancer awareness.

Emery

We need more bling on the goalies masks. I'll get some glue and glitter and get to work next game I go to. Then you all will realize how "visual" the old one is.......

Glitter would be a good idea. It could flash in the light and blind the opposing players.

Emery's mask is sweet, with all the boxer's on it.

Just step away from the glue Veca before I have to whack you with a newspaper.

>> MASK VIDEO <<

Where in the world did you come up with that epic?

With its own video, "HillHelm" has cemented its legend.

The sequel is sure to have some weapons and a harem of scantily-clad somethings gyrating in the background to make it even more spanktacular.

Glitter?!?! You mean like the queens glitter (pardon the purple princesses that wear glitter) nothing screams toughness like glitter.

PICTURES

MAKING OF VIDEO

Inspiration for, at least according to last night...

Indeed!

hmm... I think that Chinese character is missing a stroke, but otherwise I think it looks decent (minus the cage).

Interesting point deshi!

I've been searching on this, but Hiller and/or the mask painter could be pulling a fast one. That is not a "good luck" character painted on the back of his mask. Although that's not to mean he doesn't think it won't bring him good luck.

This seems to be the most common "good luck" symbol, often used during the New Year celebration:
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or

<link>


The best fit that has turned up says the symbol on the back of his mask has more to do with strength/power/force with the "ball/pellet":
<link>

<link>

or simply just describing power/force/influence/strength:

<link>