Full Face Prosthetic Help! :\

Jack of All Trades

Jack of All Trades

Active Member
Okay, I'm sure this has been covered before. I'm not new to the costuming biz, however, this is a realm I've never ventured in before. I have a full face prosthetic mask. What do I need to make this thing work? I have an airbrush as well for painting the base of the prosthetic but here are the basic questions:

1. What do I use to paint the base?
2. When that's done I just blend with make-up right? What makeup?
3. How do I seamlessly blend the edges into my skin?
4. What should I use to glue it down and remove it? (I need it to stay put for an extremely long period of time yet have the flexibility for high expression. Especially stay put around the mouth).

I think that's about it... if I come up with more I'll let you know. Thank you so much in advance for all your help. It's much appreciated.
 
Another question I have is, with a pre-made prosthetic, what is the best way to blend it into your skin? (As i sift through these forums from XRobots) Thanks again, they have been very helpful!
 
nope, not really, it kind of becomes part of it... You only use a small amount. Generally prosthetics aren't used more than once... In any case though, any gap filler or blender you would use won't come off... a lot of people use latex (poorly) and that bonds as well. The trick is to cover your seam with little to no product. If you've got good edges and you take you time, you can just stipple a bunch of the prosthetic adhesive over it to blend it in.
 
I'll probably end up going that route. Based onn the research I've done it seems the way to go. I'm thinking about using prosaid (I think that's how it's spelled) as an adhesive. Does that stay pretty well especially around the lips? I pretty much need it to stay put all day but also give me pretty fluid facial expression. Also, can I eat and drink with these one? Like I said, I'm a newbie when it comes to full face masks...
 
I have used Pros-Aide with cabosil with great effect, and once even used setting poweder mixed with Pros_aide as couldn't find my cabosil and it did alright, but cabosil is better ;)
 
pros-aide is your best bet for a foam rubber piece. The issue that everyone has is they don't do it right and try to use it like a regular white glue... you have to put a little bit on your face and a little on the piece and LET THEM DRY. It should go clear and tacky and then press the piece on. Start in the center and work your way out, laying in the edges last. Then stipple more glue over the edges, saturate them a LITTLE and stipple adhesive over the whole piece after it's applied to seal it. THEN go in with the cabo patch only on the edges that there's still a minor lip. You may not even need any, it's just a safety.
 
That's what I've found in the research I've done so far, (putting the pros-aid on the prosthetic AND your face bit). I was just going to use the pros-aid on the edges for blending as well. Do you think I would need the Cabosil for that part? Also, I have a Paasche VL Dual Action Internal Mix airbrush. I was planning on doing a PAX (as in 50% acrylic paint and 50% pros-aid mix) base coat and then trying to add realistic shading and freckles and such to the appliance prior to actually putting it on when the day comes and then just blending it into my face. Is that the best approach? Do I risk ruining my airbrush? What is the best way to get a realistic tone to the foam latex prosthetic?
 
pre-painting with PAX is wise. Keep about a 1/4 inch around the edges raw foam though. The pros-aide applied over the edges won't fill in any gaps but if you get it down well enough you won't need the cabo, it's just a VERY good idea to have on hand as you'll never know if you need it til the application.
The PAX should not be used as a makeup on the skin... You'll need a makeup that matches your PAX coat to cover the edges and exposed skin and then shade and what not with other makeup, illustrator inks and other alcohol activated makeups are GREAT as you get good colors and can control the transparency.
 
Yeah, I figured I could get some detail in that way too. I read that you should powder when your done so the PAX doesn't just rub off? Do they mean a pigmented powder? I'm not sure as far as that goes. What should I use to set the prosthetic in the event I can (or am able) to use it again? Also, if I do leave about 1/4" raw foam on the edges, will it blend the same color as my skin?
 
no, it will stay the color of the raw foam and you'll need a cosmetic or theatrical makeup to cover that edge AND blend into your skin.

You powder the piece with a translucent or "color free/ color set" powder. It won't rub off but will stick to damn near EVERYTHING so the powder just gets rid of the tack. Lightly powder, wipe away with a powder brush and then blot lightly with a DAMP paper towel.

When your removing the piece, if you go very slowly and carefully you can re-use it. Foam rubber pieces aren't meant to be used more than once with good results which is why you see films making upwards of 30 or so copies (one per day of shooting). You can powder the inside of the piece lightly after a careful removal and possibly get up to 3 uses...
 
I've used some facial prosthetics multiple times, and it IS a matter of taking care when you remove them. I've got up to 4 and 5 uses out of some, but careful removal, soft hand washing and drying, then storing in a plastic bag with (probably too much :lol) regular baby powder.
Pax paint stays on the piece, I only use it as a base color, then the old RMG rubber Mask Grease Paint that can bought at many online places like fxwarehouse, ScreamTeam and FX Faces.. They also sell the translucent powder.
 
well with a good foam piece that has nice edges, using it again may serve as a problem once removed. Once super solve or whatever adhesive remover that you start to use to break down the prosaid hits those edges, they will start to dissolve. As for blending those edges, you can keep some of that PAX basecoat that you mixed handy ...stipple that from the edge outwards onto your skin ..if the edges are a bit thick, cabo patch will work well ..you can smooth that cabo out with a damp sponge as well. Alcohol activated color palates will work well for the finishing make up.
What exactly is the prosthetic? perhaps a pic of it to help with more specific application suggestions
 
It's this one from FX warehouse. I live in Hollywood so I'll be scouting out some places this weekend to get some grease paint, alcohol activated makeup, pros-aide and the like... if anyone knows of anything, let me know. It's kinda getting down to the wire as far as my event goes so I can't really wait for shipping... I know Cinema Secrets is in Burbank, but not sure if they carry more than just their own brand.
 
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