How do you make clothes look wet?

[Art Andrews]

Still working on my Royce costume from Predators.

One thing I noticed is that almost everyone in this movie looks soaking wet the whole movie through. I thought they all actually WERE wet, but I am now thinking at least part of that was done by the costume department. Take a look at this line on Royce's shirt that seems to seperate the wet look from the non-wet look in a pretty straight line.

Any idea how this wet look can be achieved without actually keeping the shirt wet?

 

[SonOfPumpkinhead]

I wouldn't be surprised if they just hosed 'em... although not the only way it isn't rare that they have someone there with a hose/bucket/spritzer etc. to keep everything dressed throughout the shoot.

EDIT: It looks to me like the line was created by the vest when his are was in a normal position (the vest blocked the spritzer) and when he stretched in this shot, it revealed the dry portion...

 

[BlackKaos]

I think that the actors are actually wet throughout the movie. I don't know of any method to make clothes appear wet but not be wet. The shirt underneath the vest is dry because it's under the vest to keep dry, closer to the body to keep warmer and the line is probably from the ring of the vest around the arm for the sleeve.
If you cold make the clothing slightly darker in some area and in sweat patterns. Under the arms pits and around the collar area could give the illusion of being wet. Other then that I'm not sure, sorry.

 

[Spacer1999]

In the film industry they call it costume breakdown,it is a seperate costume dept. to make new clothes look older and worn in or dirty. There are many different ways to do this but i would think they would use some slightly darker fabric dye, painted onto sweaty areas to make this look permanent.You have to do it carefully with a brush so it doesn't run. They also use things like clear or tinted shoe polish to make greasy areas on the back of shirt collars and cuffs.I think a bit of trial and error on some scrap fabric will help you get the look you're after.Hope that helps...

 

[terryr]

The area under the vest is dry. It should be hotter under there and would be wet. So maybe they did use something. Maybe that's why you're having trouble with colors.

How about clear gloss spray?

They might spritz the actors with water for a scene, but for the whole schedule? Unlikely.

 

[Spacer1999]

Someone also showed me how to get that slightly sweaty look they use alot in ads and photos for people's skin(or maybe clothes?).You get a pump spritzer/water spray bottle and add a mixture of Glycerin and water,and when you spray it onto skin it makes fine droplets that kinda stay there.The more water you add,the finer the droplets.For bigger beads of sweat they use neat Glycerine,just the stuff you get at the chemists...

 

[Art Andrews]

The area under the vest is dry. It should be hotter under there and would be wet. So maybe they did use something. Maybe that's why you're having trouble with colors.

My thoughts exactly. Yes, if they literally hosed them down it would be dry under the vest, but having worn the vest and shirt, the vest doesn't breathe well and I would think you would be VERY sweaty under the vest.

I totally agree on the color issues!

 

[TheNickFox]

I know that for Fight Club, when they needed to make Bob's shirt look consistently tear stained between shots, they used glycerine on it since apparently it wouldn't dry out and evaporate.

Try it out and see!

-Nick

 

[Zombie Killer]

I would tackle it backwards. Maybe get a darker material and sun bleach the parts you need to look dry so they lighten up and maybe some kind of flexible sealer for the wet parts to give it gloss. Maybe even semi gloss paint.

 

[Spacer1999]

If you think about how something like salad oil or mayo will stain your shirt if you get some on it,and not usually wash out,then i think that's the look youre going for with this,just slightly darker than the real colour. Time to do some test areas on a scrap of the material. Good luck with it.

 

[WebChief]

I was thinking of some kind of vegetable oil.

 

[twinight]

I agree with the above posts. I got stains like that on my good pants from working in the garage.
Brush or spray on some oil (any variety) and it will likely achieve the same look.

 

[SSgt Burton]

Another vote for cooking oil. I would even just buy some spray oil like Pam and experiment.


It should dry, but the material will remain darkened.


Kevin

 

[punisher]

yea I think some kind of oil will do that. Ive had it happen many times from eating like a slob :lol it will darken clothes.

 

[Carbon]

The part under the vest should be wet. Trust me I wore a vest like that in the deserts of Iraq and it should be darker under the vest than the rest of the shirt.

+1 on the vegetable oil.

 

[Indy Magnoli]

When I saw this thread, the first thing I thought of was an oil-based product. Any kind of wood moisturizer would work as well (though is probably a bit more expensive than cooking oil).

Kind regards,
Indy

 

[Jannix Quinn]

What about a dusting of black spray?

 

[terryr]

...Any kind of wood moisturizer would work as well ....

Kind regards,
Indy

Don't use linseed oil. When cloth is soaked with linseed oil it can self-combust.

 

[Hazelrah]

Traditionally using various kinds of teas or coffees are used to dye age clothes. My suggestion would be to take some various brewings to get the darkness the shade you want on some scrap fabric first, and once you have it to where you want it I might even suggest to soak the whole garment in the coffee or tea and then put it on and wear it and rinse off areas that you want lighter... that way you get a more natural "worn" look.

 

[punisher]

Traditionally using various kinds of teas or coffees are used to dye age clothes. My suggestion would be to take some various brewings to get the darkness the shade you want on some scrap fabric first, and once you have it to where you want it I might even suggest to soak the whole garment in the coffee or tea and then put it on and wear it and rinse off areas that you want lighter... that way you get a more natural "worn" look.

you could do that but when something is dyed, it wont look the same as if it is stained by oil or grease, giving it a wet look.