Life casting: resources, hows, and/or wheres

[Tersethra]

SO! .. I am preparing to embark on a new costuming effort that requires that I get some quality casts done of myself.

I am looking for 'up to date' resources on the subject of life casting. I don't know if there are better methods since my experience with plaster bandages and slow-set alginate. I know there are silicone molding products out there, but I am a "newless cluebie" about them and I have a feeling it's subjective about how they compare to alginate, thus I am interested in peoples thoughts on the topic.


Alternatively I am considering finding some one.. or some studio.. or some school to have this work done at. My availability of 'experienced' help is very limited so this almost becomes necessary anyway. but I have no clue where I can get this done. I live in Dayton Ohio, btw, but I'm willing to drive a fair distance to get what I need.


Finally, I'm new here to this wonderful site, and this is just a shout out to everyone out there doing fantastic and awe-inspiring work, and to the site owners and admins who have clearly made this place a class act.

Thank you!

 

[Mr Mold Maker]

For silicone life casting I only use Smooth-On's Body Double.


You might want to check this out.
Life Casting, Making Molds of Body Parts with Smooth-On Products
They have great products and tutorials.

 

[Tersethra]

Thanks a bunch for the reply. I admit I am only familiar with smooth-on in name.. I watched some of ther product line and how to vids, including the one on bodydouble (ty for the link) .. ive yet to dig into researching princing and quantities needed and am curious how it compares to the algenate process.

 

[Mr Mold Maker]

No problem.
I don't know if you're familiar with them but a company named Brick In The Yard has a YouTube where they do a lot of tutorials and he's covered life casting multiple times, and I believe he went over the pros and cons of both silicone and alginate. I wish I could like you but I'm on my phone.

Basically, silicone lets you get multiple pieces out of it, but is fairly expensive. Alginate you can get one (or if you know what you're doing and luck is on your side, two at most) for fairly cheap.

I personally use body double for my own head, but it depends on how many pieces you need out of the mould, and what you're putting in it.

Main point: BITY mold supply on YouTube. Shouldn't be to hard to find.

 

[Coz]

The Stan Winston School has a video covering lifecasting head, hands and even teeth. Runs an hour and forty minutes:
https://www.stanwinstonschool.com/videos/how-to-life-cast-character-creation-tutorial

$20 for the streaming video, but until July 4th only ten bucks if you use the promo code MILLION. ;-)

I have a few of the SWSCA videos, but not this one, tho they have a ton of info in them. Pretty much soup to nuts.

C.

 

[Tersethra]

Thanks a bunch for the link! There seems an incredible wealth of info there, and I can see what I'm going to be watching and pouring over through the next hours (days?)

I have two life casts already of my head that I had two different groups of friends help me with like... spanning over a decade.. both of them didn't turn out "especially great". I'm mostly looking for a resource for whoever-unfortunate souls help me next time, in hopes of maybe getting a better result. Of course if I can find some school, or facility or people set up to do this regularly and are very skilled at it, I would consider, at least for just my head/shoulders cast, just driving there with a fist of cash.

In the meantime, I am looking to link up with people. I have some friends who might help, but noone local as it is. Dayton ohio doesn't seem to be a hub of activity in...... uh.. well anything And since moving here a little over a year ago, I've not made any local friends... certainly none with costuming and SFX interests.

Alas, I very much appreciate the reply, so thanks once again. I look forward to catching you on here more in the future.

.... oh and most definitely thank you for the promo code too XD