Questions

[ButtSauce]

Okay, so I'm new here .. hello everyone! I have a lot of questions to ask and I know I'm going to sound like a beginner, but that's because I am one. if anyone could answer these that would be great .. thanks!

First of all, where are the best places to learn how to make costumes, from the basics to the more advanced stuff?

What materials are best for different kinds of costumes? Say there's a certain costume I want to make, how do I know what material to use?

What material is used for visors and things like that? How would I mold it to fit whatever piece I'm doing?

What basic things should I know when it comes to adding LEDs and electronics to a costume?

Silicone, resin, epoxy mold making ... How does that work and what's the difference between those materials? How do I make a mold in general?

How do you put a pattern on a bodysuit? Like, if I wanted to put the pattern of the flash suit on a spandex bodysuit .. how would I go about doing that?

If I got blueprints for a costume, how do I resize it and if I wanted to use EVA foam to make a costume, how would I use the blueprint for that?

What tools/set up things would you recommend for this type of stuff?

Sorry about all of the questions hahaha, I'm just really interested in this and I want to make a costume as a project for my art class that I'm taking next school year.

 

[collinE83]

Okay, so I'm new here .. hello everyone! I have a lot of questions to ask and I know I'm going to sound like a beginner, but that's because I am one. if anyone could answer these that would be great .. thanks!

First of all, where are the best places to learn how to make costumes, from the basics to the more advanced stuff?

What materials are best for different kinds of costumes? Say there's a certain costume I want to make, how do I know what material to use?

What material is used for visors and things like that? How would I mold it to fit whatever piece I'm doing?

What basic things should I know when it comes to adding LEDs and electronics to a costume?

Silicone, resin, epoxy mold making ... How does that work and what's the difference between those materials? How do I make a mold in general?

How do you put a pattern on a bodysuit? Like, if I wanted to put the pattern of the flash suit on a spandex bodysuit .. how would I go about doing that?

If I got blueprints for a costume, how do I resize it and if I wanted to use EVA foam to make a costume, how would I use the blueprint for that?

What tools/set up things would you recommend for this type of stuff?

Sorry about all of the questions hahaha, I'm just really interested in this and I want to make a costume as a project for my art class that I'm taking next school year.

Welcome, ButtSauce!

Sorry about the lack of response. I think I usually see threads like this getting little activity because answering all the questions is a huge undertaking.

Maybe to focus a little bit, I'd recommend finding a character or costume you really feel passionate about replicating and then read all the build threads and research threads you can find for it. You'll be able to see better what methods others have used for their costume, as well as the issues they've had while building it and putting it together. That'll help you decide from there what works best for you and what approach you should take.

For example, I started out reading about fiberglass/bondo costumes and never tried it myself because it seemed like a lot of work and I live in an apartment, so I had an issue with lack of a workspace. Then I started reading about EVA foam building and that was a perfect fit for me. I didn't need to worry, learning all about fiberglassing, because I wasn't going to be in a position to do it anyway. Maybe one day I'll dive into that, but as a beginner, narrow down the learning to specifically what you're going to do.

As far as resources for learning, YouTube YouTube YouTube. Many of the members here have channels, and some that I think are great for beginners is punished props, evil Ted, and xrobots. all great for learning, but there are tons more for almost every kind of hurdle you have.

Even then, start researching a specific project, start building, and as you run into an issue, ask about that. It's too big of a hobby to give a complete rundown. And also start a thread for your project. people are always excited to jump in and give advice when they see what you're making.

Good luck!

 

[ButtSauce]

Thank you for taking the time to answer! I appreciate it, and I'll definitely look deeper into what would work for me. Thanks again! I'll definitely start a thread within the next couple of months once I have everything I need.

 

[Ikras]

Just to chip in with a little info from my point of view also. I would agree with everything that CollinE83 has to say there.

One thing I would add is that if you're considering the foam route, take a look at JFCustom's thread here (http://www.therpf.com/showthread.php?t=148889). There's a large number of templates for foam accumulated there and will be good at giving you an idea of what all is involved. Along with this there's a whole load of great tips and tricks documented there.

Looking forward to seeing whatever you decide on.