Supplies
Needed:
SpatCave
Studios Adhesive Kit
SpatCave
Studios Paint Kit or Acrylic paints or make-up
Cotton
Swabs
Talcum
or Baby Powder
Alcohol
Make-Up
Sponges
Each foam latex
appliance is unique. Variations in color, edging and details is normal.
Before starting,
make sure that whoever is going to be wearing the appliance is not
allergic to any of the materials being used by testing small amounts
on the inside of the elbow, under the arm or any other sensitive skin.
Wait a few minutes, and if a rash is caused, do not continue the application.
Be sure to read
all instructions thoroughly and carefully before starting. Many of
the Application Materials will stain or damage clothes, so be sure
to take precautions.
Preparation
First, be sure
to clean and dry your model’s skin thoroughly to remove any
make-up, oil or dirt from their skin.
You may notice
a strange smell coming from the foam latex, that’s normal and
will go away once applied. If it’s really strong, you can gently
wash the appliance in warm, soapy water and allow to thoroughly air
dry.
Once dry, check
to make sure the appliance fits. Our appliances are generally sized,
and should be able to fit most people. If the appliance extends too
far, or has extra flash or unwanted material in an area you don’t
want it (in the eyes, around the nose, etc.) remove the excess by
gently tearing away the excess. The best way I’ve found is to
hold the appliance tightly with your thumb and forefinger at the point
where you want to remove the excess. Then, using your other hand,
slowly tear away the foam that you don’t want. You can also
cut the foam with sharp scissors, but the straight edge that results
will look unnatural and be difficult to hide. Tearing creates a more
natural edge that is easier to blend to skin later.
Make sure to move
the model’s hair out of the way, and cover their clothes to
prevent any staining.
If you’re
using the Zombie Eyes appliance, put a little petroleum jelly on your
model’s eyebrows to prevent them from getting stuck in the adhesive
later.
Application
Once you’re
sure the appliance will fit and your model’s skin is clean and
you’re sure they’re not allergic, it’s time to apply!
You can use paint
brushes to apply the adhesive, but they will usually end up being
destroyed and thrown out. Using cotton swabs will work just as well,
and you won’t feel bad about throwing them out afterwards!
I find the easiest
way to get the best possible bond that will last a long time is to
use a professional latex based adhesive (included in our Application
Kits). Apply a thin coat of adhesive to the skin where the appliance
will attach. Don’t worry if you apply the adhesive outside the
area, or miss an area that the appliance will cover. We can touch
that up later.
While that’s
drying, apply a thin layer to the inside of the appliance. By applying
the adhesive to both the skin and the appliance, you’ll be making
a very strong bond that will last a lot longer than if you only applied
it to one side or the other.
Allow the adhesive
to dry (it will turn clear), then slowly and carefully place the appliance
onto the skin, starting with the center and working outwards from
there. When the dried adhesives touch, they will bond on their own.
If you accidentally
bond a part that you don’t want to bond, or if the appliance
glues back to itself, use a small amount of alcohol to reactivate
the adhesive to make it wet again so you can make your adjustments.
If you missed a
part, just use more adhesive to glue it back down.
Blending
Once the appliance
is in place and glued down, any edge that is harsh or not blending
smooth to skin can be blended smooth with some adhesive mixed with
a thickening agent (we include “spackle” in our application
kit).
Use the spackle
to smooth out the edges and hide the seams. Allow the spackle to dry,
and then you can go back in with some alcohol on a cotton swab and
blend it even smoother. You can also use a Make-Up Sponge to help
texture the spackle as it’s drying to make it look more like
skin. And you can speed up the drying time of the spackle (and the
adhesive as well) with a hair dryer.
Once the edges
are blended I like to use the regular adhesive and cover the entire
outside of the appliance with a thin layer. This will seal the foam
latex and make sure your paint or make-up will stick to it better.
Depending on the type of make-up you’re doing, you may also
want to apply some adhesive to your model’s skin past the edge
of the appliance. This way the paint or make-up you’re going
to apply will sit on the skin the same way it sits on the appliance.
Once all the adhesive
and spackle is dry, seal the latex by gently powdering the appliance
with talcum or Baby Powder. This will remove any tackiness from the
appliance and prep it for paint.
Painting
There are many
ways to paint one of these appliances. The easiest (and cheapest way)
is to use foundation creams and other make-up found at your local
drug store.
Another method
is using acrylic paints mixed with the latex adhesive used to apply
the appliance. This can be applied with a brush, or airbrushed.
Remember, make
the recessed and deep areas dark (brown, purple, even almost blue),
while keeping the highest raised points in a lighter shade of that
same dark area, with the regular skin being somewhere in between.
Be sure to remember
to blend all the skin to be the same color. Don’t forget to
paint your model’s ears, neck, arms, and other parts of exposed
skin. The more uniform and complete your paintjob is, the more natural
and real your make-up will look.
Detailing
Once you’re
painted up, details you can add are blood, tooth stain, dirt, etc.
Another great detail
is oversized fake teeth. They help make the rest of the skin look
small, shrunken and desiccated.
And don’t
forget to dress your model correctly! A gross, bloody make-up looks
silly if they’re wearing clean, fresh clothes!
Removing
Once you’re
all done, it’s time to take the appliance off! Do not just rip
it off. That can be very painful, and bad for your model’s skin.
Using a cotton
swab dipped in the remover that’s included in the Application
Kit, start at an edge of the appliance and slowly work your way under
the appliance. Keep doing this little by little until the appliance
has been completely removed. Remember to take your time with this.
If removed carefully,
a foam latex appliance can sometimes be reused once, or even twice.
Enjoy!
