SPECIAL EFFECTS MAKEUP

THEORY AND PICTURES

Prosthetic makeup (also called Special make-up effects and FX prosthesis) is the process of using prosthetic sculpting, moulding and casting techniques to create advanced cosmetic effects.

Prosthetic makeup revolutionise by John Chambers in such lms as Planet of the Apes and Dick Smith in Little Big Man.

TECHNIQUE

The process of creating a prosthetic appliance begins with life casting, the process of taking a mould of a body part (often the face) to use as a base for sculpting the prosthetic.

Life cast moulds made from prosthetic alginate or more recently, from skin-safe silicone rubber.

This initial mould is relatively weak and exible. A hard mother mould typically made by plaster or breglass bandages is creating overtop the initial mould to provide support.

Once a negative mould has been create, it is promptly led with gypsum cement, most commonly a brand called “Ultracal-30”, to make a “positive” mould. The form of prosthetic sculpted in clay on top of the positive.

The edges of the clay should made thin as possible, for the clay is stand-in for what will eventually prosthetic piece.

Along the edges of mould,

“keys” or mould points sculpted or carved into the life cast, make sure the two pieces of the mould will together correctly.

Once sculpting is complete, a second mould made

This gives two or more pieces of a mould a positive of the face,

and one or more negative mould pieces of the face with prosthetic sculpted in.

All clay carefully remove and prosthetic material cast into mould cavity.

The prosthetic material can be foam latex, gelatine, silicone or other similar materials. The prosthetic is cure within two part mould creating beginning of a makeup effect.

One of the hardest parts of prosthetic make-up is keeping the edges as thin as possible. They should be tissue thin so they are easy to blend and cover giving a flawless look.

The use of prosthetic makeup create wounds or trauma is called moulage.

its is used by the military and medical schools to educate and lessen psychological trauma when exposed to the real thing.