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After my 'ible regarding using alginate as a mould making material, there were lots of questions about materials and obtaining them. Here's another method that uses only items that are readily available.
Gelatin is a much disregarded product when it comes to the home user.
It is safe to use and has some fantastic properties, it can be cast, or used to make moulds, it is re-usable (you just melt it back down) and best of all it's cheap and easy to get hold of.
It's safe (you can obviously eat it), but it's not just for cooking!
There are plenty of on-line tutorials on gelatin preparation for SFX, but they all call for some exotic ingredients. This 'ible uses only off the shelf stuff, but it works perfectly well.
You can store the prepared gelatin in the freezer for months, so make up a few batches and store them for future use.
In this Instructable we will prepare two types of gelatin mix, and look at their uses.
Gelatin is a much disregarded product when it comes to the home user.
It is safe to use and has some fantastic properties, it can be cast, or used to make moulds, it is re-usable (you just melt it back down) and best of all it's cheap and easy to get hold of.
It's safe (you can obviously eat it), but it's not just for cooking!
There are plenty of on-line tutorials on gelatin preparation for SFX, but they all call for some exotic ingredients. This 'ible uses only off the shelf stuff, but it works perfectly well.
You can store the prepared gelatin in the freezer for months, so make up a few batches and store them for future use.
In this Instructable we will prepare two types of gelatin mix, and look at their uses.
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Signing UpStep 1The basic mix
We will need the following materials:
Gelatin, you want the crystal or powder type, not the sheets. This is available in the bakery section of your supermarket. Gelatin is an extract of beef so it's a natural product. It is used to 'set' various foods. Most notably Jelly (Jello), but it is found in lots of recipes. I use 'Dr Oetker', only because it's sold in Tescos.
Glycerine is a pure form of liquid syrup. Found at the drug store or pharmacy. Often used to sweeten kids medicines.
Liquid honey, or 'runny' honey. The stuff in a squeezy bottle will do fine.
Warm water, a plastic jug, some plastic cups, some stirring sticks (from the coffee shop), a small electric whisk. some washing up liquid, and access to a microwave oven
Gelatin, you want the crystal or powder type, not the sheets. This is available in the bakery section of your supermarket. Gelatin is an extract of beef so it's a natural product. It is used to 'set' various foods. Most notably Jelly (Jello), but it is found in lots of recipes. I use 'Dr Oetker', only because it's sold in Tescos.
Glycerine is a pure form of liquid syrup. Found at the drug store or pharmacy. Often used to sweeten kids medicines.
Liquid honey, or 'runny' honey. The stuff in a squeezy bottle will do fine.
Warm water, a plastic jug, some plastic cups, some stirring sticks (from the coffee shop), a small electric whisk. some washing up liquid, and access to a microwave oven
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woooooooooooooooow !!
at first i was using a plaster life cast, with a clay prosthetic, and cooking spray as the release agent. unfortunately the plaster (having not been sealed) absorbed the release agent and all was lost..
did another life cast and tried again, this time sealing the plaster and applying a release agent... and the plaster came off but it was cracked and un-usable. i was able to save the clay prosthetic..
so i realized that i haven't been making the clay fence or making the plaster thick enough.. and i shall try again!!!
Greetings from Uruguay.
I cannot beleave i found that page yet.
Your 'able is amazing, thanks for share.
Im excited with this, i've bought today
Sorbitol (5L), distilled water (5L), Pure Glycerine (5L)
and 500 grs of Gelatina Oro (Gelatin Gold) :\
But the package dont say nothing about bloom.
Can you tell me in what places can i buy 300 bloom Gelatin?
Thanks =)
Most theatrical supply agents would stock 300 bloom gelatin.
Hello :)
Well, i can´t wait ... i had bought gelatina food grade ...
I got the basic mix ready, but im having problems to find
places to buy "spirit gum" or similar, but i have "teeth glue"
this work fine i hope.
And problems to find fiberglass head :(
But have another question.
I have mustach and beard what about melt the mix and
put it directly on my face and other body parts?
Its hard to remove later?
Thx Marshon!
Aaaaafffff sorry Marshon
If put the basic mix direct on my skin what type of non-toxic paint
can i use to try to change the colour of this to matches with my skin colour
(when the basic mix is liquid yet)
Thx !!!
Yep, i did it (read the 'able).
Just something hard to understand (for the language).
Thx for all =)
How would I go about making a plaster cast of my forearm? I've heard of some people getting burns when they try to make casts of large(ish) body parts..
Tey doing an ebay search for 300 bloom gelatin if you can't find food grade powdered stuff.
so i did the experiment and everything came out wonderful. thank you again for all your advice. i just had another question for you. inorder to make the gelatine to look clear, can i replace the honey with corn syrup?
i have to say, your instructible has made me much more closer to my dreams, as i can now move on from regular character make-up to homemade prosthetics at no cost and with ease. i feel this technique is gonna provide me with enough practice and feel to what it is to produce prosthetics for the special effects make up industry. thank you very very very very much, i really appreciate your time and help. thank you!
i just had a few questions i felt i needed to have answered before i begin this wonderful project:
1)for this specific step, how many drops of washing liquid would i have to use for each part. does it depend on the amount of the part your using? what do you recommend for me?
2) i was on your youtube channel, and i was fascinated with the work you have done like the alien girl and the zombie you created. as far as the zombie video.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aCiVu3IEijA
did you use the foaming tenchnique with this same gelatin your showing us how to make in this instructible?
3) is the quality of the foam the same quality as foam latex? is it the same softness?
4) wether it being raw gelatine or foam gelatin, what would happen if the actor sweats after a while of having the appliance adhered onto his face? what would happen if water get on the appliance? would it dissolve?
1. You only need to use 2 or 3 drops of washing liquid or bubble bath would do it as well. It depends more on the strength of the detergent than the amount of mixture.
2. These are not my videos, they are Jade FX's and specifically the work of Peter Gaal. The zombie face is made of foamed latex, not Gelatin. Only the nose piece in the Alien Girl shoot is Gelatin.
If I were to make the zombie face I would use a different technique and hand build it with upholstery foam, not sculpt and cast.
3. The foamed Gelatin is very similar in softness to foamed latex, but it is a little heavier. It does not last as long as foamed latex either. I use it because it is simpler to get a reasonable result.
4. This part is a little bit tricky to answer. In the UK the ambient temperature is generally below 60 degrees, and I have not had any real problems with heat and or sweat. If you use pros-aide or spirit gum to glue the appliance on.
Most of my prosthetics would last a day of shooting.
However, if you need a much stronger and more robust mixture use the following formula:
1 part gelatin powder (300 bloom)
1 part glycerine
1 part sorbitol (instead of the honey/water mix)
2 or 3 drops of detergent
This mix will stand up to more abuse than the basic domestic mix.
You can always just try a test piece and see what happens?
1)so im guessing it will melt/dissolve or get tacky if it comes in contact with water or sweat correct?
2)would you happen to know if the material of the gelatine you are showing us how to make is the exact same quality as the gelatine being used in the video of peter gal (alien girl)? did they use the same recipe? or is he using the alternative that uses gelatine powder an sorbitol?
3)so lets say will be making a large amount of your gelatine recipe. would i just add only two-three drops to the whole mixture, or would i just measure it by eye?
thanks again for your wonderful help. i really appreciate it ALOT!!!!... thank you!!
2. I have no idea what formula he used. I would think that he's used 300 bloom and sorbitol, but experimentation is the best bet.
3. By eye, the only problem is if you go completely overboard with the detergent which might in hibit the curing. I'd experiment the ingredients are very cheap.
i just got back from the supermarket and bought my ingredients ill be needing for my recipe. i found the glycerine but im not quite sure if its the one i can use. the bottle reads " glycerin usp " and below that it reads " skin protectant". can i use that one? the lady at the pharmacy told me that glycerine is used for many things. so im guessing im able to use it for this. what do you recommend?
what exactly is witchazel? do you mean witch hazel? the skin lotion?
http://totalchunk.com/eat-raw-jelly/
instead of using gelatin?? I just haven't been able to find gelatin in any supermarkets locally and was hoping a quick substitute would do.
My fear would be that body heat alone might be enough ton start to melt it.