Here’s the basics, but for a proper tutorial I recommend you get yourself one of the excellent instructional books and dvds that are available. Todd has helpfully posted a How-to for 3D Prosthetic Transfers, with pics, in the Photos section on this group.

Professional prosthetic makeup artist Meg Wilbur explains special effects makeup in 11 levels of difficulty, from easy to complex. Special effects makeup is a really broad category, so Meg defines complexity as increasingly elaborate flourishes, texture and detail in her work. Meg goes over everything from temporary tattoos to prosthetic face applications and dry-brushing. A good skin cleanser and moisturiser work well as a final flourish to help skin recover from a days prosthetic makeup wear. Most prosthetic glue removers have some kind of oil content, and this greasy film can be removed afterwards using a cleanser or from simply washing the skin as normal. These silicone/solvent glues tend to cost more, as the hoops that manufacturers have to jump through to get a skin-safe material out to market mean a lot of extra work. Everyone will have their own selection of preferred materials, but here’s some of the teams at Mouldlife.Both these techniques use Pros-Aide for adhesive and if you are using them repeatedly the last thing you want is to irritate the actors skin. Make sure you PREP the skin – Use all your arsenal: Dermashield, Sweatstop, Barrier Spray, whatever… and then use the best and most efficient remover you can get your hands on. Avoid rubbing the skin wherever possible, dab and roll… Mouldlife do a product called “Life Wipes” that are great for removing Pros-Aide after the prosthetics have been removed. You usually get the internal membrane of Baldiez left behind after removing with Pro Clean or Super Solv but those wipes just get that residue off in seconds. Also brilliant you can just give the actor a hand full to take home in case they stumble across an errant bit of glue. (Thanks Neill!) Dirt Sprays / Palette matching colours to the powders, provides an alternative application – can be thinned for a rivering through the pores/wrinkles look. This process traditionally involves putting the liquid glue into a mixer and beating it on a slow speed for hours and hours. The purpose of this is to gradually expose the water to the air and promote slow evaporation. In cold environments training a fan heater or hairdryer onto the

Allergies involve the immune system, and are much more serious. I have not had anyone truly allergic to the materials used when wearing prosthetic makeups, only irritated with some adhesives requiring us to change products. First, make sure you have covered costume or clothing with towels, cape or paper roll of some type. This is usually then end of a long day, so removal is happening when you may be at your most tired and ready to get to bed. Make sure the sloppiness and spills are protected against before you start. Occasionally there have been queries about adding an extra plasticizer to the mix. Previously used products have been removed from common use for safety concerns so there has been some exploration of alternatives. In some research, Citric Acid added to a blend of Guar Gum and Polyvinyl Alcohol increases elongation and tear strength of the resultant films dramatically. It may be worth experimenting with adding Citric Acid and/or Polyvinyl Alcohol to the transfer mix in small proportions, as they are both non-toxic

There are two types of appliances that have come into widespread use over the last few years. Firstly, the GFA or ESA, (which stands for Gel-filled Appliance or Encapsulated Silicone Appliance), and secondly the Pros-Aide Transfer, (sometimes referred to as Tinsley Transfers after one of the early developers of the technique). The developers of these techniques were seeking what was once thought impossible: appliances that would be both practically invisible on close examination, to stand up to the high quality cameras of today, whilst also being robust enough to stand up to the rigours of water, mud, blood, sweat and action filming. This Doc was originally posted by Andrea Dinoboy Leanza in April 2012. Due to technical hitches with Facebooks system they had to be deleted and reposted. Unfortuantely that means comments people added have been lost. My apologies…

Heat and moisture build up behind an appliance can reduce the effectiveness of a glue. Pros Aide can kind of melt away if there is enough sweat, and I have mopped up many bubbles of milky perspiration from bubbles forming under appliances.You can also use PVP/VA Copolymer (70% Polyvinylpyrrolidone & 30%Vinyl Alcohol). You can find it at just about any place that sells supplies to make home made lotions, makeup, hairspray, among other things.”

With cap plastic encapsulated appliances, it is not uncommon to find that the cap plastic peels away from the silicone. Brush and sponge set varied set of brushes and sponges for different textures. A very cheap, replaceable set of brushes for glue application (otherwise use cotton buds – no one will miss those!)Is glue being used elsewhere but successfully on the makeup? Some skin’s just don’t adhere well and need cleaning and prepping more than others. A mix of 1:1 alcohol and Telesis can be used as a primer on the skin first, applied where the piece sits (and slightly beyond), allowed to dry fully before gluing the piece on with straight Telesis. Apply to both surfaces and allow it to dry thoroughly before applying. They have different names, ingredients and come in varying quantities making the possible combinations of what to buy overwhelming. Although they are more readily available, it is worth pointing out that Spirit Gum (in it’s standard form) and Liquid Latex are not serious contenders where prosthetics are involved. Foam has a tendency to swell and distort with removers too, so often it helps to tear off large unattached sections especially if they flop about and get in the way. Foam latex may absorb remover, so be sure to apply it onto where the skin is attached to the appliance, as the foam may soak it up instead.