In this How to Life-Cast tutorial by special effects character creator Mark Viniello, you'll learn life-casting techniques such as taking a hand cast with Alginate, head casting with silicone, creating the plaster bust positive, and how to cast teeth with Alginate.

Capturing a human being can be a dirty job. But every Monster Maker needs to know how to do it. And do it like the Pros.

Beginner Level

1h 37m of duration

English, Spanish (Latin America), Thai, German, Swedish

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Curriculum

1. Title - 15s

2. Introduction - 8s

3. Today's Gameplan - 32s

4. The Team - 31s

5. Hand Cast -- Alginate - 2min

6. Mixing Alginate - 4min

7. Removing Cynthia's Arm From The Alginate Mold - 2min

8. Creating The Plaster Positive - 7min

9. The Other Arm - 2min

10. Removing Cynthia's Arm From The Alginate Mold - 3min

11. Opening The Alginate Hand Molds - 5min

12. Teeth - 4min

13. The Positive -- Dental Stone - 5min

14. Teeth Castings - 2min

15. Cleaning Up The Casting - 1min

16. Creating The Base - 5min

17. Full Head Cast -- Bald Cap -- Protecting Cynthia's Hair - 6min

18. Bald Cap Patching - 2min

19. Removing Undercuts In Alginate - 4min

20. Final Preparations - 6min

21. The First Layer Of Silicone - 6min

22. The Second Layer Of Silicone - 5min

23. Butter Batch -- Filling And Keys - 2min

24. Mother Mold - 4min

25. Completing The Mother Mold -- The Front - 3min

26. Freeing Your Subject - 7min

27. Patching The Holes - 2min

28. Casting The Head -- Face Coat - 3min

29. Casting The Head -- Building Thickness - 5min

30. End - 24s

Materials

CLICK on the links below to find the materials you need for this lesson.

Some items might be harder to find, but a little internet scouring usually finds you everything you'll need.

Mouldlife USA

Mouldlife Europe

Naimie's Beauty Center

Reynolds Advanced Materials

Smooth-On Inc.

Kromopan USA

FOR YOUR WORK STATION

Latex Gloves

Makeup Chair

Makeup Cape

Vibrating Table

Vinyl Gloves

CLAYS/PLASTERS

1 100lb Bag White Hydrocal Plaster

1 25lb Prosthetic Grade Cream Alpha Dent

1 Container Dental Grade Alginate

2 Boxes Gypsona Plaster Bandage - 6” Xtra Fast Set

Die Keen “Green”

EPOXYS/GLUES

Telesis 5 Adhesive

LATEX/SILICONE

1 2-Gallon Kit Smooth – On Body Double Fast Set Silicone

1 2-Gallon Kit Smooth – On Body Double Standard Set

PAINT/BRISTLE BRUSHES

Medium Paintbrushes

Small Paintbrushes

RELEASES

15 oz Cholesterol – Hair Conditioning Cream for Skin Release
Isopropyl Myristate

SPONGES

Makeup Sponges

THINNERS/SOLVENTS

Telesis 5 Thinner

TOOLS

Cutting Tools

Cuticle Scissors

Razorblade

Files and Rasps

Plaster Rasp

Power Tools

Cordless Drill

Other Tools

Hot Glue Gun

SUPPLIES

1 Sleeve 32 oz Mixing Cups

10 Powder Puffs

Alginate Bonder – Sodium Carbonate

Aluminum Foil

Aluminum Track Mold for Silicone Baby Powder

Baby Wipes

Buckets (Oil Pans)

Dental Impression Trays

Drywall Screws

Foam Core Board

Masking Tape

Plastic Garbage Bag

Plastic or Vinyl Bald Cap

Sharpie Marker

Small Plastic Bases for Teeth Molds

Vaseline

Warm Water

Water

Wooden Stirrers

HEALTH/SAFETY PRECAUTIONS

When working with toxic and/or dangerous materials or tools:

ALWAYS read labels for appropriate use guidelines

ALWAYS wear a high-grade respirator

ALWAYS work in a well-ventilated area

ALWAYS protect your skin

ALWAYS wear eye protection

Artist BiographyMark Viniello

Multi-talented foam specialist and special effects innovator Mark Viniello works every aspect of creature creation from puppeteering to SPIDER-MAN's web effects

See Full Bio

Additional Purchasing Options

Notice: DVDs do not include closed captions.

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