Finger Casting

Finger Casting

The finger casting project was just meant to be an introduction to props and casting. It was not a graded project.

We were shown how to mix and use alginate, the same material used for dental casting. This was mixed 5 powders to 1 water roughly. Once mixed, this material a skin safe and flexible fast setting material. Body parts such as fingers can be placed into a pot of the material, or it is spread onto the body. (If the face is covered breathing tubes are used). A few minutes later the alginate starts to set and fingers can be wriggled free.

 It the first attempt we were shown how to mix fast cast resin 50/50% by weight. This sets in minutes when poured into the mould.

When set we had to paint it. However, I found it was very difficult to match skin colour and texture with acrylic paint. In addition to this, humans are translucent and are not solid blocks of colour.

Later in the term I asked the prosthetics especial effects makeup tutor to teach me how to cast with medical grade silicon.

This produced far better results.The silicon produced far better results.

For one instead of surface painting, the majority of the colour and texture is added to the material as being mixed and cast.

The material is semi translucent like real skin and flesh.

It is soft and firm like the real thing

As the material has already been dyed a very realistic skin tone it already looks realistic before any paint or makeup gets near it and gets into all the texture and details and skin fold.

The silicon pigments are not regular colours, like red blue and yellow, but are specifically formulated to match organic human skin tones of genetic races.

As well as the pigments elements like coloured floss fibres which get the blotchy feel of capillaries and fats and other elements make it look more organic and real and gives depth.

Added colour on top is light patching to add finishing touches.

The hard or softness of the material can be altered with additives to the silicon blend. with medical grade silicon.

First Attempt

Below was the first attempt to cast fingers. As can be seen above with both the better 2 finger moulds, the silconcame out far better than the fast cast resin when it came to pigmentation or painting