Dramatic Context
Georgia Brown
Bondo Transfers | Problems & Solutions
Bondontransfers:
Mix prosaide and cabosile until you reach a whipped cream consistency.. Be sure the mix is completely smooth. Use a mixing stick to smooth the bondo into the flat piece mould, forgetting any flashing as its not needed. If there is any spillage in the flashing edges then scrape it out. The surface must be completely smooth. To transfer just press the mould onto the skin once the bondo has dried fully. Place pressure on the back of the mould and gently peel it away. The mould should have transferred onto the area of skin applied. Ipa is used to blend away any edges, if any. Washing up liquid brushed or dabbed over any area will stop blood from bleeding out of the piece.
Review product: Problems faced
Right: The model has a cheek piece and an eye bag applied to his face, both with a bondo mix. The product looks completely seamless on the face and because it is translucent in colour you can see his skin underneath. Therefore, make up isnt necessarily required to cover it. I found it difficult to accurately place the transfers on his face because my negative mould was of multiple moulds. The process would have been easier if I had individual flat piece moulds.
Bondo Mix: Clear Silicone:
Left: I used a PS Composites pre made Bondo mix for the application above. However, the product can be easily made by mixing cabosile and prosaide to a thick (cream) consistancy.
To make the application easier you can use clear silicone for your mould. This way you can see the material through it when it comes to the application process.
MAKE-UP ARTIST. (2014). Make-Up Artist Magazine. Issue 107. U.S.: Michael Key. Pages 90 and 91.
Lab Tech Stephen Prouly: A Bondo Trick Youll Flip For:
"Spray 2-3 coats of bald-cap plastic thinned with acetone... Apply to mould and make sure to dry inbetween layers. Then using a tongue depressor, trowel a coat of pre-tined bondo into the mould. (acrylic paint)"
Pro Tip: Wet the tool edge with Bondo too, so that it doesnt grab the cap plastic out of the mould.
"The bondo must dry before moving onto the next step, it should shrink into the mould. Then... Paint a ring of prosaide around the outer edge of the mould and dry it with a hairdryer. Carefully press a cardstock frame onto the dried adhesive and powder the piece heavily. Carefully peel the frame ad prosthetic out of the muld."
For storage you can apply wax paper to the back of the frame. This will keep the sticky un-encapsulated back of the piece clean and protected.
Davis, G. and Hall, M. (2008). The Makeup Artist Handbook: Techniques for Film, Television, Photography, and Theatre. Burlington, MA 01803. Focal Press.
Application Tips:
"Set the appliance in place on the skin area, holding tweezers if necessary"
"Applying a small amount of 99 percent alcohol under the appliance with a brush or cotton-tipped applicator, let the appliance blend and melt onto the skin"
"Blend off any soft sealer edges with 99 percent alcohol. Colour with 'Stacolors' (Alcohol activated paints)."
Tinsley, C. (n/a). Christian Tinsley: Innovation & prosthetic transfers: Stan Winston School. [DVD]. Stan Winston School.
Christian Tinsley | Bondo Transfers
Thick board around sculpture instead of clay. 1065 blue catalyst- silicone adheres to easily. Acrylic paint is used to pigment pieces. It is difficult to apply a transfer to certain areas of the face.. Ie the nose because of the different planes. Gafquat applied all over before prosaide transfer application. Plastic barrier and when using prosaide it reacts when it comes into contact with water, easier removal process.
Pro Tip:
Dental tools and transfer pape, transfer acitate.
Other Techniques:
Alcote- coat lifecast, release agent that allows you to transfer your piece from a lifecast and onto a flat board after submerging it in water.
HI-RO slip is an additive to the silicone base- it maintains the original integrity of the sculpture, a self releasing mould. 25 minute cycles in the freezer, 2-3 times. Allow the transfer to dry for 2-3 days.
Pro Tips:
- Thick black mesh bought from any hardware store can be used as a rake tool
- 1 cubic inch of silicone weighs around 18g: L x W x D? Inches in calculator... x 18 = ?g ... Consistant and prevents wastage.
- Take a pencil and hold the paper up to the light- this exposes your piece by becoming transparent. Lightly trace where your lines are and you will acheive a precise placement. Wetting the paper can make the application easier.
