Prosthetic makeup

Prosthetic makeup is the process of using prosthetic sculpting, molding and casting techniques to create advanced cosmetic effects. Prosthetic makeup was revolutionized by Dick Smith in such films as "Little Big Man".

Leaders

It was later advanced by such people as:
* Niamh Hannon
* Rick Baker ("An American Werewolf in London", "The Nutty Professor", "Planet of the Apes", "How the Grinch Stole Christmas")
* Tom Savini ("Friday the 13th", "Dawn of the Dead", "Creepshow")
* Rob Bottin ("The Howling", "The Thing", "Total Recall")
* Stan Winston ("Terminator", "Interview with the Vampire", "Jurassic Park")
* Gordon Smith ("X-Men")

Technique

The process of creating a prosthetic appliance begins with lifecasting, the process of taking a mold of a body part (often the face) to use as a base for sculpting the prosthetic. Lifecast molds are made from prosthetic alginate or more recently, from skin-safe silicone rubber. This initial mold is relatively weak and flexible. A hard mother mold, typically made of plaster or fiberglass bandages is created overtop the initial mold to provide support.

Once a negative mold has been created, it is promptly filled with gypsum cement, most commonly a brand called "Ultracal-30", to make a "positive" mold. The form of the prosthetic is sculpted in clay on top of the positive. The edges of the clay should be made as thin as possible, for the clay is a stand-in for what will eventually be the prosthetic piece. Along the edges of the mold, "keys" or mold points are sculpted or carved into the lifecast, to make sure that the two pieces of the mold will fit together correctly. Once sculpting is completed, a second mold is made. This gives two or more pieces of a mold - a positive of the face, and one or more negative mold pieces of the face with prosthetic sculpted in. All clay is carefully removed and the prosthetic material is cast into the mold cavity. The prosthetic material can be foam latex, gelatin, silicone or other similar materials. The prosthetic is cured within the two part mold - thus creating the beginning of a makeup effect.

One of the hardest parts of prosthetic make-up is keeping the edges as thin as possible. They should be wafer thin so they are easy to blend and cover giving a flawless look.

Notable Examples

*Nina Bott: Stern TV fat makeup ( [http://www.themakeupgallery.info/various/photo/nbott.htm before and after] ; [http://www.themakeupgallery.info/various/photo/nbottm.htm makeup process] ).
*Vicki Butler-Henderson: [http://www.themakeupgallery.info/disguise/fakeovers/gendervbh.htm Celebrity Swap] .:( [http://www.themakeupgallery.info/disguise/fakeovers/gendervbhm.htm Vicki's entire head is covered with prosthetics during the makeup application.] )
*Samantha Fox: [http://www.themakeupgallery.info/disguise/fakeovers/racesf.htm Race Swap] and [http://www.themakeupgallery.info/disguise/fakeovers/racesfm.htm makeup process] .
*Julie Goodyear: [http://www.themakeupgallery.info/disguise/fakeovers/agejg.htm Age Swap] and [http://www.themakeupgallery.info/disguise/fakeovers/agejgm.htm makeup application] .
*Rebecca Loos: [http://www.themakeupgallery.info/disguise/fakeovers/genderrl.htm Gender Swap] and [http://www.themakeupgallery.info/disguise/fakeovers/genderrlm.htm makeup application] .
*Kelly Lynch: [Mr Magoo] ( [http://www.themakeupgallery.info/disguise/multi/magoo.htm various disguises] , [http://www.themakeupgallery.info/disguise/prosth/magoop.htm the old lady] and [http://www.themakeupgallery.info/disguise/prosth/magoopm.htm makeup application] , [http://www.themakeupgallery.info/disguise/male/m4/magoom.htm the balding man] ).
*Larissa Meek: [http://www.themakeupgallery.info/various/reality/joeh.htm Average Joe Hawaii] (plus [http://www.themakeupgallery.info/various/reality/joehm.htm makeup application] and [http://www.themakeupgallery.info/mask/m4/joehmask.htm unmasking] )
*Melinda Messenger: [http://www.themakeupgallery.info/disguise/fakeovers/agemm.htm Celebrity Swap] . ( [http://www.themakeupgallery.info/disguise/fakeovers/agemmm.htm The makeup application for Melinda] )
*Caroline Palmer: The Sun photoshoots ( [http://www.themakeupgallery.info/various/photo/suncp.htm fat] and [http://www.themakeupgallery.info/various/photo/sunab.htm race swap] ).
*Katie Price (a.k.a. Jordan): [http://www.themakeupgallery.info/disguise/fakeovers/jordan.htm Jordan Gets Even] and [http://www.themakeupgallery.info/disguise/fakeovers/jordanm.htm makeup application] .
*Linda Robson: [http://www.themakeupgallery.info/disguise/fakeovers/poshlr.htm Celebrity Swap] . ( [http://www.themakeupgallery.info/disguise/fakeovers/poshlrm.htm Linda’s makeup application] )
*Melena Scantlin : [http://www.themakeupgallery.info/various/reality/joe.htm The completed makeup and the reveal scene] and [http://www.themakeupgallery.info/various/reality/joem.htm the makeup process] .
*Carol Smillie: [http://www.themakeupgallery.info/disguise/fakeovers/gendercs.htm Gender Swap] and [http://www.themakeupgallery.info/disguise/fakeovers/gendercsm.htm makeup application] .
*Lea Thompson: A Will Of Their Own; [http://www.themakeupgallery.info/age/1980s/bttf.htm Back To The Future Part II and Back To The Future] (including makeup application).
*Tyra Banks - [http://abcnews.go.com/GMA/story?id=1280787 ABC News: Tyra Banks Experiences Obesity Through Fat Suit] - to be shown on 4 November 2005
*Shock Rock artists such as Gwar, mushroomhead, Slipknot and Lordi

References

* cite episode
title = Prosthetic Makeup
series = How It's Made
network = Discovery Channel