Special effects can be such a brilliant hobby or career path. There is so much creativity and technicality that goes into this craft, and starting out can be very exciting. There is one downside though: the cost.
As with many hobbies, the outlay can sometimes be enough to put someone off beginning their new journey, especially if the activity they want to try is a little on the pricier side. This can definitely be the case when it comes to special effects makeup.
In such a niche area, you can find yourself having to pay a premium for obscure items that you might not have heard of before, and while this can be a cost worth paying if you need them, it can also be a real downer if it turns out to be not what you need or can use.
So, keep reading if you want to find out how you can go down this path without hurting your wallet.
DIY Fake Blood
Let’s get straight into some special FX makeup that almost everyone has tried once in their life, most likely for Halloween. There is a difference between making DIY blood that does not need to look real, and when you want to create as realistic a look as possible.
If you are looking for the latter, a red lipstick probably won’t cut it, whereas combining ingredients such as corn flour starch and food coloring will give you a finish that’s much closer to the real deal. Remember, you might want to get a couple of colors, such as purple and brown—not just red—depending on how much blood there needs to be and what stage of drying look that you want to achieve. Delightful!
Cuts, Scars, and Wounds
Cuts, scars, and wounds can get costly when you start involving many of the materials that professionals use. For those just starting out, you can try out some great effects with some common household items! Tissue, PVA glue, and cotton wool can all give excellent textures when creating abrasions on the skin. Look online for some brilliant, easy-to-follow tutorials, and play around until you find the look you want.
By using your DIY blood, and a simple, cheap eyeshadow palette, you can start to fill in the wound you have created in order to give it some real depth and color.
Gelatin
Gelatin is a product that you can easily get your hands on at your local store, and it is used in a variety of baking goods. However, when it comes to special effects makeup, it is also brilliant at giving that “unhealed†look and texture. This can be a great choice for those who want to create realistic fresh burns, puss, or oozing injuries—giving them an extra layer of gore. Gelatin can also be infused with color, and used with other materials such as tissue and cotton, so why not try it out for any extra layer of realism?
