/cgl/ - Cosplay & EGL

I made some truncated cones for my armor out of eva foam, constructed like pic related. However for some reason I'm really struggling to get the blue parts perfectly round - the issue isn't the gluing part but shaping them afterwards, they always just end up oval at best. Any tips?

>>10568895
Use a heat gun to heat the entire piece and then hold it in the desired shape until it cools down. It should drastically improve the shape, even if it not 100% circular.

If that's not enough, you glue cut some rings on from an EVA sheet and glue them on the inside of the cone to create a solid skeleton.

>>>10557250
That is soo screenprinted it hurts. My good fella, many people confuse a screenprint for a costume made with multiple fabrics/texture. Even I used to do this until getting into cosplay.
You gotta purchase multiple fabric patterns, draw a sewing pattern for each part of the costume, and done. Or 3d print a mold of each texture you want. Or use vinyl onto the fabric

>>10569037
but if you want a screenprint cosplay. I recommend using a digital art program, commission a cosplay pattern designer, or search for the design online on etsy/zentai zone/arachnid studios and then order at zentai zone(cheapest option)

I need a neck covering for a helmeted cosplay and I'm having trouble finding a good balaclava/snood/neck-gaiter-type thing that fits what I'm looking for. Still crawling Amazon and outerwear sites but would appreciate any recommendations!
>length
Needs to be able to fit under a collar. A lot seem to stop at or above the base of the neck, I probably need something that goes onto the chest/shoulders a bit.
>tightness
Most I see are pretty baggy under the chin while I'm looking for that relatively tight fit through the neck as seen in the picture.
>heat
With a helmet and two-piece suit on it'll get pretty sweaty so fleece is out. It does need to go pretty far up the back of my head so I might not be able to just use a neck gaiter.
>flat black
Obviously no branding or logos visible. Would like to minimize extra seams/textures if possible.

>>10569166
in that picture it looks like a zettai suit which are full body and could be sweaty. could you maybe use a pair of thick opaque tights and cut a leg and the toes of it off and stick your head through maybe?

>>10569166
Get a mockneck shirt and use some fabric-to-skin glue to make it stay put on your neck. If you're a serious neck sweat person, consider sealed body paint to close the gap between the shirt and your jaws.

>>10569219
>tights
Oh, that's a good idea. Did a quick test with a spare legging I have and it definitely has the neck fit I'm looking for. I'll look for something thicker for a final!

I'm gonna have to make my own gladiator sandal boots for my cosplay as I can't find any with the exact number/pattern/color of straps I need. I've never made shoes before. Have any of you made these kind of shoes before and can share some insight into how to make them, like the best type of leather or pleather?

>>10569733
I've made a pair of these before. I also couldn't find the exact style and straps i needed so I found a pair that were the right color and had fewer straps/shorter front/back support, I used stretch pleather to make more straps along the ankle. I extended the front and back support with the same pleather + interfacing.

You can use Leather or something non strech but youll also have to either get buckles or each strap or find a shoe with a zipper up the back

It's me again, >>10566062
I fixed the sleeve cuff issue by folding the trim back from the seam allowance and sewing it down before putting the cuff together. It worked out well! I just have to finish the trim ends. Thanks for the help!

Also, I'm back with another question. My costume has a mandarin collar. I've basted one side of the collar in so that I can put in the invisible zipper and left the interior side of the collar is loose so that I didn't have to seam rip so much in the event that it didn't pass the fit test. The dress itself fits perfectly, but the collar is too big (as shown in the pictures). How do I shorten the collar without shortening the bodice? Also, I don't know if the collar is sagging slightly because it's not completely sewn in and hasn't been topstitched or its another fit issue. If it is a fit issue, how do I fix that?

>>10570637
Oh and I forgot to ask: How high up is a mandarin collar supposed to sit on one's neck? I typically wear crew neck shirts so I'm unfamiliar with how a mandarin collar is supposed to look. Did I make mine too tall?

>>10570640
It should be as high as it should be to be accurate to the original design or be comfortable on you. You wouldn't want it poking into your neck fold or scraping against your wig back. Your best bet would be to pin fabric/make mockups and look in the mirror to see what width works best for you. If you're a regular woman, the width should end up being between 0.75" to 2".

Tips for putting on "arm bandages" without cutting off my damn circulation? Also is athletic tape good or should I be using something else?

New to Cosplay, need some tips on how to make armor, (for what? NCR Combat Armor, Pic Related, Already have everything but the chest 'plate'). I'd just appreciate some tips on armor making/arts and craft that i wouldnt get from looking at something like https://www.instructables.com/Easy-Foam-Armor-Fallout-Ranger/#discuss

Preemptively , Thank you guys!

Thoughts on making the War Hammer Titan's exoskeleton? I'm not sure what similar cosplay tutorials I could even turn to.

I could probably get a fairly similar muscular build so I won't inherently need to make a muscle suit but I'm not sure how best to cover myself, esp in a way that looks solid/metallic.

I prefer not to resort to a zentai bodysuit unless there's something that very closely matches the look and feel.

>>10571086
I've got plenty of experience with using athletic tape and can recommend it. It helps if you choose a wider one so you don't have to wrap it around as much to get full coverage. Any more than two layers starts to get into uncomfortably tight area. What I'd say is to secure it tightly at both ends but leave it somewhat looser in the middle.

i bought a pack of presser feet to start out and it turns out the only rolled hem foot i have is a 3mm one that i am struggling to even get the shirting fabric i am using into, let alone produce a proper hem with it. should i buy a generic 6mm one, or should i invest in a name brand one? i would rather buy once than find the new foot is too tight in its construction to fit much fabric in it.

>>10569037

It isn't screenprint, I have that underlayer in another colour. It seems to only have stitching in the base of the sleeves and the neck.

what needle would be best for stitching cloth to the inside of a fabric lined shoe? i cant do leather on account of the shoes construction but it needs some sort of additional lining, so i was thinking i should glue and stitch some felt in place to protect my heels.

>>10571450
scratched that the horrid blisters i have on my feet now demand leather.

>>10571202
For the sake of movement and showing your muscles, you’d need a bodysuit made from stretch fabric. Using smooth, metallic/pearlescent fabric like Yaya Han’s ultrapreme will help make it look more like the titan instead of a generic zentai suit.

>>10571359
Buy a single generic foot. There’s no need to buy name brand feet when cheaper generic ones perform exactly the same and usually come in more widths than name brand ones. Just be sure to read the description to make sure the roll is the right width.

>>10572001
cheers, know anything about curved needles at all for my other project? just popping stuff in my basket to order before bed

>>10571086
add a zipper to the seam to make it even easyer
https://ohicosplay.tumblr.com/post/80496361849/how-to-make-arm-wraps-without-actually-using-arm

>>10572011
>how-to-make-arm-wraps-without-actually-using-arm
different anon, but that made me giggle. No arms allowed.

>>10570647
Thanks, anon. I don't know why I forgot to look at my references!

Isn't it hazardous for your health to huff and breathe eva foam?

>>10572099
No. Eva foam sheets are fine to smell(?)/breathe under. People tell you to wear a mask when working with foam only during the sanding stages because breathing the particles aren’t good for you.

So I'm about to start my first EVA foam piece. Is it okay to prime/paint the layered parts separately then contact cement them together, or would that adhere poorly? (One surface painted with smaller pieces layered on top) It would save a lot of masking if I glued them after paint.

How could I implement the:
>long fingers
Just follow a finger pattern and enlongate the fingers? Something like popsicle sticks through each one to make them stiff?
>round stiff wrist portion that sticks out
I'm thinking cardstock enclosed in fabric connected to the wrist?Some stiff rod or pipe cleaners on the end to retain the circular shape?
>cross design
Stencil and fabric paint? What material's best to use for a stencil?

>>10572596
You should adhere the pieces and then paint. Painting first will waste primer and paint and you'd need to sand the paint for the contact cement to adhere properly, which will fuck up your paint job. You also can't clean up any mistakes without sanding the whole thing and repainting it.

>>10572596
No, you need the foam to be pliable and flexible while you're adhering them together. Sealing, priming, and painting locks them into a permanent position. Trying to adhere afterwards would breed cracks and make it much more difficult to put together.

>>10572614
>long fingers
MMmm... kind of depends. If you're buying gloves I doubt you're going to find any with absurdly long fingers. If you're making them, then it's up to you. Probably something like foam?

>I'm thinking cardstock enclosed in fabric connected to the wrist?
Close. You want to use stiff or semi-stiff interfacing. I mean, I guess you could use cardstock but interfacing is made for things like this. It can be ironed on or sewn in. You can ensure that the round shape keeps itself by inserting a wire into the hem of the wrist portion. Jewelry wire should be fine. Pipe cleaners might get caught in the seam.

>Stencil and fabric paint?
The hand is a high movement area. I wouldn't recommend fabric paint because no matter how good you seal it, it's going to crack. Maybe Leather paint? But honestly, you should apply an iron-on applique or make your own using fabric, WonderUnder, and a satin stitch. Make sure it has some stretch to it because your hand will be moving and stretching.

>>10571178
Youtube is THE resource nowadways. Channel creators like Kinpatsu, KamuiCosplay, EvilTed, PunishedProps, and even AdamSavage. Almost all of them sell books on the subject from beginner to advanced for like $10. They have free and paid patterns on their websites as well.

>>10572669
Ive been watching Savage's one day builds since hea all i knew about, but thank you anon! Ill watch those three and learn all i can, have a great day helpful anon

>>10572664
Very helpful with the gloves. Thank you.

>>10572684
>>10572685
No problem. Good luck to both of you!

This is an odd question, but if I wanted to sponsor a cosplayer/maker to do a specific character, is that going to be a weird thing?

I'm basically just looking to bankroll someone to make a Disney Parks tier costume for Raya in a con I can hopefully go to.

Am I gonna just get labelled a creeper from the getgo or is this something that happens occasionally?

>>10572893
... A fursuit???

>>10572895
The princess, not the dragon.

>>10572893
It's usually a brand sponsoring them to do one of their characters...

Sure, if you pay them enough they will do it any way but it will feel very akward.

>>10572893
This sounds no different from Patreon/gigs. It's not weird at all. Just remember to read the person's TOS if they have one and approach them professionally if you're looking for that sort of result. I've made cosplays through an agency for gig employers.

Friends what's the best material to use to make the metal 'cage' on this Monster Hunter potion?

Painting isn't a problem, just not sure how best to simulate the metal straps.

>>10573430
Seems like worbla or any paintable lightweight thermoplastic would be good?

>>10572893
It's unusual and uncommon because you're an individual and not an agency, but not necessarily weird unless you make it so. The way you find, approach, and contract this person to work for you is going to make that difference. You should prepare to set professional boundaries, write a contract, and set specific terms as to what you want and don't want them to do. (ie, do you want a copy of the professional photos? a tag when they post on social media? do you expect to eat lunch with them? are you expecting them to consider you a friend? etc.)

>>10573430
I think it's less about the material and more about your painting techniques. 3D printing, worbla, eva foam, foam clay... you could use anything. Shit, I've seen a creator use wood and make it look like steel.

>>10573471
>>10573426
>>10572962
Mmm. Okay. So probably okay to do, but just be careful about the approach. I can do that. TY, yall.

>>10568892
When making foam armor, do you need to account for any shrinkage when heating it up since the cells close up? This is my first time making armor.

Does anyone know of where I can find a pattern/tutorial for One Piece Pirate/Marine Jackets? They're everywhere on the Chinese sites, but I'd like to try and build my own.

>>10573912
I could be wrong but I don't think you will need to for working with a high density foam (which is what most cosplays call for).

>>10573921
https://lmgtfy.app/?q=pirate+coat+pattern

>>10573961
Good to know. Thanks.

Retard here,what do you call the part of the pants where the belt goes?

>>10574917
Waistband? Belt loops?

>>10574925
It was belt loops,thanks,i thought they were called belt straps

>>10569037
>>10569041
You guys have no idea what screen printing is. Those cheap cosplay suits are dye sub printed

>>10575179
Yeah I mixed up the wording. Screen prints can have actual texture to them, as shown on the bottom left's costume process>>10569037
I stand corrected,

ive just started getting an interest in cosplaying and i was wondering whats a good site to buy fabric from for Canada? i mean it is probably better to go to a store physically but covid fucking destroyed all the fabric stores around me and they all went bankrupt and disappeared. now im unsure how to pick out fabrics especially since i have little to no previous experience with this. any advice?

>>10572614
For long fingers it really depends on how much articulation you want. Several places will make ones that use rigging to recreate your finger motion but are pretty pricey and may come with a long lead time. DIY (wood or 3d printing) is also an option if you have the time and patience.
If you don't care too much about articulation and just want the length, then a foam cylinder or something firmer like PVC pipe would probably work. Just get it around the first and/or second digit of your real fingers.

>>10575608
Before diving into buying, do research on basic fabric types and get a swatch book that has different types of fabrics. Those can help inform your decision on what to buy.

>>10573921
>build
Just buy one since you clearly don’t know how to make one

>>10575990
>>10572664
I now know to give myself much more seam allowance than I think I need. The spandex sticks out on its own but I might stick some foam in there. PVC pipe is an interesting idea.
I sloppily cross-stitched the iron-on applique since they seem to have trouble adhering to spandex (?).
More of a proof of concept. Might re-do it. I've never done anything more than sewing darts in my shirts before.

>>10576584
>cross-stitched
zig-zag stich on the sewing machine*

>>10576584
So, I assumed heat-transfer wouldn't work on spandex but I actually just tried it worked great. Applied medium heat 2.5 minutes each side twice. Actually surprised how well it turned out after reading about people "melting" their lycra.

>>10576584
So, I assumed heat-transfer wouldn't work on spandex but I actually just tried it worked great. Applied medium heat 30 seconds each side twice. Actually surprised how well it turned out after reading about people "melting" their lycra.

I bought a pair of latex kitchen gloves thinking they would be a nice, tight fit. They turned out to be too tight and they're cutting the bloodflow. Is there a way to stretch them a bit?

>>10577862
I mean, you could try heating it up with a heat gun so long as you don't melt it but I'd imagine you'd have some transparency issues from stretching the material.

>>10576584
Looks like a great start! I saw a tutorial once which suggested to trace your hand on a piece of paper, add seam allowance, and then transfer both of the markings onto the fabric. The outline of your actual hand will be the line that you sew on. I'd imagine you could use this to perfect the shape of the fingers. I would recommend stuffing the fingers with something though because there is an obvious lack of taper. And you're in the right direction with the zig zag stitch. You absolutely can leave it as is if you'd like, but if you want to take it to the next level then use a satin stitch or a short and wide zig zag (see picrel). Do some tests on a scrab piece first. You might want to use stabilizer too which can be a piece of tissue paper (like for gifts, not kleenex) or actual iron on and tear away stabilizer which will be removed after stitching. Like I said, it's optional though. Functionally what you've done will hold up just the same. What I'm suggesting is more cosmetic.

>>10578173
Annnnnd dropped the pic

>>10578173
>>10578175
So, a short and wide zig zag stitch is the same as a "satin stitch" (or have same effect)? Can't seem to differentiate between the two.
>The outline of your actual hand will be the line that you sew on
Wouldn't that make it very tight? I thought sewing on the seam allowance is what compensated for the 3D nature of the hand.
Stabilizer would be very helpful since it was puckering and moving around. Thank you.

>>10578470
>So, a short and wide zig zag stitch is the same as a "satin stitch" (or have same effect)?
nayrt but yes. a satin stitch is a just a short zig zag stitch

>>10578470
Seam allowance in any project is the amount of inches you give between the edge of the fabric to your stitch line. Your stitching will be the outline of your hand. It will not be too tight because you're using stretch fabric. What compensates for the 3D nature of the hand is the stretch of the fabric and the way that the pattern is made. I won't go into details because that's fabric manipulation and wholly irrelevant to your ability to do the project, but don't worry, you're overthinking it.
Here's the tutorial I was talking about.
https://youtu.be/ne2Sy8AYZqs

Is there ANY scenario in which I can get away with cosplaying this specific version of Superman, and if so, what do you guys think his top is made of? I don’t think it’s Spandex, since we can see his pants aren’t really a spandex material, implying it’s a two-piece outfit rather than one.

>>10578717
As far as Overman goes, that design you'd be most likely to get away with. The ϟ is obviously referencing the SS flag but is abstracted enough compared to, like, pic related.

For cons, most have cosplay conduct boilerplate along the lines of:
>...convention will not allow costumes that contain hate symbols or appropriate the symbolism of hate groups, including, but not limited to, historical/comic-related/satirical costumes that are associated with Nazis.
Up to you if you want to gamble on "lightning bolt" being ambiguous enough (or ask con staff, I guess). But do note that "it's in the comics" or "I'm not a Nazi" is not a good enough excuse.

>>10578792
Well, nobody’s ever said anything to me or so much as given me a dirty look for wearing my Overman t-shirt in public (well, aside from the Instagram action figure collecting group chat I’m in, but they’re retarded and literally wouldn’t buy a classic Red Skull to display getting his ass kicked by Captain America)
But at a convention it’s that double-edged sword of yes, they’re nerds so they’ll know what comic it’s referencing so they’ll probably know I’m not a Nazi, but they’ll still know it’s Nazi Supes and probably tell me I can’t go in; regardless, I’m still interested to know what material that top is likely to be made from, no reason I can’t suit up as Overman on, say, Halloween, or something.

>>10577862
decent chance this might kill the gloves but you could try filling with water and chucking them in the freezer overnight. works a treat on shoes.

>Scalpel handle
I don't want to just paint a big piece of wood. The dimensions will be about 3"x1.5"x58". The 3 notches on top are important.
I've thought about gluing 2 long square dowels to each other and covering them in foam. Seems like a weak connection for something so long and thin though. Any ideas?

>>10580762
A single support would be too weak to keep the handle from flopping. I suggest something like pic rel instead and using flattened pvc pipes or metal dowels instead.

>>10581469
fuck. i meant black = foam.

what are some good keywords to use when looking for this sort of jacket, or does anyone have a specific listing that would match this? I thought I would easily find something really similar by searching "bomber" and "parka" but I haven't had any luck and I'm not sure what other terms to look for

>>10581758
This is a question that’s better suited for /fa/. If you have $$$ to blow, I’ve seen similar jackets from Superdry.

>>10568892

I feel like we should have a pastebin or something with some general cosplay tutorials in the the header to prevent the same basic questions on every thread. The other threads have it and I don't know why we don't.

Stuff like Kamui Cosplay, Evil Ted, Punished Props, Tested... etc.

>>10582497
This but I can do better than just recommend them. I bought that massive ebook bundle a while back that has a bunch of Kamui, Kinpatsu, Volpin, etc. Here's the link to all of them for free. https://drive.google.com/drive/folders/1rolt_5DTiW_tKnGKQ0fHkIxS9s0iIpHO

Is this shop legit or just another taobao reseller? pls help

https://www.etsy.com/shop/shecos

>>10582686
Reseller. Even says they ship from China.

In one piece, enel taps each of his drums, lighting them up before he fires his electric attacks. Is there some kind of mechanism where if you tap something, a light briefly comes on then turns off? I want to add a light effect to my enel cosplay so when I strike a drum with my staff, it lights up. I could do a led activated light if I have to. Just anything that comes on briefly with either force or maybe even hitting a button thats somewhere on the drum.

>>10582842

Mega Bloks' TMNT Out of the Shadows line had leds that would light up briefly when you'd tap them. Perhaps you can find how they did it and make big ones that you could stick on your drumskins.

>>10582842
Programming LEDs to react to touch or vibrations (if you have the technical knowledge) is probably your best option. Unless your LEDs are really bright, they won't be visible during the day though, and adding the lights will just be wasted effort and money.

I don't know anything about clown makeup so maybe someone can help me out here with this guy. Also what kind of coat is he wearing, and what kind of pants/shoes would go with it? You never see what pants or shoes he's wearing because its just a picture on a pinball machine and only shows his upper body.

What's a good material to use for a black gakuran? I'm guessing broadcloth is the go-to, but wanted to canvass some more opinions before buying the fabric. For some reason, there's no mention on the internet of the fabric used for it.

>>10583639
the fabric that actual gakurans use is just called "suiting".

>>10583797
Isn't "suiting" just a catchall term for wools, etc, anything that can be used in a suit?

>>10583805
NTA but yes.

>>10583639
Imo mid-weight twills and cotton sateen would make good gakuran fabric.

>>10576584
Nice Faust!!!!!

>Masks that blocks your entire eyesight
Is there any way to get around this? I foresee myself just carrying the masks around until someone wants a pic which is annoying.
For the right one I could make the front portion like a visor and try matching the red paint on the rest to its color. Is that feasible? Matching painted foam to a tinted sheet on a plexiglass visor without it clashing too much?
I suppose a hinged portion that I can open/close could work too.

>>10584370
Thanks! It's slowly coming along. Might wear it at Dragon*Con if that happens.

I'm making a horror film and need a costume for the ghost miko. I got a store bought costume today and I plan on modifying it so it resembles the picture here. I thought I'd run some ideas past you gals and maybe you can stop me from completely fucking it up.
I plan on:
>cutting the skirt vertically with a pair of scissors so it resembles the picture (maybe leaving it a little longer just in case)
>cutting one sleeve like the picture
>soaking the shirt and skirt in some piping hot brown tea for 24 hours so the colors look faded and a little dirty
>using sandpaper and a wire brush to fray the edges of the sleeves and skirt a little
>sponging some brown paint and maybe coffee on the very edges of the long sleeve
>burning the bottom tatters of the skirt with a torch to blacken them a little
Do you think this is a good strategy? Any other recommendations to make my costume look old and warn and spookier?

>>10585099
and I forgot, maybe I'll hit the skirt with a little bit of brown spray paint from a distance to dirty it up too

>>10585099
>>10585101
If you want actual torn fabric you need to tear it, not cut it. Grab it with your hands and rip it apart.

As for the weathering, just throw it on some dirty puddle you find on the street. Or get some dirt and mix it with water to make your own mud. The result will be much more realistic than brown spray paint.

Anyone got a good wig recommendation? I can't find anything that matches well.

>>10585099
>>10585816
This, you should just tie the garment behind a car and drag it around a dirt lot if you want a realistic look.

>>10583639
>broadcloth
Generally a poor idea. It's going to look thin and cheap. You can certainly use broadcloth to line the gakuran though (highly recommend lining the gakuran for a better structured look).

A suiting like >>10583797 is fine though wool may be uncomfortably hot depending on your climate. I personally recommend a polyester/cotton (or wool) blend, which wouldn't wrinkle easily.

I have a silicone muscle suit that I need to put tattoos on. I have for-scale pictures of the tattoos I can print out on my printer and combine into the general tattoo since it's so big. I'm just wondering how the hell I can actually get the tattoos printed on the silicone. Would tattoo transfer paper work? What should I spray it down to seal it to the silicone so it doesn't rub off?

>>10586862
I've never worked with silicon before but I have an idea that may work. Print the tattoos on flesh colored paper. Lay the paper down on the muscle suit, then pour transparent silicon over the tattoos. Theoretically it could make a new layer of silicon "flesh" sandwiching your printed tattoos in place.
>>10585816
but wont fabric want to tear in a straight line? And also, I don't want it to be dirty, I want it to look dirty.

>>10586954
holy shit this is awful advice. if you start your advice with "i've never done x before" don't post it.

>>10586989
hey at least I didn't tell him to tie it to the back of a car and drive around

>>10584648
I met a Cyberpunk Trauma Team cosplayer who had one of the exterior webcams functional and hooked up to a screen inside the helmet; if you can integrate that into the design it's one possible approach. Look up Adam Savage's Totoro for another camera-hiding solution.
Otherwise look for opportunities to use mesh or light fabric that'll give you a chance to see through to some degree.

>>10569166
Look into tokusatsu cosplay.
I think the sentai dudes call it a neck hood or neck seal. It's a neck hood that covers your head and shoulders with straps for your arms to slide in. Looks like a weird bib.
Shouldnt be too hard to stitch together.

>>10585099
>>10585816
For realistic wear you can start with cutting away big sections but I recommend using high-grit sandpaper to get more realistic tatters. You can even throw it in the laundry (and then sand it more) to get more natural looking tears.
Coffee is a good stain but watered-down paint is fine as well. The trick is that a little goes a long way - and be sure to vary black/brown/umber etc. I like to use a cheap chip brush and dry-brush stipple paint on, using a wet rag or paper towel to rub it in and off. Honestly I'd recommend against "just throw it in the mud" type weathering; having a little more control over what and where gets dirtied by using paints and dyes is nice and it can look just as natural.
This video has some good techniques: https://youtu.be/2ErLOmGZQMA?t=170

>>10586862
Painting or airbrushing the tattoos on will look better but silicone is unfortunately one of those materials that you can't do anything to to make additions look natural.

Wig general is dead. What would actually make the price difference between these two wigs? Do all of these kinds of wigs need styling after receiving them?

>>10587289
>thickness
amount of wefts sewn in and how far apart they are so that the wig tracks are hidden from multiple angles. One way to spot a cheap wig is visible tracks
>styling
pre-styled wigs are always more expensive not only for the labor done but also materials and tools used.
>quality
Self-explanatory.

I would urge you to get a cost breakdown from the more expensive one. While the wig looks great on them, the spiking style if more rigid (ie super defined as opposed to the right's softer, not as fine pointed look) which may or may not look good on you in person. One thing that makes it look really good on them is their makeup and the lighting. If you're looking for something casual, go with the right. If you want absolutely professional quality, then go for the left.

>>10587289
>Do all of these kinds of wigs need styling after receiving them?
Oh and sort of. Even pre-styled wigs will need a touch up before wearing because of travel, but obviously much less work than buying a base wig and doing it yourself. You will know the difference between an unstyled wig and a styled one by the reference photos and item description.

>>10582842
Hey, what you're looking for is a piezoacoustic pickup and a timer circuit for each drum. This could be built on perfboard or done deadbug style. Could also be managed with a small arduino board, which will cost a couple dollars more and people won't think you're as cool.

Here's a link for a method with arduino: https://www.arduino.cc/en/Tutorial/BuiltInExamples/Knock
and one with a 555 timer (look under "positive trigger"): https://www.electroschematics.com/555-ic-tutorial/

Where can I get some yellow scaly contacts like these?

>>10587922
in online shops

What fabric is this samurai outfit made out of?

>>10588042
better pic, sorry

does anyone have any 3d printing experience? i can't get my PLA to stick well to my PVA supports, and it's making my prints fail halfway through.

>>10588658
There's a 3D printing general in /diy/ >>2074089, you'll probably have better luck asking there

>>10587952
Uh yeah, which ones? I've looked for ages.

>>10588042
>What fabric is this samurai outfit made out of?

textured polygons

>>10588044
Can't help you much with it, I just go to the store with a reference picture and buy whatever fabric looks similar.

>>10588042
I'm still a beginner myself with fabrics, but I would probably head towards the natural fibers like broadcloth. Something tightly woven and sturdy but light to medium weight. Things like seifuku are made with broadcloth and this gives me a similar vibe so

I've had a (prop) infantry helmet and a camo cover for it for a while, with the issue being that there helmet has no way of securing it. I tried using duct tape for a while but that's only a temporary fix and looks kinds of sloppy. Maybe I'm doing something wrong but I genuinely can't think of a better way of securing it. Any help or suggestions would be greatly appreciated.

>>10589069
Surely you're a beginner or joking, right? Broadcloth is usually thin and would look awful as rugged pants or haori. It's too thin for school uniforms unless it's a trim or lined or simply cheaply made to start for someone who doesn't care.

>>10588042
You gotta be more specific. Which part? Do you want authenticity or whatever's cheap? What stores do you have access to? At a glance, you're looking for medium to heavyweight linen and cotton to cotton-polyester twill will work as well. Heavy polyester might end up being too hot but this is probably how most online mass-production stores will sell the costume as.

>>10589069
>>10589174
>I'm still a beginner myself

>>10589174
Yes, it's the first thing I said. The commercial patterns I've used for school uniforms suggested broadcloth which is why I recommended it. I don't mind being corrected since I'm a self-proclaimed beginner and its in the best interest of op, but that was oddly aggressive.

>>10589173
what type of helmet is it? the m65 for example had no affixment at all, we had to weave it between underhelmet and buckles. older generation military gear apparently existed soley for messing with their users....

>>10581758
Parka, or a Pilots jacket if its waisted.
looks kinda like one of those
https://brandit-wear.com/produkte/maenner/jacken/

What kind of material is Johnny's outfit, do you think?
I want something either similar and authentic to the era, or something that looks 1 to 1 with the manga.

>>10587425
awesome, thanks.

I have 2 questions with 1 being kinda stupid. What color would you say is Atomic Samurai's hair is? A lot of art of him makes it look like its dark Brown whereas his anime appearance and wiki entry says black. I'm more partial to black but I wanted a second opinion.

Secondly is whats the best method for maintaining his pony tail with a wig? I can handle styling the ends of the hair, but I have no idea how to get the pony tail to stay like that without being back heavy. I was wondering if people often have some kinda attachment hidden within their hair to keep it upright like a thin wooden dowel or something. I was considering this wig since I need something with a widows peak, but I'm wonder if people buy a shorter haired wig with some kinda pony tail attachment. https://arda-wigs.com/products/viktor-classic?variant=19488611106902

>>10590637
The only cap that would like similar during that era would be a woolen cap made by nålebinding. The stars would have been woven into the hat's pattern, but you could simply sew small stars on top.
I would assume the undershirt would be some kind of flannel (likely canton), as that was the standard fabric for sports during that era.
Jockey silks are called that for a reason. Seeing as Johnny was an impromptu jockey, this may not be the case earlier in the part, but certainly after the Winter arcs.
The hood feather and the hearts were also added after the Winter arcs. You could purchase a large faux feather if you can't find an authentic one.
The hearts could either be wool or duck cloth, which is less prone to getting snagged or torn by possible obstacles in the race.

>>10590671
Check out Kinpatsu's method for styling large ponytail wigs. She uses a 2-part connection method that would ensure your wig stays picture perfect the whole time. The wig you picked would work fine imo

>>10590795
Oh okay so its like I thought with the ponytail being treated as 2 different pieces. I'll be sure to bookmark her videos thanks. I'm guessing the best method is to hold onto the hair I cut down to make into wefts? The viktor is kinda pricey on its own so I might try that to cut down cost.

>>10591008
> I'm guessing the best method is to hold onto the hair I cut down to make into wefts?
Yup. With Viktor, you wouldn't need to buy any additional wefts. You can make glue wefts from the hair so long as you keep it neat when cutting off (just look it up on youtube. Kinpatsu or someone else likely has a tutorial on it). You'll probably have much more than you'll need for this project tbqh. Honestly, it might be in your best interest to try and find a cheaper wig with the lacefront, widow's peak, and upside down sewn wefts. Then just buy a pack of wefts separately.

>>10591083
Coolness I appreciate the info on it.
>Honestly, it might be in your best interest to try and find a cheaper wig with the lacefront, widow's peak, and upside down sewn wefts. Then just buy a pack of wefts separately.
Yeah I've been trying to shop around a few different places and the best I've seen offered something similar for around $70-80 which would still require me to purchase wefts and add a widows peak some how. I am super bad at shopping for wigs which is why I came to the help thread to begin with. I did check out the other thread specifically for it, but the few alt shops that weren't arda didn't appear to have what I was looking for. The more affordable ones not in china/japan I mean.

>>10591120
Happy to help. Yeah, unfortunately you're either spending more of your time, energy, or money. Best of luck!

>>10589343
I’ll post pictures in the morning. Helmet cover came with it so I assume it’s supposed to fit in some way or another, thank you for the help

>>10568892
is cosfun okay for people who are poor or just starting out? I was thinking of gifting a cosplay from it to a new friend of mine who doesn't know anything about making her own stuff, because its cheap

>Titled Batman Unchained but often incorrectly referred to as Batman Triumphant,[2] Protosevich's script had the Scarecrow as the main villain and the Joker would return as a hallucination in Batman's mind caused by the Scarecrow's fear toxin. Harley Quinn appeared as a supporting character, written as the Joker's daughter trying to kill Batman to avenge her father's death.[55] The film would have depicted the Scarecrow and Harley Quinn teaming up to drive Batman insane and have him committed to Arkham Asylum. After their defeat, the film would have ended with Bruce Wayne traveling to Bali and entering a cave, where he allows himself to be swarmed by bats to symbolize that he has conquered fear.[54] Clooney, O'Donnell, and Silverstone were set to reprise the roles of Batman, Robin, and Batgirl.[56] Schumacher had also approached Nicolas Cage for the role of Scarecrow in Batman & Robin as a cameo appearance to set up an appearance in Batman Unchained,[57] before ultimately casting Coolio.[58]

>>10589069
>natural fibers like broadcloth
broadcloth isn't a fiber, natural or otherwise. natural fibers would be something like cotton, silk, linen, wool, etc. synthetic fibers include polyester, nylon, acetate, acrylic, etc. what broadcloth refers to is the weave. fiber is what the fabric is made of, weave is how the fabric is made.

How would you guys make your own custom patches? Once events start up, I want to wear a patch of sorts of my avatar so that people can recognize me. It's a simple design and it doesn't have to be huge. Just probably a shoulder patch or maybe on my bag or something.
Little stars on the top left would be optional, people see the purple/yellow and know it's me.

>>10591647
Ah, I see! Thank you

>>10591696
I'd recommend just commissioning one on Etsy. A lot of sellers will make custom ones for cheap from an image. I got one from IndigoEmbroidery and can recommend them.

Getting into making props, having some issues with the finish. I sand it down until it's fine and then hit it with a heatgun, but I'm not sure if I hold it too long, because the contact cement starts to separate at points (especially bad since it's a sword and it separates at the edge). So, to combat this, I started trying to fill it in with Kwik Seal. The issue is that it dries and "shrinks", so there's still a dimple in the crevice, and it's only noticeable after hitting it with plastidip. Am I doing something wrong, is there a better way to fill in the cracks?

I don't know if I should purchase pic related or not
AliExpress has it, but the measurements are based on Chinese sizes, so after spending an hour trying to understand how to convert my measurements to chinese ones, I messaged the representative of the seller, told them my USA measurements and they said
>dear,sorry ,maybe it short for you ,thank you
Now I'm annoyed because I don't know if I should take the China 4XL size for my USA Large body or XXL
Any advice from you all?
also
neck:16.5 inches
bust:38.5 inches
waist-37.8 inches
hips: 37.12 inches
thigh:24.6 inches
ankle: 9.3 inches
shoulder width: 21.1 inches
sleeve:36.4 inches
Height: 5'11
Weight: 198.5

>>10593854
>race of manlets
don't be annoyed with the seller m8, the person was actually being straight up with you. regardless of which size you choose the hem of that shirt would hit at about the level of your belt buckle, if not higher, and there's a decent chance the armholes would feel uncomfortably tight.

>>10594125
Before I finally throw the towel and search for another one, should I grab the 4XL or not?

>>10594779
depends on what your expectations for it are i guess. kinda hard to answer that for you. is that size chart specific to that shirt or just a general size chart showing how chinese sizing corresponds to what you're used to?

>>10595054
Based on Chinese sizes

100% newfag in the wig department so I had something commissioned and I've been having a lot of issues with stray hairs sticking out like a sore thumb.
I've done what I can to follow the instructions given to me regarding care (use a wide pick, brush each curl separate, brush outside layers only, spray down stray hairs, ect) and I feel like every time I do so I'm making things progressively worse, with one of the curls slowly coming undone.
Can I save this or do I need to cut my losses and get this thing restyled?

>>10595325
You will eventually need to re-style it, no way aorund it, but you can do it yourself. Curls aren't that hard to do. Watch some curl tutorials on youtube (on synthetic wigs, not real hair) and follow them.

I just saw this stunning statue of Nausicaa and I really want to cosplay this version of her outfit. How would I go about making the raised/embossed details of her dress? I was thinking a layer of quilt batting sandwiched between two layers of fabric but that might be too bulky.

>>10596871
Appliques

>>10587142
Thanks for the advice. The skirt did not absorb any tea or coffee stains. I'm guessing it's some kind of synthetic fabric. Fire was also no good. I experimented with diluted calligraphy ink and that got me a good stain as a base. Unfortunately my airbrush is in another country right now, but I'll sponge and stipple some umber on there.

>>10595231
I don't wanna come off as impatient, been a couple days since then, does anyone have any advice since I posted the size chart and my own measurements here >>10593854
?

>>10597178
The other anon and the seller informed you regardless of which size you pick, it will not fit you because your torso is longer than the garment. Choosing a bigger size will not fix that for you. That's like finding a pair of pants that fits, but the inseam is too short and now your ankles are showing. Getting a larger size won't make that inseam any longer.

>>10595325
There are going to be stray hairs no matter what. Even if it's restyled, stray hairs will pop up as the wig fibers move, so every time you brush/move/store the wig new stray hair will pop up. Only way to make it completely smooth is to actually solidify the curls in place by using silicone or something similar so the curls will never open again. However, I don't necessarily recommend it since it can ne tricky and you're a beginner.

Just accept the fact that stray hair will be a thing, maybe re-curl it using a youtube tutorial like the other anon mentioned. There will be stray hair even after re-curling, but the curl will most likely be smoother.

>>10568892
I'm planning on cosplaying Faust from the upcoming Guilty Gear Strive, and thought it might be a fun touch to use stilts to add a foot or two to my height since Faust is canonically over 9 feet tall.
My question is this: If I do use stilts, are there any effective methods to extend my arms while still having them be emaciated in appearance? I'm pretty sure if I don't (I'm 5'7") then my arms will look short and it will defeat the purpose of trying to make myself creepily tall.
Ideally, I'd like to use prosthetics, but all the designs I've seen might be too wide. Do any of you have experience cosplaying incredibly tall and skinny characters before? How do you deal with arms?

Is there a name for the type of inset button and collar that Ms. Frizzle has on her dresses?

>>10597221
ok, makes sense

i want to color just the roots of a white wig with a really light color. I'm guessing I should just get a copic in the right tint. But last time I did this there was still some bleeding. Will rinsing it until clear really make a difference?

>>10597857
you should try cutting off a piece of hair and using it to test whatever ink you're going to use

>>10596871
It's definitely quilted but maybe use something more like a felt as the "batting" layer

>>10597540
Somethibg like a henley placket maybe?

>>10597479
Here's what I would try. I'd make the gloves prosthetics, probably by making the hand shape out of foam. The upper, wider part of the glove would be hollow with a horizontal cross bar in the middle. To wear the gloves, I'd put my hands into the hollow wide part and hold the gloves by the cross bar. This way you can make the gloves as long as you like without being constrained by the shape and size of your actual hands.

>>10597857
Try spraying the fibers with water before you use the copic so that it diffuses more

I want to knit a Doppio sweater, anyone knows where I can find a pattern, specially one that can help me with the boob window part?

Painting props, need to get a hexagonal grid pattern. I'm trying to use contact paper, which I've used to do some stencils on fabric, but it isn't really working out that well because it's not sticking around the curved edges of the prop. I'm considering using painter's tape; anyone have experience with using it for stencils?

>>10597905
Placket! That’s the word. Thanks!

>>10597449
>>10595360
Appreciate the input, sorry for the delayed response. Thank you both!

Should I paint a foam armor piece black after using PlastiDip even though it's already black? Like, do I have to worry about the dip cracking/coming off without a layer of paint over it.

Can anyone tell me what kind of chain this is?

>>10600425
it's a thick snake chain. just look for 5mm snake chain and find one with the thicker links.

So I just bought one of those light ski masks. What could I use to paint or color on it that won't make it bog down by weight? What marker or paint will work best for those "nylon" like masks with the black gloss to it?

>>10600425
Dont try to get too perfect when it comes to gold chains. Most people usually dont care.

>>10600569
If you're painting on fabric, the only thing you should use is either fabric medium mixed with your paint or choice or fabric paint. I haven't used them on nylon before, but doing a test swatch might be to your benefit. And if that doesn't work out, you could try heat transfer vinyl -- just make sure that you buy one with the same amount of stretch and stretches in the direction of the nylon mask.

>>10600650
This is what Im painting on. I'll consider vinyl.

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0716PNTW4/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_asin_title_o02_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1

>>10600937
I'd say try vinyl first. The worst thing that can happen is that you need to rip it off and start over again. It won't leave a mark -- slight possibility of residue but its a better choice than painting imo

>>10600200
No, PlastiDip was originally meant to be used on its own, so don't worry about it cracking or getting off. Take into consideration, however, that raw plastic dip has a different look than black paint, but if you like how it looks, you can leave it like that.

Can someone give me an estimate of how much it'd cost if I got this blouse made as a commission? Just the basic white blouse, I want to do the embroidery myself but I don't have enough experience sewing to make the garment itself.

>>10601678
$200

I want to make Black Knight from Monty Pyton. I think detachable arm and one leg at the knee to make people laugh.
Does anyone has any ideas about making a leg stump?
Arm one is easy, i can tie real one to my back, use magnets and make prop fall of with specific motion.
When I search for info all i find are cosplay guides for real amputees. I fear that if i simply bend my leg and tie it up for a longer time it will hurt like hell. I don't even know if it is feasible, though vision of jumping through the crowd on one leg is exciting.

>>10601678
You'd have to ask your commissioner that. If you provide the plain white blouse for instance, that might reduce the cost. If you want them to make the blouse from scratch rather than buy a preamde, it will raise the cost.

>>10602064
They said they planned to embroider themselves, but wanted to commission just the blouse specifically.

>>10602075
Realistically someone who can't make a simple blouse will not be able to embroider such a complicated design.

>>10601892
just hold your second leg up during photos with your extra arm that's tied behind your back. Or do you really want to spend an entire con hopping or holding a cane with your one arm?

My apron (on the left) tends to bunch up in the middle rather than laying flat on my chest. I'm planning to adjust it but am not sure if I should direct efforts at the neck strap (adding a slip-lock to tighten it) or the overall width (taking off fabric on either side and re-hemming). Advice?

>>10602099
The embroidery is simple shapes, it is much easier for soemone who can embroider already to do a simple design by hand than it is for them to go get a sewing machine, draft a custom pattern, then sew a garment for the first time.

>>10602727
To add to that, your reply did nothing to answer their question and reccomended providing the blouse for someone to embroider, when their point was asking about how much it might cost to get the blouse in the first place.

>>10601892
If you're dead-set on pulling it off, I'd recommend looking up Grindhouse cosplays as they have solid tips for getting your lower leg out of the way.
However even they state that it's more of a "photoshoot" outfit, one article saying that it wasn't comfortable for more than a half-hour. Just try it in your home - stand on one leg while browsing your phone or whatever. Sure you can easily do it for 30 seconds, but how about 5-10 minutes? Try getting from one side of your room to another, do you really want to do that in a crowded room? Do you think people will laugh it off if you bump into or fall onto them? How are you going to get up stairs? Even in the movie, the one-legged scene required a double as Cleese could not balance well for long. Like the other anon said, better to lead with the arm and just pose with your leg hidden for photos.

I’m new to cosplay, any suggestions on where to get a sailor moon wig that will look okay on camera? I don’t need it to look good in person just like 10ft away on camera.

>>10602727
I wouldn't qualify that design as simple or beginner friendly but whatever suits you. One could make this very simple shirt by hand using a commercial pattern, no sewing machine or drafting knowledge necessary. There's a total of four seams. As I said, someone who can't accomplish that would struggle with embroidery even if you deem it so simple.

>>10602728
>You'd have to ask the commissioner that.
It was the first thing I said in my reply, anon. No need to get cranky.

We can bitch back and forth about difficulty, but the matter is that I provided additional information that you deemed unnecessary to the original post. There's not much to be done about it now so lets leave it at that.

>>10602099
OP of the question here, I've done my fair share of embroidery as it's something I picked up to pass time years ago, similar to how some people like to knit to pass the time. Sewing on the other hand just isn't my cup of tea at all so it's something I'd like to outsource if possible.

>>10602105
>>10602729
Yeah after doing more research i conclude that it's too inconvenient. I'm just gonna torn up front of one leg sleeves just below the knee so it looks like cut when i bend the knee for photos.

Anyone have experience with what brand of mesh fabric works the best? I'm looking to make a Whitty cosplay but for his eyes I don't want a cheap fabric that's easy for other people to see through too. Or is all mesh fabric going to be similar?

>>10604576
Funnily enough the furries have you covered: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=y0aV8OpWolY

I got a question. So I’m planning to cosplay lady dimitrescu. Should I just wear shoes that will make me 6’6 or wear stilts and actually make me 9 foot

>>10607441
Unless you're already proficient enough in stilts to walk around in them for extended periods of time or are willing to put in hours to practice I'd say you should probably stick to the heels and only break out the stilts for photos.

>>10607704
>>10607441
This, It's not worth breaking your ankles for. You're not going to look good if you're stumbling around anyway.

I'm making a small hat in the shape of a truncated cone. It won't be manhandled a lot or worn outside, but I'm wondering if a cardstock form is enough for it to keep its shape, or if I should give it some extra interfacing/structural support. I'll be covering it with a sort of heavyweight fabric.

This might not be feasible, but I figured I'd ask anyway. I'm planning out a 9S cosplay, and while most of it is pretty straightforward I'm debating what I can do to have his Pod (the little square robot thing in the picture) floating over my shoulder as I walk around.

The easiest way to do this I can imagine is to have some kind of clear plastic arm or wire supporting a lightweight pod from below, but I'm worried that would like really terrible and tacky.

I've considered making the pod out of extremely lightweight materials (essentially just having it be a hollow kite made of paper) and then having it hang from a balloon on a long enough string that the balloon wouldn't be visible in most photos. But Thats going to be fragile and prone to accidents, as well as I'm not sure I can make the pod light enough for a simple balloon to hold it up.

Are there any other tried and true methods I should be considering here? Or am I being too ambitiuous?

Is there any way to treat cotton fabric so it gets a little shine to it (like satin) without significantly compromising the flexibility?

>>10608764
If you're crafty you could make your own large action base that you can wear with a shoulder or back harness.

>>10608785
maybe ironing it? I have ironed cotton at a really high temp and it turned shiny and looked almost satin. Not sure it is very good for it, but it does happen

I, too, would like to cosplay Nines, but I'm a total newfriend with wigs. His hair is simple, but I'm afraid I'll fuck up the styling. If anyone has any tips to make styling easier, I'd really appreciate it!

>>10609797
>watch lots of youtube videos
>buy a cheap wig to practice on
>baby powder to remove shine from said cheap wig
>heat test a strand of hair before going ham. Some wigs can withstand heat better than others and you don't want to melt your wig accidentally because you didn't check. You cannot unmelt a strand of fiber.
>Feathered vertical cuts >> horizontal blunt cuts
>if you are using a foam wig head (like the kind you can find at Michael's), you'll want to pad it out to match your head and draw or mark lines where your facial features are so that your cuts will flatter your face.
>To add to the last part, it's helpful to move between the wig head and your actual head when sectioning and cutting face shaping areas like bangs just to make sure that you don't cut more than you need to
>Follow the sewist's rule; measure twice, because you can only cut once

>>10609210
So it sounds like clear plastic support of some kind is the only real option, then.

>>10608764
A wire mounted on your shoulder would probably be best, since it's a little flexible there's more give when walking/running/etc. This kind of hinges on keeping it light, but if you make the big block part of the pod out of light foam it shouldn't be an issue.
Would look something like pic related - don't stress too much about it being invisible or clear, it staying up while you walk around will be impressive enough and people will obviously understand it's impossible to "really" float.

>>10600200
PlastiDip comes in black and white. It is a base coat on its own so there's no need for another base coat. For armor the rule of thumb is use white for colors and black for metallic paints.

>>10608764
I agree with >>10610095
8 gauge steel wire is what I use to structure wings or tails when needed on costumes. It's shapeable, sturdy enough to hold up foam and bounces as you walk for a nice floating aesthetic. If your prop is made out of foam it will be more than strong enough to hold it up.

sewing and crafting threads are kill, came here to ask about this. ive got a chink repro of a singer pixie plus to work with, and i am trying to see if my machine is good enough to take cotton twill pants in and out at the waist. over thinner bits i can stitch in the ditch just fine, but this is what happens if i go over where the fabric is folded back in on itself at the thicker parts. is this a thread tension issue, or am i pushing the limits of a cheap machine?

General stupid question. Does anybody know of a site to get a decent quality victorian-style maid outfit? I wanna do one for a maid cafe (maybe) and I figured Taobao might have one, but the stores in the taobao don't quite have what I'm looking for. Think the first or fifth one here.

>>10610273
I once used black PlastiDip for a white armor. Don't do that. I had to give it ten coats of white paint.

>>10610388
Milky Ange makes a variety of maid outfit, including Victorian styled ones.
You will may need a shopping service for them.

>>10610352
>singer pixie plus
This is pretty much just a toy machine for little kids. It's not because of the thread, nor because the machine is cheap, it's purely because you're trying to sew with a toy.

>>10610932
ye but i got it for free and it kinda works so i have no need to replace it yet. also it turned out to be the thread tension.

>>10610932
this is like saying easy bake ovens aren't the same as weak toaster ovens...

Tourist here

Can anyone recommend me a good beginner corset company that ships to the EU? What about Australia?

Asking on behalf of a few internet friends.

Thanks<3

>>10611162
For cosplay or tightlacing? If you’re buying a tightlacing corset, I would suggest saving yourself a LOT of money and getting one commissioned. Premade ones might be cheaper to start out with but they’ll warp or otherwise get damaged with continuous wear, whereas a high quality, customized one will last you quite a few years.

I need to buy a ridiculous amount of cone studs in various colours. Where would be the best place for cheap bulk?

How do I make a king k rool cosplay?

>>10611505
>Take a look at reference images, write down each portion of the costume you would need to make including undergarments, makeup, and accessories.
>Decide whether you're doing a humanization or mascot costume
>If you aren't already sure which methods you are going to use to make portions of the costume, then do research on youtube to figure that out
>make a list of what tools and materials are needed to make those portions. Cross-reference this with what you already have.
>Acquire what you do not already have -- use coupons if you have them
>Make an order of operations for what needs to be made at what time. Understructure is usually first, but some things can and should be made in batches (ie all eva foam pieces cut / primed / painted at once instead of 1 by 1).
>profit

Youtube is a good resource for more planning and costume breakdown tips

I am a bodybuilder who wants to cosplay Angel Dust. How do I make big fake arms and also keep them from falling off?

>>10611288
If you're located somewhere where there's a fashion district (e.g. NYC or LA), trims stores in those districts will be your best bet. Otherwise, try Alibaba (not Aliexpress), but Alibaba sellers may have a high minimum order quantity.

>>10611524
Foam on a harness

>>10611288
aliexpress.

>>10608785
Shine is usually added using chemical coatings that the average person doesn't have access to. If you want something that has the same hand but has a sheen, buy cotton sateen.

What are some of the better shops/websites to buy cosplays from nowadays? I haven't bought a cosplay in years but I want to start planning for AWA if it actually happens this year and if I'm being honest with myself I don't have the time/energy to make something right now but I do have money to throw around. I know I'd probably get the best quality commissioning someone but I figured I'd look around at some shops first because the characters I want to do aren't super complicated and probably have some decent quality premade ones out there for a little cheaper. A lot of the websites I see people recommend nowadays look like they're just reselling from Taobao, is cutting out the middle man and just ordering from Taobao a better idea at this point? Thanks!

>>10613127
> is cutting out the middle man and just ordering from Taobao a better idea at this point?
Typically, yes. Also, there's a whole list with pros and cons for each shop if you go to youtube and search "where to buy cosplay".

Are there any half decent canadian shops that sell wigs at an okay price? One fucking wig from Arda is going to cost me almost 70 bucks, and its not even a long one.

I want some opinions on this from people that have done full bodysuit cosplays, should I cosplay as a Medium Biped from NieR Automata? What is it like being inside a suit? This wont fit around my body perfectly so how should I pad it inside to make it more comfortable without making it too hot? Would I be able to take my arm out of the machine arm to use my phone inside the suit? How would I sit down? Is it morally wrong to fill out a captcha while wearing a robot costume? There are probably some other questions I have that I cant think of right now so give general advice too.

>>10613127
>is cutting out the middle man and just ordering from Taobao a better idea at this point?
Yes. Some shops have an insane markup, like 100-200%. Uwowo and rolecos are good for middle-of-the-road quality and both have official shops on Aliexpress. If you're buying multiple costumes and wigs, Taobao is still better than buying from Ali though.

Planning to sew two wigs together to make a Two-Face wig. I've done this before with two non-lacefront wigs so I know the process, but I was wondering if it would work to use a lacefront for the white half. Because the white hair is swept back from the hairline but the black isn't I thought it might work out, but I'm concerned the lace could get too easily damaged.

>>10613536
Unless you are going in winter, padding would make the inside way too hot. I would recommend wearing a harness attached to the frame, holding the weight on your shoulders and leaving the interior empty.

As for sitting, if you leave the underside of the body open and don't put armor pieces on your butt (it's going to be hidden inside the body anyway), you can lift it up and sit normally.

>>10613536
With a costume like this you have some options on how to do it. The major questions are do you care what it looks like from the back and do you want the arms to move? If the answer is no to both, you can leave the back open and just wear the top on a harness. If the answer is yes to both, you'll need a handler. I could suggest using cooling packs and installing fans to help keep you cool, but you still won't want to wear something like that for more than an hour at a time.

>>10614672
>>10614737
Thanks!

What sorta boots/footwear would you guys pair with this? I could use some design help.

I love this outfit but everyone I talk to dislikes the boots. However none of us can think of something that would better match the outfit either. I love the short ankle style with the cuff and its hard coming up with something to better fit the look, without being too modern.

>>10615280
>something to better fit the look, without being too modern.
>the rest of the cosplay looks like cheap felt

Like a lot of you I kinda lost motivation to work on my cosplay project during 2020 after all the cons were cancelled. It's 2021 now and all the local cons are still cancelled but I want to get moving again. How do you get back your motivation after something like this when you really don't know when the next con is?

>>10615291

>>10613845
You might have to re-ventilate the lacefront, but you’ll mostly be ok as long as you’re conscious of where you make your cuts.

>>10615308
I like the "snowball" idea of getting rolling with smaller stuff before getting big motivation. Two things helped for me -
>Taking photos
A lot of my cosplays I didn't have good pictures of, either basic mirror selfies on my way out the door or MAYBE a hall shot where everything's been rumpled after a day of wear. So taking photos with a tripod and timer was a good way to capture what I do have, as well as review the quality to see if there were any updates or fixes I wanted to make. Plus having a computer nearby meant it was easier to look up reference for poses and such to better evaluate my characterization.
>Closet costests/cheats
I also did a lot of simple cosplays that I wouldn't do at cons for various reasons. Faking clothing colors/patterns or makeup with Photoshop, taking waist-up photos because I don't have the right pants and shoes, making a character too obscure to bring to a con... tearing through a bunch of simple outfits helped with motivation to work on something bigger. YMMV based on how skilled you are with photomanips, ofc.

>>10615280
Pirate-style boots might work, flatter leather and less obvious laces compliment the simple shapes of the outfit and the large flaps mirror the layering of the robe and the big sleeves.

How would I go about making walrus tusks that would fit in my mouth? I can't imagine paper mache would work well if it's supposed to come from my mouth. Would moldable plastic be the best bet?

>>10615531
Oh I do like that idea, thank you anon I'll look around for something like that!

>>10615308
The other anon has some wonderful advice, but just to add on: document and share your progress with others.
Social media is the easiest way to do this -- whether it be discord or facebook groups, twitter, or Instagram. Having someone other than yourself excited about your work and wanting to see more can be a great motivator because you don't want to let that person / those people down. Sharing in others' excitement for their work is also great for wanting to produce work of your own too.

Documenting via photo or video is another choice you can make. I personally enjoy making soft tutorials or "sew alongs" for tiktok and eventually youtube, but also use instagram to post progress photos and stories in between making those. Also the idea that I can provide help for someone the same way some potato quality video from 2005 of my exact costume once saved my ass warms my heart and pushes me forward.

If you don't want to post online, you could make progress books like one would for pre-judging for a cosplay contest. Something about wanting a neat and complete record of your work can make you more aware of your actions, time, and materials.

Whatever your decision, I hope you find that motivation, anon!

>>10615533
People tend to use thermoplastic beads that can be heated up, molded to shape, and then attached to your teeth with denture fixative.

>>10615533
If you're willing to spend the cash, I can give you a short list of makers of high quality fake teeth that can make you some extremely realistic tusks that fit over your real teeth perfectly, although please note these are the kind of places where you have to send in a dental impression and wait a few months for the actual item to be made.

For black polyester whats the best way to apply white shapes to it? Should I go the heat transfer vinyl route or could I get away with cutting out white cloth and stitching / fabric gluing it?

>>10615750
It depends on the weight of the fabric, the size of the applique shapes, how clean/accurate/authentic you want the finished product to look, and where the appliques are going. Can you provide more details?

>>10615783
Twice from boku academia

>>10615750
>or could I get away with cutting out white cloth and stitching / fabric gluing it?
You can use HTV or fabric, but you need a fusible web double sided adhesive like Wonder Under and, for security and cleanliness, a satin stitch around the shapes. I've heard of ways that people avoid having to satin stitch by like... stiching the right side of the white to the wrong side of the black and then cutting it out(??) but I don't quite understand how it works so I can't attest to how effective it is. It looks good though! Harley Quinn and other superhero cosplayers would have good resources for you to utilize.

I'm hoping to cosplay Heisenberg but I have absolutely no clue where I would find his hat, I can't even find a close copy. I think the closest I've found is some Van Helsing shit but that's not as close as I'd like it to be

>someone selling a wig I want secondhand
>"It has been washed with laundry detergent & fabric softener"
>wooly frizz around the neck

You're NOT supposed to do this to wigs, right...? I thought wigs were supposed to be treated with actual gentle hair products, not laundry soap...

Am I mistaken?

>>10616678
No. Dish soap is best for plastic nylon fibres. Gentle hair products are for real hair.

>>10616680
Which dish soaps would you recommend? I know some are stronger than others.

>>10616290
If you can't find something, make it or have it made.

>>10616678
Human hair wigs need shampoo
Plastic wigs need dish soap

>>10607723
I don't do any hat-making myself, but I've seen others use duck canvas, stiffened muslin, and heavy weight interfacing used.

>>10588044
>>10588042
possibly linen?

>>10607723
Use buckram. That's what's normally used in hatmaking.

>>10619211
>>10618774
I didn't find buckram at my local crafting stores, so I ended up using rug canvas. It worked for this particular project.

Wanting to cosplay Utena (right)- but do not know what this style of top is called.. any clue what this is called? I've found sewing patterns online, but it'd be my first foray into sewing... so if it's possible to find this style of shirt and use it as a base that'd be ideal!

>>10619615
It's called a Gakuran jacket (uniform jacket for middle school boys) you can get a similar looking jacket pattern by looking up chef jackets and other outerwear patterns.

>>10619628
gakuran aren't double breasted like chef's jackets are, and the one utena is wearing is closet to a traditional prussian military jacket (which the gakuran is modeled after).

Anyone ever make a custom lightsaber or something similar? I'm making the Bloodberry from No More Heroes and I'm thinking of what type of LED I'd use and how I'd power it within the hilt. I already made the hilt since custom saber sites don't really have anything like it. I used a 1.25" pipe for the hilt. Any suggestions?

>>10616290
I'd look up patterns for a hat similar to it and work from there. See if his model's been ripped and use it as references as a pattern. That or pray you find something at a thrift store

Need help with my mask and padding? Basically I commissioned someone to make my youtube avatar fox kabuki mask. It has servos and buttons activated via chin to control the eyes, and led wires around the yes for them to glow. It's badass. Best 300 dollars spent.

Only problem is I can only wear it for 30-60 mins at a time due to it eventually causing pain to my forehead or nose. I've noticed it slides down as time progresses and I don't know if it's the foams fault or the straps.

I'm leaning towards the foam as it has WAAAAAAY too much give. He said he used soundproof car foam, but I could try using that or sponges?

Idk... Again, just trying to figure out what I should use as I'm new to this whole thing, and it's the only issue I have with it. Thanks for you time.

TLDR, Don't know if mask forehead foam padding is the issue with discomfort, and if it is don't know what to replace it with.

>>10619615
Utena’s jacket is a gakuran, and a gakuran is a type of suit, and suits are one of the hardest things to sew well, especially as a newbie. You’re really better off just buying her cosplay, there are lots of them available online.

>>10620346
I think you'd have better luck in a Star Wars - dedicated facebook group or discord. I wouldn't doubt there's plenty of resources out there, but I've noticed that this board mostly has anime or video game cosplayers.

>>10620460
I’m starting to think thrift stores may be my best bet here, since anything that looks close enough online is designer shit that’s way outside my budget and I’ve never worked with sewing or clothes making in general, so making a hate probably out of the question

Does anyone know where to find male sailor uniforms? There's a seemingly infinite number of female sailor fuku on the market, but I struggle to find any male ones.

>>10568892
I have never cosplayed in my life, but it's something I'd be interested in. I'm not really interested in cosplaying as any specific character, but I like this style of uniform from Gundam. What would the process be like to create something like this? Would I be modifying similar shirts/pants to match, or would I want to make something from scratch? Again, I'm a complete beginner, so I really just have no idea what I'm talking about.

>>10621568
I don't have an answer for you, but bless Sarazanmai

>>10621553
Get it comissioned

>>10622304
>Would I be modifying similar shirts/pants to match, or would I want to make something from scratch?
That's a question you need to answer. You need to think about your skills and determine whether this is something in your wheelhouse or if you have time to learn. Modifying something existing is a good choice for a beginner because it cuts out a majority of the work you have to do on your own. Making something from scratch is a better way to ensure that it's accurate, but obviously it's a lot more work. Overall though, this is not a beginner friendly project. You're better off buying premade or getting it commissioned.

>>10620346
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TOveCgWGjfw

Okay I have a dumb question since I haven't cosplayed in years but what are good shoes to wear for a pajama cosplay (like in pic related)? Are pajama house slippers acceptable to wear at a con or should I wear something like Kigurumi slippers or maybe sandals?

>>10621568
Unironically try looking at military surplus stores. You'll have to buy the shorts from somewhere else but you can get a shirt like pic rel and then add any other parts you need to.

>>10623164
Oh huh, never thought about that, cheers anon.

>>10623166
Np! In general, any time you need anything uniform-ish in men's sizing, the surplus store is the first place you should be looking

>>10623163
sandals or shoes like slip ons are good, because you can easily kick them off for photos if you want

animal/fuzzy slippers would be good too t

>>10623175
thank you anon! the day before I plan on wearing heels for another cosplay so fuzzy slippers sound super comfortable to wear afterwards

>>10623163
They're fine, but make you get some with actual grip so you don't go sliding on the slick con floors. I'd say go for fuzzy shoes that have rubber grip soles. Regular house shoes with the tiny flecks of "grip" are not only going to wear down super quickly and look ugly by the end of the day, but also provide you with no support to the point where it would feel better to be barefoot (don't actually do that tho).

anyone know if this ulala dress is available premade anywhere?

or if somebody does vinyl(?) comms that’s cool too. sorry if this is better for the tb thread i don’t know what im doing

>>10623244
god bless you anon this is very helpful

>>10623371
Good luck anon!

>>10623251
I’ve seen a couple vinyl ones on Taobao but desu they don’t look very good. Try looking on places like RPF or in fb groups that are specifically commission focused. You’re more likely to find someone who works with vinyl or at least a referral to someone who does through those channels.

>>10611276
Not that anon, but where would I go to find something like this?
EU for the record, and yeah tightlacing.

What should I search for to find a wig for this style of hair? The closest I can find is "tight fro"-type curls... is the best bet to get one of those and just trim it? Also don't know how to find one with the widows peak, I'd probably be fine with a non-lace front in this case.

does anyone know where i can buy retro robot ears like this?

>>10624578
if nothing shows up in a google search, then your best (and most affordable) options are to either make it yourself out of EVA foam (approx $20-30) or get it commissioned

Anyone know of a decent quality len kagamine cosplay I could get somewhere? Like, a specific taobao listing or whatever

>>10624026
Unless you are bald you would need a wig that comes with a bald cap or sew one yourself to a wig.

Alyson Tabbitha has a great video on it for her Joker cosplay

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=o4J6atPmrq0

Have any of you worked with plastex sheets? It's extremely cheap, but I've never used it and I can't even find out what type of plastic it is so I don't know how easy it is to bend or paint.

Oldfag coming back to cosplay after some 12 years or so has grown spoiled.
Is there some taobao shop that sells lace front cosplay wig?

>>10573430
Are you making an actual one?
I intended to do the same, but got swamped by school and such. I would recommend using copper sheets since they're very easy to work with, like you can literally fold and cut them with stuff as simple as a clamp, a ball and peen hammer and tin snips. Make sure to sand it, though!

What's the best way of "adding things" to the front/edges of shoes in a way where the additions aren't loose/trip inducing? I'm thinking of how to go about doing a mer costume with scaled leggings and shoes modified to look like fish fins

>>10626868
Depends on what material you're attaching to what. Sewing or really strong glue like contact cement typically will hold anything.

>>10619615
I believe Maridah sells the Utena jacket pattern specifically. You can look up her shop and grab that for little to no modification needed on your end.

What are good characters for a 5'2 woman that looks like a man? My face and build are to dudeish for female and young male characters.

What are good characters for short females that look like males? I'm 5'2 but my dudish face and body aren't good for female/young male characters.

>>10627500
>>10627503
The best character to cosplay is always the ones you love the most. Trying to find the character you look the most like is a rookie mistake and it's going to lead you down a path of producing mediocre results. That being said, some cosplayers do tend to lean towards a character archetype. In your case that would be princely women.

>>10627561
this is literally the opposite of the reality of it. cosplaying something you like that looks like shit will end up being mediocre no matter how happy you are about it and how good the construction is.

>>10627565
>no matter how happy you are about it
Cosplaying should be for fun. Being happy about it is the goal. Pick something you like.

For an awakened Kira wig, I'm guessing that sewing black wefts into a white wig is the best way to go. I've never worked with wefts before - is there anything in particular I should know? Any tips to make sure the longer segments stay down?

>>10627565
I wish you understood just how much social media has poisoned your opinion of what cosplay is and its purpose.

>>10627572
Couldn't agree more.

Hey, I wanna cosplay someone with stubble and have no clue how to go about doing so, hoping for tips

>>10627561
If fun is the only thing you go for when cosplaying, go ahead and cosplay whatever you want. It's a perfectly valid way of going about this hobby.

With that said. No matter how much you love the character, if it looks nothing like you, it won't get you good results regardless of your hard work. The exception would be modifying the character to match your physique instead of the original character, but at that point are you really cosplaying that character?

If you want a good looking cosplay the only way around it is cosplaying a character that shares a couple similarities with you.

>Trying to find the character you look the most like is a rookie mistake and it's going to lead you down a path of producing mediocre results.

How can cosplaying something that looks like you harm the final outcome of your craft in any way?

>>10627572
Sometimes having something that looks very nice is what makes you happy.

>>10628069
>Sometimes having something that looks very nice is what makes you happy.
And no one said otherwise.

>>10628415
anon i...
>>10627561
>>10627599

>>10628069
Looking like a character is an added benefit, but it isn't the only determiner of whether one can cosplay a character -- especially in a hobby where using makeup and costuming tricks to transform oneself is major aspect. Even movie stars and theater actors have to use modifications to look more like the character they're trying to replicate -- that's part of the behind the scenes magic much like what happens in the production of a cosplay. We could go in circles for hours about what makes a good cosplay, but at the end of the day it's subjective. In general, I don't disagree with you or the other anon (assuming you're not the same person), but I disagree that it's the most important factor in determining a good cosplay.

And just for added clarification in case it isn't already apparent - I'm talking about having the same nose/face/body shape or height as a character, not the costume or etc. I absolutely don't support the "it doesn't matter if you're unrecognizable from the source material" trend.

>How can cosplaying something that looks like you harm the final outcome of your craft in any way?
I perhaps could've been more careful with my words. It's not that cosplaying characters you look like will inherently make you bad at it. It's moreso that new cosplayers think things like "having the canon hair color means I shouldn't wear a wig!" or they try to make costumes that look exactly like what's on the screen which is usually subject to anime clothing logic and therefore it looks like shit in real life (there was even a thread a while back sharing characters whose costumes would look like shit irl).

More to the point, this hobby requires a lot of time, effort, and money. It's ridiculous to spend that on a character you don't give a shit about or one you don't even know. Constructing a cosplay is fucking hard and that love of a character can push you through those road bumps.

>>10628431
Those replies are talking about picking characters, not about the quality of your costume.

what's this thing called? thanks

>>10627018
I was thinking maybe painted styrofoam? If I use something really frail like cloth it'll be a tripping hazard and may not even end up looking like fins, whereas something hard like ceramic will be rigid and make it hard to walk up stairs.

>>10628707
Styrofoam is a really testy material to work with. It's porous which makes the final texture rough and it melts when in contact with most glues and paints. I'd suggest EVA foam instead -- you can paint it and its more sturdy. You can even cover it with vinyl or fabric to avoid painting or for a different look.

Yeah, ceramic would break upon first contact and just be insanely heavy on your feet.

>>10628653
yoke

Any of y'all judge cosplay contests before? When someone submits a bought cosplay and lies about making it, what reaction when you catch them in their lie? I'm really curious

anyone have recent any recent experiences with cosplayfu.com ?
if so how was it?
I checked some reviews and they seem really good however all these reviews are over 6 years old.

>>10629067
I can't say for sure, but I feel like it's one of those glorified dropshipper sites where they just resell stuff from taobao at a slight markup.

New bread:
>>10629190
>>10629190
>>10629190