Recipe 7 : Latex Prosthetic for Beginners - Designing
- Koji Ohmura
- Oct 7
- 4 min read
Updated: Oct 14
Making prosthetics seems fun, but you do not know where to start? Then, you are in the right place! I will explain how to make prosthetics with liquid latex with a low cost.
This is a step-by-step guide on how to create fake injury prosthetics. It will be a 4-part blog series this time. Part 1 is about designing latex prosthetics. We use oil clay sculpting for designing. Part 2 is Molding, Part 3 is Casting in Latex, and Part 4 will be applying the prosthetics (and removal). Maybe you can make zombie makeup or Chucky makeup for Halloween? Or you can even make Harry Potter's scar on his forehead!
Sculpting Session
Materials you need...
Chavant NSP Medium - Brown (or any Oil Clay)
Project Board
Sculpting Tools
Reference Book or Pictures
3M Drywall Sanding Screen
Chip Brush
99% Alcohol
Cat Brush (or Plastic Wrap & Dull Pencil)
Baby Powder
Material links are here.
Lesson Video
Preparing Clay
For prosthetic sculpting, you will need oil clay. My favorite clay is Chavant NSP Medium Brown. It also comes in different softness levels and colors. You can try others and choose your favorite one. If you cannot find it, you can buy any oil clay from a local art store.
This is optional; however, I recommend having an oven for softening NSP clay. Place foil on a rack, and put small slices of Chavant NSP clay on it. Set the oven to 150 degrees Fahrenheit. You can also use a spotlight on a foil-covered cup instead. Make sure not to burn the clay.
Place foil to protect the oven.
Sculpting - Blocking
Now you have soft clay slices. It might be hot, so be careful not to burn your fingers. If you do not use an oven, squeeze a small amount of clay for a while. It will soften with your body temperature.
You will not need sculpting tools at this moment. You will just need small balls of clay. Put these balls on a whiteboard. Think of the prosthetic you want. You can search for pictures on the internet or in any reference books. Make sure those pictures are real ones.
Good reference book with real wound pictures. Available at https://go.shopmy.us/p-13635149 Keep adding balls and try creating a brief shape. Keep in mind that you need to create a mountain with a nice slope blending into the board. The center thickness is the highest. In the picture, the center thickness is 1/4 inch high.
Do not sculpt too thin!
Blending and Smoothing
Once you get a rough shape of clay, smooth it with a finger or wooden sculpting tools.
Try blending these balls and filling gaps. Also, blend the edges of the clay to the board.
Next, use metal rake tools. It does not get smooth like paper yet. It will still have rake tool scratching lines. Think of removing uneven bumps.
Removing uneven bumps. The next step is a sanding screen. I use 3M's drywall sanding screen, 120 grit. This will remove rake tool lines. You can use this to blend the edges as well.
Spray 99% alcohol and go over with the sanding screen. The clay will melt a little bit and get smoother. Also, use your finger & paper towel to make it perfectly smooth without any textures.
Alcohol makes it easier to take off roughness. Close your eyes and stroke the clay gently. If you feel the edge, it means it is not smooth enough.
Smooth edge is very important!
Adding Shape (Cut) & Textures
Now you have smooth skin. You can add a cut or scar. You can even add stiches.
In this recipe, I am adding a cut/slice. Use a pointy rake tool and create a line. You can use a knife as well. Check reference pictures and imitate the look.
Creating a razer cut look Spray 99% alcohol and soften with a chip brush. I cut a tip on the chip brush at an angle and brush over the cut. Try to make it organic.
Texturing time! A lot of people forget textures. If the prosthetic is too smooth, people can tell where the edge is. An important part of special effects is making the makeup believable. So if you can see the edge, it is unrealistic. You will need to match a skin texture.
Take a look at your skin. I use a metal cat brush for my texture. Brush it over the entire sculpture with a crisscross motion. You can also use plastic wrap and dull pencil over the wrap to create textures.
Cut a cast brush in a small shape. Once you finish the texture everywhere, use the chip brush from above. Then, brush with baby powder.
The sculpting part is done! Now, the next step is molding this sculpture.
Latex prosthetic is one of the cheapest appliances. If you are not allergic to latex, I really recommend you. Make multiple of these and create zombie makeup, or a stitched-up face and body to make Frankenstein! In Part 2, I will explain how to mold this sculpture!
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