Foam latex is used for a variety of purposes. It is commonly used to create face masks. It is also used to make prosthetics. A skilled creator can make authentic looking masks and prosthetics with latex foam.
Convincing facial prosthetics allow someone to dramatically change their appearance. Because of the foam rubber's ability to create realistic changes in someone’s appearance, it is widely used in the movie and music video industry. Although it takes a skilled craftsman to create realistic looking changes to someone’s appearance, foam latex is remarkably easy to work with and makes the job much easier.
Latex foam is not only used on humans. Some types of animation use the material to create the characters in their shows. In productions that use what look like clay for animations, latex foam is often the material of choice. It is easier to work with and weighs less than clay. Once construction of the puppets is complete, they can be painted to look like clay.
Puppets constructed from foam latex go through a multiple step process. First, a skeleton of the puppet is constructed, using wire. This wire is then covered with the latex foam, creating the body of the puppet. Once the puppet is completed, a detailed painting job creates a finished look.
The process of building facial prosthetics with latex foam has multiple steps. There are foam latex kits available that you can use while learning the technique. Hot foam latex is placed into a mixer where it is whipped into lightweight foam. Once the prosthetics are shaped, they are baked. This is why this type of latex is often referred to as hot foam latex.
Once the foam rubber is shaped and baked, it forms a lightweight material for the actor to wear. It is also flexible, which means that the actor can move freely while wearing the prosthetic. While anyone seeing the prosthetics in person would not be fooled into believing that they are real, onscreen they look very believable.
You have probably seen foam latex in a variety of places without realizing it. It has been used in movies such as Mrs. Doubtfire and The Grinch. Movies that use foam latex often take a great deal of time to shoot. While the foam latex is easy for an experienced makeup artist to use, once they are removed, they cannot be reused. Each day, the prosthetics must be rebuilt.
