Brilliant Brilliant Brilliant thanks for the post i run a multi media charity that teaches young people animation. Would love to have the confidence to start developing better models and would to take a course. do you have a website? please forgive me if you have it listed in your info and i havent seen it once again thanks for the post...
have you ever used, SMOOTH-ON dragon skin fx, man love it, i am wanting to get into making stop motion puppets, this is a awesome idea, debating how to do my first one, thanks for the post,
I have used Ecoflex 00-30 from Smooth-on, which is a bit softer. Dragonskin is very similar to the Platsil Gel-10 I use here, and the technique would be the same.
Love your videos. You are a real inspiration to me. I tried as you showed but had a problem with the sponge skin on the jaw becoming stiff after a few coats of latex. I have the only latex my local craft shop has in stock, ( latex liquid rubber for mould making). Do you use a different kind of latex or is there a way of keeping the latex sofer and more pliable? Any help you have would be appreciated.
The latex for mould making may have some filler in it - makes it a but firmer and better able to hold it's shape, but less stretchy. But I had trouble with the first head too, the jaw wouldn't stretch open far enough. Look for spraying latex from online suppliers. Only solution is to make it with mouth more open, then when it closes the skin will fold out a bit. Otherwise sculpt in clay, make mould, and cast in foam latex which stretches far more, or in soft silicone rubber.
Was the skull head ( at 0:20 ) made with only epoxi putti? because I want to do a skeleton -doll, and it would be so cool if you could help me :) Love your tutorials Nick, thanks for sharing these videos! : D
The skull head has some quick setting epoxy putty on the wire first, then Super Sculpey for the detailing over that. The Sculpey has to be baked. A slower setting epoxy putty like Aves Apoxie Sculpt is also good for finishing the skull. Green Stuff works too, except it's green. There are some stills of the skeleton under construction in the Puppet Making album at my Picturetrail site - dubya dubya dubya dott picturetrail dott comm slash hilligossnic.
love your tutorials Nick. Question - do you by chance have a drawing, or a clearer way, that describes how best to fold the wire for the wire head and jaw, as seen at 1:10? That's my approach I'm using (I don't have drill or saw) and for the life of me I can't determine how you folded the wire to form the head of the epoxy putty/sculpey head. I've watched and paused your video so many times.
Yes you can animate with plasticine - it can be changed, and will hold the shape, instead of springing back like latex, so you don't need wire in the jaws. But you have to keep repairing and re-sculpting it as you animate. It's not my approach but plenty of others do it. Look for Clay Animation or Claymation sites, like Mark Spess' AnimateClay dott comm, for more info.
I had a quick go today but I've found with this and other projects I've done using liquid latex that acrylic paint doesn't really stick to the latex, is there something I am missing? Please could you give some more details about painting :)
The normal trick is to mix the acrylic paint with prosthetic adhesive (Pros-Aide or similar) which gives it more grip and stretch. Look for Burman or Monster Makers sites, or the stopmotionanimation message board.
@StopmoNick Cool, thanks very much. Your techniques amazed me and were too good not to try. I'll never reach your standard but I managed a moving jaw last week and it felt like a real step forward in puppet building. Thanks for your reply
@StopmoNick How would I make a more delicate feminine face? The jawline is very masculine and the prominent eyebrows are not very lady-like, how do I get the look I want but still be able to animate the face?
I capture the frames with Stop Motion Pro HD on my PC. I have also used Dragon on a Mac - both are excellent. They save the images to a file in the computer. Then I import them into TV Paint for cropping, re-sizing, wire removal, adding text or whatever, and save the modified version as an uncompressed QT mov file. I import the QT movies of all the shots into Final Cut Pro 6 for final editing and adding sound.
The eyes are white beads, bought second hand from a trash 'n treasure market. I countersink around the hole with a larger drill bit to make the iris area, paint it, then put on a drop of epoxy glue to form the cornea. I have posted photos of this at stopmotionanimation dott comm.
hey by any chance do u know what materials are used to make the nightmare before christmas dolls??? were its rubbery n able to move for stop motion???? could u get back to me?
Jaw movement is pretty simple in my puppets - a wire loop you can bend to move the jaw. I can't think of anything that isn't already shown in the tut.
Your videos made me start playing around with latex! Thank you for your incredibly informative content. I have a problem with my latex however....it is getting darker and darker. Is there a way to stop the change of colour? Thank you again and in advance!
Always making it look easy. Hey, are you just using some simple plastic beads for the eyes? I've been trying to figure out how to paint them seeing as they are non-pourous.
Yes, plastic beads bought second hand at Sunday morning trash 'n treasure market. I countersink them, paint with acrylic, then fill the hollow with a drop of clear epoxy adhesive to make the cornea.
@StopmoNick Funny thing is I did all that except filling it with the epoxy. Did you prick a hole in the epoxy so you could rotate it, or is there another way you do it?
Maybe need to sculpt the head in polymer clay, to get the more precise shapes and smooth finish. Then bake it if it can stay rigid, or make a mould and cast in silicone if it needs to flex.
@StopmoNick Thanks. I'll be the first to make a stop motion puppet of an anime style i think. And when doing bodies, how do i get the bandage underwrap to look smooth and not have it look like layers stacked on top of eachother?
Really great work! Thank you for the video. I found the speed a bit fast...ended up having to pause all the time. Other than that it was excellent. Thanks again,
Nick. This is hands down the best stop motion tutorial I've ever seen. So much information/education, in such an engaging entertaining form. Why, oh why, can't you teach all of us everything this way. You know, like economics!
@NobleDesignMedia Well, first I would have to KNOW everything... and even in the tiny field of stop motion puppetmaking you could fill a pretty decent book with what I DON'T know. As for economics - lol!
It is usually one of my metal sculpting tools, made from a broken hacksaw blade. I round the end off on the grinder, and taper the edges on one side. I also have a tool made from a couple of nails, one on each end of a bit of wood. One end is a point, the other is like a small spoon shape. Copied from a dental tool I saw.
Once again Nick, you've turned a hugely entertaining and useful tutorial! Sometimes I watch it for the tips while other times I watch it just for the enjoyment. Well done, I look forward to part 2!
Ok, that was the coolest thing I have seen! A very enjoyable way of learning how to create stop motion puppet heads! Thank you so much for taking the time to create and post.
Ok, that was the coolest thing I have seen! A very enjoyable way of learning how to create stop motion puppet heads! Thank you so much for taking the time to create and post.
hola oyes una pregunta que material es un rollito que sale ahi que parece cinta se la pones en el rostro tambien en tu video donde haces el cuerpo del musulman se la pones despues de la esponja espero me puedas decir gracias saludos
gracias es el mejor regalo q me dieron en mi cumpleaños jajaja es que hoy es mi cumpleaños muchisimas gracias e estado esperando este video hace mucho espero pedas hacer la segunda parte pronto gracias enserio muchas gracias!!
Brilliant Brilliant Brilliant thanks for the post i run a multi media charity that teaches young people animation. Would love to have the confidence to start developing better models and would to take a course. do you have a website? please forgive me if you have it listed in your info and i havent seen it once again thanks for the post...
twinvisionphoto 2 days ago
have you ever used, SMOOTH-ON dragon skin fx, man love it, i am wanting to get into making stop motion puppets, this is a awesome idea, debating how to do my first one, thanks for the post,
MOVIMKR7 3 days ago
@MOVIMKR7
I have used Ecoflex 00-30 from Smooth-on, which is a bit softer. Dragonskin is very similar to the Platsil Gel-10 I use here, and the technique would be the same.
StopmoNick 2 days ago
thank you very much.very informative and hope to see more of this videos. and quite entertaining to watch.
kenzotenma12 4 days ago
Love your videos. You are a real inspiration to me. I tried as you showed but had a problem with the sponge skin on the jaw becoming stiff after a few coats of latex. I have the only latex my local craft shop has in stock, ( latex liquid rubber for mould making). Do you use a different kind of latex or is there a way of keeping the latex sofer and more pliable? Any help you have would be appreciated.
Thanks..
lepter1 1 week ago
@lepter1
The latex for mould making may have some filler in it - makes it a but firmer and better able to hold it's shape, but less stretchy. But I had trouble with the first head too, the jaw wouldn't stretch open far enough. Look for spraying latex from online suppliers. Only solution is to make it with mouth more open, then when it closes the skin will fold out a bit. Otherwise sculpt in clay, make mould, and cast in foam latex which stretches far more, or in soft silicone rubber.
StopmoNick 2 days ago
This is the most helpful video I have seen, I love it. How long should the liquid latex dry for before adding more?
vonflugel 2 weeks ago
nice!
y0utuve 3 weeks ago
Was the skull head ( at 0:20 ) made with only epoxi putti? because I want to do a skeleton -doll, and it would be so cool if you could help me :) Love your tutorials Nick, thanks for sharing these videos! : D
Loveparonramen 1 month ago in playlist Uploaded videos
@Loveparonramen
The skull head has some quick setting epoxy putty on the wire first, then Super Sculpey for the detailing over that. The Sculpey has to be baked. A slower setting epoxy putty like Aves Apoxie Sculpt is also good for finishing the skull. Green Stuff works too, except it's green. There are some stills of the skeleton under construction in the Puppet Making album at my Picturetrail site - dubya dubya dubya dott picturetrail dott comm slash hilligossnic.
StopmoNick 4 weeks ago
Comment removed
Loveparonramen 3 weeks ago
@StopmoNick Thank you so much for the advice!! I looked at your making-puppet-album, and it is so awesome it's gonna help me alot! thanks! : )
Loveparonramen 2 weeks ago
love your tutorials Nick. Question - do you by chance have a drawing, or a clearer way, that describes how best to fold the wire for the wire head and jaw, as seen at 1:10? That's my approach I'm using (I don't have drill or saw) and for the life of me I can't determine how you folded the wire to form the head of the epoxy putty/sculpey head. I've watched and paused your video so many times.
Any advice is appreciated.
ThumbinSleazoid 1 month ago
to make the body for the latex head we will use the molding method with clay and after with latex?
ladokolla1 1 month ago
Could you use plasticine instead of latex?
DeepSnowBand 1 month ago
@DeepSnowBand
Yes you can animate with plasticine - it can be changed, and will hold the shape, instead of springing back like latex, so you don't need wire in the jaws. But you have to keep repairing and re-sculpting it as you animate. It's not my approach but plenty of others do it. Look for Clay Animation or Claymation sites, like Mark Spess' AnimateClay dott comm, for more info.
StopmoNick 1 month ago
I had a quick go today but I've found with this and other projects I've done using liquid latex that acrylic paint doesn't really stick to the latex, is there something I am missing? Please could you give some more details about painting :)
timmogriffo 1 month ago
@timmogriffo
The normal trick is to mix the acrylic paint with prosthetic adhesive (Pros-Aide or similar) which gives it more grip and stretch. Look for Burman or Monster Makers sites, or the stopmotionanimation message board.
StopmoNick 1 month ago
@StopmoNick Cool, thanks very much. Your techniques amazed me and were too good not to try. I'll never reach your standard but I managed a moving jaw last week and it felt like a real step forward in puppet building. Thanks for your reply
timmogriffo 1 month ago
Your skills are incredible! I have really enjoyed watching your work and learning from you. Thanks
timmogriffo 1 month ago
@StopmoNick How would I make a more delicate feminine face? The jawline is very masculine and the prominent eyebrows are not very lady-like, how do I get the look I want but still be able to animate the face?
TheVivaciousNerd 1 month ago
Where do you get that thin foam from i cant find it anywhere?
drummerwhite 2 months ago
Comment removed
Puelof 3 months ago
No tan realista
TulioelmejorSito 3 months ago
a question: what program do you use for combine the animation frames??
ps: this video is amagazine
Mattall98 3 months ago
@Mattall98
I capture the frames with Stop Motion Pro HD on my PC. I have also used Dragon on a Mac - both are excellent. They save the images to a file in the computer. Then I import them into TV Paint for cropping, re-sizing, wire removal, adding text or whatever, and save the modified version as an uncompressed QT mov file. I import the QT movies of all the shots into Final Cut Pro 6 for final editing and adding sound.
StopmoNick 3 months ago
How do you make the eyes move?
MrOhWowDude 3 months ago
@MrOhWowDude
The eyes are white beads, bought second hand from a trash 'n treasure market. I countersink around the hole with a larger drill bit to make the iris area, paint it, then put on a drop of epoxy glue to form the cornea. I have posted photos of this at stopmotionanimation dott comm.
StopmoNick 3 months ago
@StopmoNick Thx I am makin a puppet of course so thats exactly the information I need oh and u make the best stop motions ever!!!!!!:D
MrOhWowDude 3 months ago
How do you make the eyes?
MrOhWowDude 3 months ago
Do you use clay that dries to make this?
MrOhWowDude 3 months ago
@MrOhWowDude
I use epoxy putty - 2 parts that you mix, and they harden - for hard parts like bones. It doesn't dry, it chemically hardens.
StopmoNick 3 months ago
can I paint on silicone rubber?
Doshika 3 months ago
@Doshika
You can only paint on silicone with more silicone - mixed with pigment and sometimes a little thinner. See my silicone head video.
StopmoNick 3 months ago
where did you get your bead eyes?
blueeyeskir3 4 months ago
hey by any chance do u know what materials are used to make the nightmare before christmas dolls??? were its rubbery n able to move for stop motion???? could u get back to me?
vargxin 4 months ago
@vargxin
Some NMBC puppets,, like Jack, had hard resin heads, with lots of replacement faces for different expressions. Others, like sally, were foam latex.
StopmoNick 4 months ago
Any chance of a video being posted on jaw movement?
jasongellis 4 months ago
@jasongellis
Jaw movement is pretty simple in my puppets - a wire loop you can bend to move the jaw. I can't think of anything that isn't already shown in the tut.
StopmoNick 4 months ago
looking at the barnes website, whats the difference between brush latex and spray latex, your using spray latex i see
matt9736 4 months ago
@matt9736
Brush latex is a bit thicker.
StopmoNick 4 months ago
How do you get those foam strips you use @1:49?
TheArtisanAlchemist 5 months ago
Your videos made me start playing around with latex! Thank you for your incredibly informative content. I have a problem with my latex however....it is getting darker and darker. Is there a way to stop the change of colour? Thank you again and in advance!
Marc
TimeMonstersDotCom 5 months ago
@TimeMonstersDotCom
Sounds like the latex is aging - keep it away from sunlight to make it last longer, UV affects it.
StopmoNick 4 months ago
Might you be doing one soon about casting heads in various material?
haddeox2347 5 months ago
@haddeox2347
I have now posted a video to show casting a puppet head in silicone. The sculpting and mouldmaking is the same for foam latex or urethane rubber.
StopmoNick 5 months ago
Always making it look easy. Hey, are you just using some simple plastic beads for the eyes? I've been trying to figure out how to paint them seeing as they are non-pourous.
sgtjlopez 5 months ago
@sgtjlopez
Yes, plastic beads bought second hand at Sunday morning trash 'n treasure market. I countersink them, paint with acrylic, then fill the hollow with a drop of clear epoxy adhesive to make the cornea.
StopmoNick 5 months ago
@StopmoNick Funny thing is I did all that except filling it with the epoxy. Did you prick a hole in the epoxy so you could rotate it, or is there another way you do it?
sgtjlopez 5 months ago
Please make more back round sets, the cave was very, very, impressive.
Ps. Yr a genius, and an inspiration, to young stop motion animators.
Horis573 5 months ago
man,u r brilliant!!! hands down best latex heads ever!!! KEEP IT UP!!!
BornArtist2000 6 months ago
Brilliant work. Not ony the puppets and the animation, but also the tutorial is just brilliant. Thank you!
erikvanschaaik 6 months ago
thank you thank you thank you for putting this up
MyMatt112 7 months ago
i like the edgar allan poe one at 0:43
Darkdreamfilms 7 months ago
Hi
very impressive. how would one go about it making a head that's more in manga/ anime sort of style?
VCubestudios 7 months ago
@VCubestudios
Maybe need to sculpt the head in polymer clay, to get the more precise shapes and smooth finish. Then bake it if it can stay rigid, or make a mould and cast in silicone if it needs to flex.
StopmoNick 7 months ago
@StopmoNick Thanks. I'll be the first to make a stop motion puppet of an anime style i think. And when doing bodies, how do i get the bandage underwrap to look smooth and not have it look like layers stacked on top of eachother?
VCubestudios 7 months ago
Really great work! Thank you for the video. I found the speed a bit fast...ended up having to pause all the time. Other than that it was excellent. Thanks again,
Marc
TimeMonstersDotCom 7 months ago
You are the next harryhousen! :) I am a big fan of yours!
charliewentnuts 7 months ago
Fantastic!
GrisDismation 8 months ago
Nick. This is hands down the best stop motion tutorial I've ever seen. So much information/education, in such an engaging entertaining form. Why, oh why, can't you teach all of us everything this way. You know, like economics!
NobleDesignMedia 8 months ago
@NobleDesignMedia Well, first I would have to KNOW everything... and even in the tiny field of stop motion puppetmaking you could fill a pretty decent book with what I DON'T know. As for economics - lol!
StopmoNick 8 months ago
Stupidly amazing tutorial Nick! Once again you provide the community with another valuable lesson!
stopmotionben 9 months ago
@prammaven
Hi Pram,
It is usually one of my metal sculpting tools, made from a broken hacksaw blade. I round the end off on the grinder, and taper the edges on one side. I also have a tool made from a couple of nails, one on each end of a bit of wood. One end is a point, the other is like a small spoon shape. Copied from a dental tool I saw.
StopmoNick 9 months ago
Once again Nick, you've turned a hugely entertaining and useful tutorial! Sometimes I watch it for the tips while other times I watch it just for the enjoyment. Well done, I look forward to part 2!
LensFlairSMA 9 months ago
This has been flagged as spam show
Ok, that was the coolest thing I have seen! A very enjoyable way of learning how to create stop motion puppet heads! Thank you so much for taking the time to create and post.
lorod 9 months ago
Ok, that was the coolest thing I have seen! A very enjoyable way of learning how to create stop motion puppet heads! Thank you so much for taking the time to create and post.
lorod 9 months ago
no dislikes ftw... FTW
reubyjay25 9 months ago
This is great Nick! Great tutorial, thanks for sharing your vast knowledge.
cjandbuster 9 months ago
Another great tutorial Nick - with lessons both in model making and filmcraft - one of your best movies. Polished and entertaining cinema.
johndods 9 months ago
thank you nick !!
stopmogozalbo 9 months ago
awwwessome
1claymation 9 months ago
another incredible tutorial Nick, thank you very much
castlegardener 9 months ago
hola oyes una pregunta que material es un rollito que sale ahi que parece cinta se la pones en el rostro tambien en tu video donde haces el cuerpo del musulman se la pones despues de la esponja espero me puedas decir gracias saludos
MrPurkisss 9 months ago
Awesome!!! You make it look easy.
Jeff
LaffertySketchCards 9 months ago
Frikking excellent!!
stopmojim 9 months ago
Awesome, maybe we can talk about this on the live show tonight?
animateclay 9 months ago
Love it
MyFlipNWorld 9 months ago
amazing video, so impressed it's not even true!
Aartwood 9 months ago
Thank you! Your tutorials are always very helpful!
I'm really looking forward to the next one!
MilesRoseClaymation 9 months ago
gracias es el mejor regalo q me dieron en mi cumpleaños jajaja es que hoy es mi cumpleaños muchisimas gracias e estado esperando este video hace mucho espero pedas hacer la segunda parte pronto gracias enserio muchas gracias!!
ra1d3n1 9 months ago
This is great! Please, please don't take too long to show us part 2, I'm really looking forward into it.
Thanks for sharing all this knowledge with us ;-)
lmsalgado 9 months ago
Absolutely brilliant!
Vortex42 9 months ago
i'm sure people ask this all the time, but may I ask what camera you use?
300warrior300 9 months ago
@300warrior300
I shot this with a Canon EOS 40d and Nikon 55mm lens. The animation samples at the end were shot with the Canon, or with a Nikon D70.
StopmoNick 9 months ago
@StopmoNick thanks, awesome to know your not using hugely expensive kit. amazing stuff.
300warrior300 9 months ago
Awesome as usual! Thanks for sharing!
locostbamboo 9 months ago
Thanks for making this Nick!
alexsnowskate 9 months ago
Looks very Gud it's temped me to try and do 1. Going to gave a look for some materials thanks for great video.
garycrosskey 9 months ago
Another great tutorial Nick!!
walterhemming 9 months ago
Ah, that's how you make them. So will we be seeing these heads in a new animation?
FandSproduction 9 months ago
Great! Thanks for uploading this!!!!
Werina07 9 months ago
Been waiting for this one. Amazing!
VitriolMotion 9 months ago