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what type of paint is needed to make skin look carbon black?

Sun, 04/29/2007 - 12:07 — lbinator

Putting together all the costumes/set pieces/props for the film we're shooting in June-September. One of the costumes is for a character that is a demon. His skin is jet black. I was wondering what type of body paint would be best to do this. I was thinking of using liquid latex but in all of the pictures I've seen of it used on people that stuff looks hella shiny. I don't want his skin to reflect light. Any suggestions?

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Sun, 04/29/2007 - 15:19 — directorik

Re: what type of paint is needed to make skin look carbon black?

Applying liquid latex all over the body will create quite a surprise when trying to remove it. Paint a little on your arm, let it sit and then remove it. Then imagine that all over the body. All the major manufactures of makeup have body paint - Ben Nye, Mehron and Kryolan are the standards. MagiColor is another. SES is cheaper than the others and looks it. It should take about 16 fluid ounces to cover the entire body. Add an alcohol-based sealer also available from all the major makeup companies. All body paints are going to be a little shiny because they are water based. Excellent lighting and camera placement will take care of most of that as will powder.

Sun, 04/29/2007 - 20:10 — lbinator

Re: what type of paint is needed to make skin look carbon black?

Interesting, do you know a good place to look to buy and get information on some of the products you mentioned? Thanks for your response directorik.

Mon, 04/30/2007 - 09:59 — directorik

Re: what type of paint is needed to make skin look carbon black?

All those companies have websites with links to on-line sales. Glad to help!

Mon, 04/30/2007 - 17:47 — Stephkaye

Re: what type of paint is needed to make skin look carbon black?

Is this shine, powder, lighting problem seen with all types of body paints? I will need different blue tones for some of the characters of a future feature endeavor. Right now I'm prepping and researching the material, and I have about four years until I'll be completely ready to picth and go greenlight, anyway, body paints will be needed for a lot of characters, is this problem found with all body paints? If so what type of lighting corrects it? I'm not much on cinematography at the moment....

Tue, 05/01/2007 - 08:30 — directorik

Re: what type of paint is needed to make skin look carbon black?

Yes, shine is an issue with all makeup. During the four years you are prepping your project you can speak to makeup artists about the different kinds available and even talk to DP's and gaffers - but nothing is quite as helpful as hands on experience. Buy a couple of different brands of different colors - should cost you about $50. Apply the makeup and put the person in front of your camera. Use a few different trypes of lights - a work light, a regular lamp form home, one of those scoop lights - the ones that clamp on with the silver bowl. Very often it's simply a matter of applying a little more powder or even just moving the light an inch or two. Of course in four years you just might meet up with a makeup artist and cinematographer who know this issue better than you do. But experimenting on you own if fun and helpful.

Fri, 05/04/2007 - 13:43 — Stephkaye

Re: what type of paint is needed to make skin look carbon black?

All right. Thanks a lot! I'll look into those angles, and, yes, I do hope that I meet someone better qualified than me to prepare and discuss these kinds of things.

Mon, 09/28/2009 - 04:51 — Pokie1975

Re: what type of paint is needed to make skin look carbon black?

I've always wondered how to make skin look black for use in some of my short films. I just stumbled across this page and now I know what to do for the next time I want to shoot my next film which requires this sort of effect for my demon actor.
Thanks guys (and girls)