The Beginner’s Guide to Cosplay Armor & Props


Book Description

Legendary Creations Comfortable Enough to Wear and Wield! Become the character you were destined to be! Joyce van den Goor, founder of Pretzl Cosplay, is here to guide you on your epic cosplay journey. Learn all the best tools, materials and trade techniques—such as sanding, shaping, detailing, painting and so much more—to craft standout armor and lightweight props out of EVA foam. Both cheap and easy-to-handle, this material is perfect for total newbies! With 22 different projects to test your skills, you’re sure to impress at your next comic-con, Renaissance faire or live action role-playing event. From a medieval warrior’s armor to a woodland elf’s iconic ears to an enchanting sorcerer’s handy spellbook, these pieces will serve as the perfect addition to your work-in-progress costume, or you can combine them all to create three full cosplay looks. Joyce provides traceable patterns for each project as well as detailed step-by-step images and plenty of ideas for variation. You’ll find all of the large fold-out patterns conveniently included in the back envelope, while the rest are the perfect size for printing at home. Remember: It’s dangerous to go alone! Take this comprehensive guide, and you’ll have everything you need to bring your nerdiest dreams to life.




The Beginner’s Guide to Cosplay Armor & Props


Book Description

Fantasy fanatics, get ready to bring your nerdiest obsessions to life! Joyce van den Goor, founder of Pretzl Cosplay, takes you through a deep dive into indispensable tools and materials to get you started on your epic cosplay journey as well as shares all the best trade techniques for crafting stand-out armor and lightweight props such as sanding, shaping, detailing, painting, and so much more. You’ll also be able to put your new skills to the test on 22 different projects that are sure to impress at your next Comic Con or bring forth an unforgettable D&D campaign session! From a brave warrior’s armor to a woodland elf’s defining ears to an enchanting sorcerer’s handy spell book, these pieces will serve as the perfect addition to your work-in-progress costume, or if you’re not sure who to dress up as, you can even combine them to create three full cosplay looks. Each project includes patterns, step-by-step images, and plenty of ideas for variation so you can truly make them your own. What’s more, everything can be made from EVA foam which is both cheap and easy-to-handle, making it perfect for total newbs. With this comprehensive guide at your craft table, you’ll have everything you need to get started and become whoever you were destined to be!




The Ultimate Cosplay Guide


Book Description

**The Ultimate Cosplay Guide** Unleash your inner hero and bring your favorite RPG characters to life with *The Ultimate Cosplay Guide*! This comprehensive eBook is your definitive resource for diving into the dynamic world of RPG cosplay, whether you're a beginner or a seasoned cosplayer looking to enhance your skills. **Master the Art of Character Selection** Start your cosplay journey by understanding the allure of RPG characters. Learn how to research and choose the perfect character that fits your skill level and personal style. From iconic characters to hidden gems, this guide has you covered. **Design and Planning From Dreams to Reality** Transform your ideas into reality with expert advice on costume planning and reference image analysis. Develop a meticulous project schedule to ensure you hit every deadline and detail. **Materials, Tools, and Techniques** Navigate the world of fabrics, essential tools, and specialty materials with ease. Whether sewing by hand or machine, employing advanced techniques, or simply getting started, this guide provides step-by-step instructions for every skill level. **Armor Crafting, Prop Making, Wig Styling, and More** Create show-stopping armor and props with insider techniques on material selection, painting, and weathering. Discover how to select the perfect wig, style it to perfection, and add captivating accessories. **Makeup, Prosthetics, and Photography** Achieve breathtaking transformations with tips on basic makeup, special effects, and prosthetic application. Plan your photoshoot, work seamlessly with photographers, and master photo editing to showcase your work. **Conventions, Fitness, and Troubleshooting** Prepare for conventions with confidence, navigate competitions, and connect with the cosplay community. Maintain cosplay fitness, manage stress, and troubleshoot common issues like costume malfunctions and prop breakages. **Budgeting, Time Management, and Building Your Brand** Keep your projects on track with detailed budgeting and time management strategies. Learn to craft a personal brand, expand your network, and create a captivating cosplay portfolio. **Advanced Techniques and Future Trends** Push the boundaries of your creativity with advanced techniques like LED lighting, animatronics, and 3D printing. Stay ahead of the curve by exploring emerging trends and technological advancements in the cosplay world. Immerse yourself in the ultimate guide to cosplay and unlock the potential to create, inspire, and elevate your passion to new heights. Get ready to transform your RPG cosplay dreams into a stunning reality!




The Costume Making Guide


Book Description

Bring your cosplay dreams to life with your own two hands! The Best Cosplay Tutorial Guide Ever! Get ready to impress ordinary mortals with your superhuman costume-making skills. You can do it no matter what your experience level with this, the first full step-by-step technique book on cosplay--with no sewing! Internationally known cosplayer Kamui Cosplay (a.k.a. Svetlana Quindt) shows you how to easily create elaborate costumes and successful props out of items available at your local arts and craft or hardware stores: turn foam into a realistic axe, create a breastplate from scratch and use a glue gun to modify just about anything. You will even learn the best and most accessible techniques for working with specialty cosplay materials such as Worbla! Packed with more than 30 step-by-step demonstrations that teach the skills you need to bring all your favorite characters to life no matter the genre, Kamui Cosplay deconstructs the work that goes into making a complete costume, from the first thought to the final photo. Tutorials cover design planning, fabricating body armor, 3D painting techniques and more. Best of all, you can adapt every lesson to use in all future fandom projects spanning video games, books, anime, movies and even your own original characters! Includes: • How to choose a costume and find good reference art • A short shopping list of necessary materials and tools for beginning cosplayers • Basic safety tips • A beautiful photo gallery featuring inspiring images from other cosplayers • Next steps--how to grow your workshop, take professional photos, participate in contests and join the cosplay community




The Modern Nerd's Guide to Cosplay


Book Description

"The detailed craft of creating a unique costume, props, and makeup to bring both beloved and reviled characters to life has become a serious art form in the past decade. Today, cosplay is one of the hottest hobbies around, with huge international conventions and competitions making headlines around the world. In this volume, filled with insider info, helpful tips, spectacular color photographs, and dynamic graphics, readers learn not only how to enter the world of cosplay, but how to conquer it."




Yaya Han's World of Cosplay


Book Description

The authoritative guide to cosplay written by a legend in the community, and packed with step-by-step advice and fascinating investigations into every aspect of the art. Cosplay—a portmanteau combining "costume" and "play"—has become one of the hottest trends in fandom . . . and Yaya Han is its shining superstar. In this guide to cosplaying, Han narrates her 20-year journey from newbie fan to entrepreneur with a household name in geekdom, revealing her self-taught methods for embodying a character and her experiences in the community. Each chapter is information-packed as she covers everything from the history of cosplay, to using nontraditional materials for costumes, to transforming your hobby into a career—all enhanced with expert advice. Illustrated throughout and easy to use, this practical manual also delights with fascinating stories from the past decades' global cosplay boom. It's the perfect gift for anyone interested in learning (or improving their skills in) the art of cosplay.




Make: Props and Costume Armor


Book Description

Have you been trying to think of a way to conquer your local comic convention through cosplay? Do you gaze with envious eyes upon the fan-made suits of armored awesomeness strolling around every year on Halloween? Do you have a spot on your wall, bookshelf, or desk that desperately needs to be filled with a screen-accurate replica of your favorite science-fiction or fantasy weapon? If so, look no further. We've got just the book for you! In this book, master prop maker Shawn Thorsson uses his unique blend of humor and insight to turn years of painful experience into detailed explanations. He'll show you many of the tools, methods, and processes that you can use to create professional-looking science fiction and fantasy props and armor. The ultimate collision of creative imagination and practical maker skills, making props and costume armor involves sculpting, molding, casting, 3D printing, CNC fabrication, painting, and countless other techniques and technologies. In this book, you'll learn: Basic fabrication methods using inexpensive, commonly-available tools and materials Simple, low-cost methods to make foam armor out of easy-to-find foam mats How to use the popular Pepakura software to build 3D models with paper Multiple molding and casting techniques How to build a "vacuforming" machine to make armor from plastic sheet stock Painting and weathering techniques that will bring your props to life Just enough safety advice to keep you from losing body parts along the way Whether you're just a beginner or a seasoned builder with countless projects behind you, this book is sure to be an invaluable addition to your workshop library.




Cosplay: A History


Book Description

This look at the colorful and complex history of cosplay and fandom fashion examines the relationship between franchises and the cosplayers they inspire and the technology that helps bring the details of costumes to life.




Cosplayer's Ultimate Guide to EVA Foam


Book Description

Unlock the unlimited possibilities of EVA foam! Turn your wildest costume dreams into reality! Whether you are a master-level cosplayer or brand-new to making costumes and props, this is the ultimate reference guide to using different kinds of EVA foam and other up-to-date materials and to make epic costumes, props, accessories, and other projects out of this world! If you want to create your own high quality props, EVA foam is the way to go — it is a rubber-like thermoplastic that is both easy to work with, durable, and lightweight. You can build an entire costume with EVA foam — shields, armor, helmet, weapons — without getting weighed down. Knowledge at your fingertips! This comprehensive guidebook - take it with you to shop for materials, write notes and bookmark your favorite chapters, and use it right at your workstation Expand your cosplay skills with the latest industry techniques and materials, step-by-step tutorials, and 4 projects to get you started Create patterns for perfectly fitting costumes and accessories every time and use the patterns included to guide the way




The Magic Garment


Book Description

Successful costume design requires a solid foundation in general artistic principles and specific knowledge of how to apply those principles. Cunningham presents readers with just such a foundation and develops it to expose beginning costume designers to the myriad skills they need to develop in order to costume successful stage productions. She begins at the most basic conceptual level—reading plays from a costume designer's perspective. She then follows through with the practical considerations that must be considered at every stage of the costuming process—research, development, sketching, and costume construction. Cunningham has built on the long-standing success of the outstanding first edition with new figures and updates throughout the text, including 24 pages in full color. Examples have been selected from a wide range of stage productions representing a variety of designers, styles, and approaches. Interviews with award-winning designers from stage, film, and other media show the practical importance of the book's concepts. Every chapter incorporates material reflecting the ever-increasing impact of technology, especially computers, on costuming. New to this edition is an ancillary download package (available here), giving students a selection of basic figure drawings to serve as the base layer for digital renderings, ready-made forms and checklists for assembling and organizing costumes for shows, and a list of research and reference websites with easily clickable links.