EVA and Craft Foam |
Here is part two of my EVA and Craft Foam tutorial - FOR BEGINNERS! I'm a beginner myself - I've only been cosplaying for a year and I've only been using EVA foam for approximately 10 months so I am by no means an expert, but these are my tips and tricks on how to craft armor using foam. Again, I’ve color-coded the tools for each step. Each color is associated with the store that I bought the item from. If it does not have a color, then it was an item I had around the house (and something you can probably get anywhere): Red is Harbor Freight Blue is Walmart Green is Joann Fabrics Orange is Michaels There are seven parts to crafting with foam: patterning cutting forming detailing priming painting attaching Priming Tools: plastidip (spray or paint-on), paintbrush (optional - only w/ paint-on) I always recommend heat-sealing your foam before you prime it. All heat-sealing is.. is taking your heat gun and blasting hot air across the surface of your foam. You want to be careful, though, that you don't keep the hot air on your foam for too long or it will either burn the foam or un-form. The heat-sealing does just that: it seals the surface of the foam and makes for a nicer finish on the primer and paint. Once you have heat-sealed your foam, it's time to prime it! I swear by plastidip - which is a spray- or paint-on rubberized primer. It allows the armor to move without cracking, and if it gets wrinkled, you can hit it with the heat gun and iron it out. I've used both the spray-on and the paint-on plastidip. I prefer the spray-on BLACK plastidip because it leaves a super smooth finish. I don't know what it is, but the white NEVER works for me. Like, ever - it sputters and bubbles. The grey is alright, but I definitely prefer the black over any other color. The paint-on is thicker than the spray-on and, when I started making armor, only used the paint-on. I like it, as well, but it's more laborious than the spray and leaves streaks/paint marks if you are not careful. I recommend doing at least two coats (I usually do three-to-four depending on the job), allowing the plastidip to dry in-between. If you are not patient (like me), you can speed up the process with your heat gun - JUST BE CAREFUL! Painting Tools: paint (spray paint or acrylic paint - whatever is appropriate for your costume), paintbrushes (small and large), paint sealant (Pledge Floor Finish), foam brush, water, black acrylic paint, small cup Once your primer is all dried up, you're ready to paint! Now.. depending on your project, your paint needs may change, so this section will be short and sweet. I usually use some sort of spray paint, though I do have an airbrush (that I need to learn to use). I use acrylics, too. With acrylic paints, you have to be careful because they may crack if the armor piece moves unnaturally. I've found that spray paint may do this, as well. There's not a brand of acrylic paint that I swear by. I usually use Krylon spray paint, mostly because it comes in a lot of colors and it's affordable. I recommend doing two-to-three coats of paint, allowing it to dry completely in between. Using black acrylic mixed with water, you will want to weather your armor. That just means doing a wash of watered-down black paint over your armor to give it a worn and, well, weathered look. It adds life and dimension to your armor. You will want to make the edges a bit darker to really make it pop and look three-dimensional. After you have finished painting and let it dry, you want to seal your paint. I know that there are spray-paint-type versions of paint sealer and different types of sealants, but I just use Pledge Floor Finish to seal my armor. Attaching Tools: velcro, elastic, hot glue gun, hot glue sticks, snaps/fasteners/eyelets When attaching your armor, you will need to do your research (Google search and YouTube) to figure out how you want to attach your pieces and what resources you will need. Below is generically how I attach and have attached armor pieces. Just like painting, attaching depends on the type of armor you are making. I generally use elastic and velcro to attach my armor. When you are gluing your elastic to your armor, make sure to SAND the area of your foam that you are gluing. EVA foam has a coating on the inside that makes it hard for glue to stick for long periods of time. Start by covering the area with hot glue and press the elastic upon the glue, then you want to edge the elastic with the glue and bring a line or two of hot glue across the elastic closest to the edge. This will stop the elastic from pulling and loosening. Again, please check Youtube tutorials for this, because it really depends on your needs! | Please make sure when you are working with any sort of tools that you exercise caution and wear any and all protective gear! I always wear latex gloves, a mask, and goggles. PHOTOS IN PROGRESS & WILL BE ADDED SOON |
0 Comments
We're CRUNCHING hard over here. I got all of the lacing put into my pieces - and ripped out an eyelet in the process SO now the lacing for the shin guards are decorative and I've added in three pieces of elastic to keep them on.
Rolling with the punches, baby.
I think I'll get this stuff done on time. I'm leaving Wednesday night to travel to my parents' house before departing Thursday morning from there to head up to Sandusky (because it's like eight hours from my house and four hours from my parents'). So.. I have today (from like 2pm on) and tomorrow (until 6-7pm) to do the rest of this stuff.
The scythe is what I need to work on ASAP.
Rolling with the punches, baby.
I think I'll get this stuff done on time. I'm leaving Wednesday night to travel to my parents' house before departing Thursday morning from there to head up to Sandusky (because it's like eight hours from my house and four hours from my parents'). So.. I have today (from like 2pm on) and tomorrow (until 6-7pm) to do the rest of this stuff.
The scythe is what I need to work on ASAP.
Still on my TO DO list:
add velcro to the hip plates
add loops to belt for hip plates
may need to cut off one of the talons on each shin guard as they may impede me... walking
fix the clasp on the necklace
attach loincloth to belt w/ velcro
woodglue/water wash the scythe
sand the scythe
plastidip the scythe
paint the scythe
shape and paint nails (brown)
add velcro to the hip plates
add loops to belt for hip plates
may need to cut off one of the talons on each shin guard as they may impede me... walking
fix the clasp on the necklace
attach loincloth to belt w/ velcro
woodglue/water wash the scythe
sand the scythe
plastidip the scythe
paint the scythe
shape and paint nails (brown)
SO! With one week left until Colossalcon, I've finally decided to start finishing up and assembling my Kabutops armor. I made gloves (for the first time EVER) and added elastic to the hand pieces. I also added the lacing to the two bracers and the two upper-arm pieces. I attached the headband to the headpiece, as well, but that isn't pictured.
Still on my TO DO list:
add lacing and velcro to the hip plates
add lacing and elastic to the shin guards
may need to cut off one of the talons on each shin guard as they may impede me... walking
add lacing to the breastplate
fix the clasp on the necklace
sew fabric to belt and figure out a way to cover the clasp
attach loincloth to belt - sew or velcro??
woodglue/water wash the scythe
sand the scythe
plastidip the scythe
paint the scythe
shape and paint nails (brown)
add lacing and velcro to the hip plates
add lacing and elastic to the shin guards
may need to cut off one of the talons on each shin guard as they may impede me... walking
add lacing to the breastplate
fix the clasp on the necklace
sew fabric to belt and figure out a way to cover the clasp
attach loincloth to belt - sew or velcro??
woodglue/water wash the scythe
sand the scythe
plastidip the scythe
paint the scythe
shape and paint nails (brown)
holy poop.
>_<
Some progress videos
| | |
Makeup & hair
My version of Kabutops is a gijinka version - meaning that it is a humanized version of an otherwise non-human.. thing. Now, Kabutops is a bipedal creature, so humanizing it (him or her.. whatever; 80% are male and 20% female) wasn't too much of a challenge.
Here are some pictures of the finished result after the first makeup test. Below that are the videos I created showing the process. I liked how this makeup looked doing it for the first time and will probably end up doing this (or something very similar) for Colossalcon.
| |
So.. I've been planning on going to the Harrisburg Comiccon for awhile now, and it just so happened to fall on a weekend when my mom was coming to visit, so I ended up dragging he along! I'm really happy that she had such a good time and could get a taste of what it's like. I also got to meet up with my friend (whom I've known for 25 years - yeah, we're old), so it was a great girls-day-out. ^_^
SO - dpiddy was there, and if you don't know who that is, look him up on Youtube immediately. I was sort of fan-girling all day to get a picture with him, so I slowly slunk towards him with the intention of getting a picture.. but instead he asked me to be in his video! I about died.. and I got to slap the heck outta him (even though I still feel bad about it)! That was probably the highlight of the day. ^_^
I entered the cosplay contest - mostly because my friend wanted to enter. I pulled out the night before because I really didn't think my Sora cosplay (which is literally hot glued together) stood a chance, but when I got there, I was shoehorned into signing up (thanks, Matt).
Prejudging was first, so I had a chance to stand in line for an hour before talking to three judges for three minutes about my cosplay - of which, the keyblade (one of the most essential parts) was bought. Aha. I was a wreck, but we made it through!
During the actual showcase, we were invited up onto the stage to introduce ourselves, our cosplay, and show off a bit. That was fun and everyone just looked so great! Once everyone did this, they announced the winners. I was NOT expecting to even place (1st, 2nd, OR 3rd), but when they got to the first place, Maiacat Cosplay was announced as the winner! I kind of sat there in disbelief for a minute - mouth agape and eyes wrought with confusion - before I made my way to the stage to accept my prize, which was a bag of goodies and a trophy! I was so excited, and (it sounds corny) but it made it even better that my mom was there! ^_^
Prejudging was first, so I had a chance to stand in line for an hour before talking to three judges for three minutes about my cosplay - of which, the keyblade (one of the most essential parts) was bought. Aha. I was a wreck, but we made it through!
During the actual showcase, we were invited up onto the stage to introduce ourselves, our cosplay, and show off a bit. That was fun and everyone just looked so great! Once everyone did this, they announced the winners. I was NOT expecting to even place (1st, 2nd, OR 3rd), but when they got to the first place, Maiacat Cosplay was announced as the winner! I kind of sat there in disbelief for a minute - mouth agape and eyes wrought with confusion - before I made my way to the stage to accept my prize, which was a bag of goodies and a trophy! I was so excited, and (it sounds corny) but it made it even better that my mom was there! ^_^
dpiddy's video | my con vlog |
EVA and Craft Foam
PART ONE
patterning, cutting, forming, and detailing
I like describing crafting with foam as an oxymoron. If you know what you’re doing, it can be a fairly simple way to make armor, weapon, or accessories; however, it’s difficult to make it look good. I want to quickly note that in this blog, I’ve color-coded the tools for each step. Each color is associated with the store that I bought the item from. If it does not have a color, then it was an item I had around the house (and something you can probably get anywhere): Red is Harbor Freight Blue is Walmart Green is Joann Fabrics Orange is Michaels There are seven parts to crafting with foam: patterning cutting forming detailing priming painting attaching Patterning Tools: clingfilm or aluminum foil, masking or duct tape, scissors, marker, straight pins (optional), heat gun (optional) It’s important to pattern out your pieces using your body (or someone else’s or a mannequin) because then you know that the pattern is 1) a good fit for the part of your body you want to cover and 2) will lay correctly on your body. To pattern an armor piece: Wrap the area on your body with clingfilm/aluminum foil. Be careful not to wrap it too tightly, but make sure it is also not too loose. Keep it snug. Wrap this area in tape. Masking tape works best (because it’s easy to draw on), but you can also use duct tape. Again, don’t be too tight! Draw out the basic shape of the armor piece. You can add details later. The most important part is getting the dimensions of the outer edges and making sure that it is uniform. It’s important to note here that you want to create a bisect line. This will be the line that you cut along to remove the pattern from your body. You want this seam to be in a natural place and hidden (unless, of course, you mean to leave a section open aesthetically). Draw a line where you want the seam to be, and then you want to do several score lines across the seam line. We do this because when you are transferring your pattern to foam, the score lines help you to line your seam up neatly. Cut along your seam line and then trim your pattern along the edges that you drew. You also want to cut notches in your score lines so that you can transfer them to your foam. For a lot of armor, you’ll find when you go to lay your pattern out on the foam that it won’t lay flat (sometimes you can smooth it out on your own). If this is the case, you have a couple of options: Option 1: Draw a slit from about the middle of the piece to the outer edge (don’t forget seam marks!) and cut it. This will allow the piece of lay flat. Option 2: Heat your foam (with a heat gun) and stretch it over a rounded object. I use my knee a lot. It takes several attempts of heating and stretching, but if you do this, then your pattern should lay nicely over your rounded foam. Be careful tracing your patterns onto your foam. A lot of people use straight pins to hold their pattern in place as they trace around it. If you are using only one pattern for two pieces (for example, a right forearm and a left forearm), be sure to flip your pattern over before tracing. This will ensure that the pieces are identical for both sides (this of this like a mirror). Don’t forget to include your notch/score marks on your tracing! Label your pieces before you cut them. I usually label with the body part and which edge belongs on what part of my body. For example, the forearm piece would get a label of right forearm and the edge that sits on my wrist would be labeled wrist and the edge towards my elbow would be labeled elbow. Cutting Tools: box cutter, foam, cutting board (optional) It’s important to be careful when you’re cutting. You need to maintain a constant 90 degree angle to your foam. You also want to be careful to cut INSIDE of your pattern lines. If you don’t, then your piece will be too big. Make sure that your box cutter blade is new and sharp. Place your foam on a surface that was made to be cut upon. Avoid laying your foam on carpet or tables that are not protected. You can buy cutting boards for this reason, or you can do what I do and either place another piece of foam under the foam you are using or a piece of cardboard. You want your box cutter to be extended between ½ - 1 inch. Any shorter and it won’t cut through your foam all the way; any longer, and it will become slightly flimsy and hard to cut with. You can play with this and find a length that you are comfortable with. Pick a starting point on the pattern that you drew onto your foam. I usually like to begin at a sharp edge or halfway along a straight line. Using your sharp box cutter blade, insert it into the foam at a 90 degree angle – you want to cut along the inside edge of your pattern marks. Don’t try to cut the entire piece out in one swipe of your cutter! I usually do one side at a time, being careful to line up all of the cuts. If I make a small mistake, it’s not the end of the world – I can fix it later with my rotary tool. Be sure to change your box cutter blade frequently. They dull quickly, and the sharper your blade is, the easier it’s going to be to slice through your foam. This is especially important if you need to trim an uneven edge. Duller blades (even slightly dull) will not trim foam edges nicely. Avoid using scissors to cut EVA foam (scissors are okay for craft foam) because the scissors can smash/squish your EVA foam and create uneven cuts. Forming Tools: foam cut-outs, heat gun, rubber cement (optional) Forming foam is one of my favorite parts of this process, but it’s important to make sure that you have the right tools for the job. I’ve seen people form foam using the burners on their stovetop as a heat source and I’ve also seen people use their ovens! Please do not do this! It is very dangerous and a fire hazard. You can pick up a heat gun for under $20. My heat gun has two settings and I really like it because I can control (to some extent) how hot it gets. Choose the piece that you want to form first and decide how you want it to lay on your body. I usually pick a piece and form it to my body to get a feel for how much I need to form it. Using the heat gun (I do this part on the high setting), blow the heated air over the BACKSIDE of your foam piece – for EVA foam, this is the side with the bumps. Be careful not to put your heat gun too close or it will burn the foam. Heat the back for thirty seconds and begin to form it. Be careful not to burn yourself, but you can lay the piece back onto your body to form it that way. You may have to do this several times. Be sure to hold it in place until it cools so that it will uphold its shape. It’s better to overdo it than underdo it (at least in my opinion). Continue this process until it holds the shape you want. It’s important to note here that if you had to cut a slit in your foam to force a rounded pattern to lay flat, you’ll want to close that seam as you are forming your foam. To do that: Gently heat the back of the foam. Line your seam up so that your notch/score marks will meet up. Using your rubber cement, apply a thin layer on both edges of the seam. Use your heat gun (on low if you can) to gentle dry the cement – about 20 to 30 seconds is all you need. Match your notch/score marks CAREFULLY as you push your seam together. Be sure that they line up and your seam is even. If it’s slightly uneven, don’t panic! We’ll tackle that a little later. Just get it as perfect as you can for now. If you royally mess up, applying some more heat with the heat gun (gently, so you don’t burn your foam) should allow the seam to pop open. Detailing Tools: foam cut-outs, tape patterns, craft foam, googly eyes (optional), rubber cement, hot glue (optional), scissors, box cutters, dap quick seal, soldering iron (optional), heat gun, fingernail scissors (optional), marker, rotary tool Detailing is a great way to bring life and dimension to your armor piece. This could include trim, design, rivets, and beveling. Adding Trim or Craft Foam Accents: I always start with deciding if I want to do a trim or not. It’s a good way to draw the eye and hide any seams or unsightly edges. To create trim, you first want to start with the pattern than you created using the clingfilm/aluminum foil and tape. I like to use the patters because then I can get a more accurate shape with the craft foam. Lay the pattern on your craft foam and trace around it. From here, you can design your trim or accents. Just like on EVA foam, you can use the same pattern to do a left and a right variation, just make sure to flip your pattern over before you trace. When cutting, you can use either scissors or box cutters. I tend to carefully cut using scissors for the outer edge and a box cutter for the inner edge. Alternatively, for small details, you can use those tiny fingernail scissors (I’ve never used them, but I’ve seen it done). Be sure to cut along the inside edge so that your trim is not too big for your armor piece. Lay your cut out onto your foam piece, making sure to line the edges up where you want them. I like to trace right onto my foam piece where the trim will lay so when I’m ready to attach it, I already know 1) where to glue and 2) where to place the craft foam piece. Coat the area of the EVA foam to be covered by the craft foam with a light layer of rubber cement (some people prefer hot glue – I think rubber cement is easier to work with, is quicker, holds better, and makes for a nicer appearance). Also coat the underside of the craft foam (the side to be attached to the EVA) with a thin layer of rubber cement. Gently heat both glued areas with the heat gun (on low, if you can) for 20 to 30 seconds. Don’t put the heat gun too close or it will burn your foam. Especially the craft foam – it’ll warp it. BE CAREFUL when attaching your craft foam to your EVA foam. The rubber cement will hold REALLY well and craft foam will rip if you try to remove it. Use your guide lines that you traced on to slowly and carefully lay your craft foam onto your EVA foam. You can stretch and pull the foam as you need to. Adding Accents/Designs There are two popular ways to add designs and accents to your foam. The first involves a box cutter and heat gun, and the second involves a soldering iron. First Strategy: Box Cutter & Heat Gun This is the strategy I usually use. Draw out the pattern or accent that you want on your foam. With your box cutter (extend the blade to maybe ¼ an inch or shorter – any longer and it will cut all the way through your foam – you don’t want that to happen!), carefully cut into your foam over your pattern marks. Using your heat gun (I usually switch between low and high, being careful not to burn the foam and constantly moving the heat gun), heat the cut marks. They should begin to open up to reveal the detail Second Strategy: Soldering Iron I’ve never actually using a soldering iron to create designs on my foam, so you might want to check some tutorials before trying it. First thing you want to do is draw out the design that you want to make in your foam. You can do this while your soldering iron heats up. Very CAREFULLY use the soldering iron to carve your design into your foam. Be careful not to press the iron too far into the foam or it will poke through to the other side. Adding Rivets There are a bunch of strategies that I’ve seen people use to add rivets. Some involve brass fasteners and some involve dollops of hot glue. My favorite strategy is googly eyes. First Strategy: Rivets with Hot Glue You need to be careful to use this strategy. I don’t like this strategy because it’s hard to get everything uniform. Mark on your foam where you want your rivets to be – usually this will be on the corners of foam or wherever two pieces would match together. Play around with it and decide what looks best to you. Using your hot glue, create a small dome of glue on the part you marked. You have to be careful because hot glue will warp when you pull the hot glue gun away. Allow the hot glue to cool before touching. Second Strategy: Rivets with Googly Eyes This is my favorite strategy because it’s easy (and fun). You can use hot glue or rubber cement. I prefer rubber cement because it’s cleaner and holds better. Mark where on your armor you want rivets to go. If using hot glue, put a small dollop on the spot and then lay the googly eye onto the hot glue. While the hot glue is still malleable, carefully wipe any excess away (it may still be hot, so do this cautiously). If using rubber cement, brush a layer of cement on the glue and another layer on the back of the googly eye. Dry slightly with the low setting on the heat gun (about 15 seconds) and carefully lay the googly eye on the spot. Beveling I only just figured out how to do this and I’m in love. Seriously, my rotary tool (compliments of my sister and mom – yay birthday) is like the best thing I’ve ever gotten for crafting. Doing this really helps to clean up lines and edges and make things look uniform. I use the larger sandpaper cylinder that came with my set to do my beveling. Start on a low setting if you can and carefully move the sandpaper cylinder along the outer edge of your foam. It’s better to go low and slow because then you have more control over the tool. When you get to a corner, you want to be careful because the rotary tool has a tendency to get wrapped up in the edge and warp the foam. You can play with the speed settings and find one you are most comfortable with. I’d recommend staying on a low setting for face-beveling, that is, beveling the edges that will be seen when you wear it and a higher setting for hard edges and the back edges, especially with EVA foam because they have those dang bumps you want to get rid of. You can also bevel the craft foam details if you choose to, but use a slow setting to do so because craft foam is a little more delicate than EVA foam. Right: As of May 15, 2017, this is what I am working on using the pattern that you saw in this How-To. They are bracers for my gijinka Kabutops cosplay. This is after three to four layers of paint. No where near done, however, it gives you a sense of what you can create! | Please make sure when you are working with any sort of tools that you exercise caution and wear any and all protective gear! I always wear latex gloves, a mask, and goggles. Patterningon your body on your foam Cutting
FormingDetailingwith craft foam creating lines/designs rivets w/ googly eyes beveling w/ rotary tool Example |
100 Questions About Your Cosplay Lifestyle and Manners
General Cosplay Questions
1) What's the best part of cosplay for you?
Seeing a costume evolve from an idea to something tangible. It is the most rewarding feeling to see your ideas become something that you can see, touch, and wear.
2) Do you use the term "kameko" ("camera-kid")?
Never heard of it.
3) Do you read event catalogs?
I look at the schedule of events on the websites, but I usually forego the physical event pamphlet that most cons hand out.
4) Do you rsvp to events?
Depends on the event. I don’t usually attend panels and such at conventions, but if it’s a meetup or a photoshoot, I like to let people know I’m coming.
5) Do you want to attend more events? Or are you content to remain in your local area?
I think I already attend more conventions than the normal person. I like local cons because then I don’t need to get a hotel or spend hours in the car, but I love the big conventions because I love seeing everyone’s big cosplay builds!
6) Do you use color contacts?
Yup! I use Honey Color. I have very bad eyesight and they offer prescription strength colored contacts. I love their points system and if you catch them at the right time, they run a lot of BOGO sales.
7) Do you make your own costumes or do you buy them?
I make them for the most part. I’m still learning some of the ropes, so sometimes I’ll buy a shirt or shorts and heavily modify them. The more I can make from scratch, though, the better.
8) Do you stick to one genre?
Not really, though I tend to gravitate towards video game characters. I’d like to incorporate more anime characters into my future cosplay, however!
9) Do you think that when cosplaying, one should stick to the genre of a given event?
I don’t think it’s necessary, no.
10) Does it bother you when people break genre?
Nope.
11) Does it bother you when people know nothing about the series they're cosplaying?
It doesn’t really bother me, but I don’t really see the appeal in cosplaying from a series you know nothing about. I understand if your group of friends want to do a group cosplay and need to fill a slot.. but personally, I wouldn’t cosplay from a series that I am unfamiliar with.
12) Does it bother you if people only know a little about the series they're cosplaying?
Same as above. If you like the way a character looks and want to cosplay them based on aesthetics alone, I think you should at least do some research on the character or series.
13) Does it bother you if people are familiar with the series, but have no affection for the character they're cosplaying?
Not really. Of course, the more passion, the better the cosplay.
14) Does it bother you if someone else is cosplaying the same character you are?
No. I get excited that someone likes the same character, but I do find myself comparing my cosplay to theirs.
15) Do you like posed shots?
Yes!
16) Do you like candid shots?
I do. I like candid in-character shots and I like candid out-of-character shots.. just because.. you’re at a con and having fun. Live a little!
17) Do you think cosplaying characters from adult games or pornographic material is in bad taste?
Hey – as long as it follows convention guidelines, go for it. If it’s for a personal shoot – go crazy.
18) If there's a problem at an event, do you jump to conclusions about the parties involved?
I won’t lie – I’m quick to judge. I’m willing to give the benefit of the doubt, however.
19) How many times do you cosplay in one month?
One or two. Depends on how many conventions are within driving distance to me.
20) Do you go to photo shoots?
I do as much as I can – that is, if they are scheduled during a time that I’m available and in the series cosplay. I love getting photos with others!
21) Have you ever been included in a cosplay CD-ROM?
Is that a CMV? If so, yes – briefly.
22) Is casual cosplay okay?
Yes, though I’m starting to come to terms with this for myself. I’m usually ‘go big or go home’, but I’m finding the appeal in casual cosplay.
23) Are you okay with your face appearing on the internet?
Yup! ^_^
24) Do you find yourself thinking people are "too old" for cosplay? How old is too old?
No one is too old! I once met a Professor McGonigal cosplayer and she was amazing!
25) Do people who walk around in gothic Lolita fashion bug you?
No?
26) Do you think Chinese dresses count as "cosplay"?
I mean… if Lolita fashion counts as cosplay, why not?
27) What bothers you the most about cosplay?
The expense mostly.. and the attitudes of some cosplayers.
28) Do you think it's important to be "in character"?
I think so for photos and certain events. If you’re hanging out at a convention, there’s no real reason to be in character.
29) Does it make you nervous to be eyed by regular visitors at a public event?
Nope. I like showing off, hahaha.
30) Do pre-scheduled cosplay appearances by popular cosplayers annoy you?
I don’t think so?
31) Do you tell other people your best locations for shoots?
I mean.. no. I’m not confident enough for that, hahaha.
32) Do you put on your makeup before your wig or after?
I put makeup on before. I’ll pull my hair up and put my wig cap on (mostly to keep my hair from my face) and do my makeup. Usually, my wig is the last thing I’ll put on.
33) Do you know a lot about the series' you cosplay?
Yes. I like to cosplay from series that I enjoy the most.
34) Do you wear costumes only once or many times?
Usually many times, especially if I put a lot of effort into them.
35) When you've decided what costume to do next, do you share that information with other people?
I usually post on social media.
36) Do you want to be in cosplay magazines?
I have been! I’m on the cover of Cosplayzine (June Edition, Alternative Cover)!
37) What's the most important part of cosplay for you?
The creation. Making something from nothing is pretty amazing.
Event Participation Questions
38) How active are you cosplaying in your own community?
I’d like to think I’m very active.
39) What do you wear on the day of an event?
Cosplay and only cosplay.
40) Do you eat lunch on event days?
Sometimes. Generally, just breakfast and dinner.
41) Do you eat breakfast before attending events?
Yes. I make sure to eat something in the morning.
42) How long does it take you to change?
Hahaha – an hour if I’m lucky. Usually two.
43) Do you think it looks geeky to attend an event with a big SLR camera?
What? No. -_-
44) What camera do you use? A compact? An SLR?
My iPhone.. hahaha.. though I’d LOVE a DSLR.
45) Are you afraid of cameramen? Are you cool with them?
I love them. I’m a bit of a camerawhore.
46) Are you one of the first to line up to get inside?
Nope.
47) Do you not mind showing up late?
Nope. I’ll show up whenever.
48) Do you have a small after party or a huge get-together?
After party? Bahahah. What? Nononono – I crash in bed HARD.
49) Do you like karaoke?
I mean.. yeah. I’m no good, though and don’t do it at cons.
50) Are you tolerant of bad singers?
I mean.. to each their own and good job for having the confidence, but I WILL cringe.
51) Do topics unrelated to animation and manga bug you? Or do you think it's okay to talk about anything at all?
I’ll talk about anything.
52) Do you eat lunch while inside event areas?
No.
53) Can you handle the cold?
I mean.. I’d probably rather be too cold than hot and sweaty when in cosplay.
54) Do you buy doujinshi at events?
…what is that?
55) Do you make doujinshi to sell at events?
…again.. what is that?
56) Do you have a group that participates in group events?
I mean, sort of. Us Star Wars cosplayers tend to gravitate towards each other (I think it’s the lightsabers) and I’ve made a good group of friends because of it.
57) Are you a member of a cosplay circle/club?
No.
58) When the event is over, how late do you stay out?
I go home as soon as the event is over.
59) If a new face approaches you at an event and takes up a few minutes of your time, are you annoyed?
No. I mean.. I’m all for making new friends!
60) Do you go to cosplay dance parties?
Sometimes.
61) Do you think your Layer status is higher than others if a lot of people want to take your picture? Does it bother you not to have your photo taken as much as you think you deserve?
Uhhhhh… I don’t know what ‘Layer Status’ is, but yes, it does bother me when no one wants to take my picture. OR when I get a bunch taken and then no one posts them online for me to see.
62) Do you get jealous of other cosplayers having a lot of pictures taken of them?
Sometimes, yes.
63) You're asked for a picture but have something else to do, do you refuse?
Depends on if I’m late for something important.
64) When you take pictures of people at events, do you give them all copies of the prints or data?
I don’t take pictures.
Photo Shoot Questions
65) (at a studio or shoot) Do you give a copy of each photo to all of the participants in it?
I don’t take pictures.
66) How do you approach photo shoots? As a chance to gather with friends and goof off or as a meeting to take nice pictures?
Both.
67) Are you particular about how you look in the test shots before the shoot? Do you mind how you look in general?
I’m VERY self-conscious about my body, so yes – I care a lot about how I look in pictures.
68) When you take photos, do you prefer shots from the front or odder angles?
Both.
69) Are you bothered by receiving lots of photos? Are you happy?
The more, the better!!
70) When you take photos, do you photograph only people you know personally and like? Or do you look for other people with great costumes to photograph too?
If I took pictures, I’d probably just take pictures of cosplay I recognized.. unless it was really badass.
71) Do you wander around to meet people at events or do you keep to your own group?
A little of both.
72) How many photos do you usually take with your own camera?
None.
73) How many photos do you usually take for others?
As many as my friends want.
74) Do you mind if people resize or crop the pictures you've taken to make them look better?
Nope.
75) Do you crop and resize pictures others have taken for you?
Yes.
76) Have you ever set up a photo shoot by yourself?
Yes.
77) Do you check shoot information beforehand?
I try to, yes.
78) Do you like it when there are a lot of people in the shoot area? Or do you prefer small events?
I’m okay with either.
79) What size (how many people) is the best for a shoot?
Too many and it gets crazy, though I don’t really have a preference.
80) What time of day do you like to take photos?
Any. I’m not a morning person, but I’ll take photos at any time.
81) Do you prefer indoor or outdoor shots?
Either. I like outdoor, though, ‘cause you can find places that fit your character better.
82) Which do you dislike more - hot weather or cold weather?
Hot weather.
83) Do you know any cameramen?
Yup! ^_^
84) Do you eat in the photo area?
…sure?
85) Do you like taking parts-shots? Or do you dislike them?
Uhhhhhh…?????
86) Do you retouch your photos?
Sometimes.
87) Are you annoyed by people who don't retouch their photos?
Nope.
88) Do you use reflectors?
I do whatever the photographer does.
89) Which is worse ~ breaking the rules and getting great pictures, or following them and getting poor ones?
I mean.. I don’t want to get banned from the convention sooooo…
Friend Questions
90) Why are your friends your friends?
Because we share the same interests and cosplay from the same series!
91) If you hang out for one day, do you consider yourselves friends?
Depends on if we share social media links or phone numbers and continue to talk after the convention is over.
92) Do you give copies of your photos to others?
Yes.
93) Do you want to make more friends?
Yes!!
94) Do you at least remember the names of people you meet at events?
Most of the time, yes.
95) Do you find yourself adjusting your behavior to that of the character you're cosplaying when dealing with people dressed as characters your character knows?
Only if they initiate it.
Home Page/Websites
96) Do you recieve permission every time you post a photo of someone else online?
No. :S
97) Do you get angry if a foreign site links to your page? Or are you flattered?
I’d like to know about it.
98) Are you happy to get mail from Layers overseas or does it scare you?
What is this ‘Layers’?!?!
99) Do you try to increase your web sites' contents/hits? Or doesn't it matter to you?
I do.
100) Do you not particularly care who links to you? Or do you ask people not to link without permission?
Again – I’d like to know about it.
Taken from: http://cosplaylife.blogspot.com/2011/07/102-cosplay-questions-originally-from.html
General Cosplay Questions
1) What's the best part of cosplay for you?
Seeing a costume evolve from an idea to something tangible. It is the most rewarding feeling to see your ideas become something that you can see, touch, and wear.
2) Do you use the term "kameko" ("camera-kid")?
Never heard of it.
3) Do you read event catalogs?
I look at the schedule of events on the websites, but I usually forego the physical event pamphlet that most cons hand out.
4) Do you rsvp to events?
Depends on the event. I don’t usually attend panels and such at conventions, but if it’s a meetup or a photoshoot, I like to let people know I’m coming.
5) Do you want to attend more events? Or are you content to remain in your local area?
I think I already attend more conventions than the normal person. I like local cons because then I don’t need to get a hotel or spend hours in the car, but I love the big conventions because I love seeing everyone’s big cosplay builds!
6) Do you use color contacts?
Yup! I use Honey Color. I have very bad eyesight and they offer prescription strength colored contacts. I love their points system and if you catch them at the right time, they run a lot of BOGO sales.
7) Do you make your own costumes or do you buy them?
I make them for the most part. I’m still learning some of the ropes, so sometimes I’ll buy a shirt or shorts and heavily modify them. The more I can make from scratch, though, the better.
8) Do you stick to one genre?
Not really, though I tend to gravitate towards video game characters. I’d like to incorporate more anime characters into my future cosplay, however!
9) Do you think that when cosplaying, one should stick to the genre of a given event?
I don’t think it’s necessary, no.
10) Does it bother you when people break genre?
Nope.
11) Does it bother you when people know nothing about the series they're cosplaying?
It doesn’t really bother me, but I don’t really see the appeal in cosplaying from a series you know nothing about. I understand if your group of friends want to do a group cosplay and need to fill a slot.. but personally, I wouldn’t cosplay from a series that I am unfamiliar with.
12) Does it bother you if people only know a little about the series they're cosplaying?
Same as above. If you like the way a character looks and want to cosplay them based on aesthetics alone, I think you should at least do some research on the character or series.
13) Does it bother you if people are familiar with the series, but have no affection for the character they're cosplaying?
Not really. Of course, the more passion, the better the cosplay.
14) Does it bother you if someone else is cosplaying the same character you are?
No. I get excited that someone likes the same character, but I do find myself comparing my cosplay to theirs.
15) Do you like posed shots?
Yes!
16) Do you like candid shots?
I do. I like candid in-character shots and I like candid out-of-character shots.. just because.. you’re at a con and having fun. Live a little!
17) Do you think cosplaying characters from adult games or pornographic material is in bad taste?
Hey – as long as it follows convention guidelines, go for it. If it’s for a personal shoot – go crazy.
18) If there's a problem at an event, do you jump to conclusions about the parties involved?
I won’t lie – I’m quick to judge. I’m willing to give the benefit of the doubt, however.
19) How many times do you cosplay in one month?
One or two. Depends on how many conventions are within driving distance to me.
20) Do you go to photo shoots?
I do as much as I can – that is, if they are scheduled during a time that I’m available and in the series cosplay. I love getting photos with others!
21) Have you ever been included in a cosplay CD-ROM?
Is that a CMV? If so, yes – briefly.
22) Is casual cosplay okay?
Yes, though I’m starting to come to terms with this for myself. I’m usually ‘go big or go home’, but I’m finding the appeal in casual cosplay.
23) Are you okay with your face appearing on the internet?
Yup! ^_^
24) Do you find yourself thinking people are "too old" for cosplay? How old is too old?
No one is too old! I once met a Professor McGonigal cosplayer and she was amazing!
25) Do people who walk around in gothic Lolita fashion bug you?
No?
26) Do you think Chinese dresses count as "cosplay"?
I mean… if Lolita fashion counts as cosplay, why not?
27) What bothers you the most about cosplay?
The expense mostly.. and the attitudes of some cosplayers.
28) Do you think it's important to be "in character"?
I think so for photos and certain events. If you’re hanging out at a convention, there’s no real reason to be in character.
29) Does it make you nervous to be eyed by regular visitors at a public event?
Nope. I like showing off, hahaha.
30) Do pre-scheduled cosplay appearances by popular cosplayers annoy you?
I don’t think so?
31) Do you tell other people your best locations for shoots?
I mean.. no. I’m not confident enough for that, hahaha.
32) Do you put on your makeup before your wig or after?
I put makeup on before. I’ll pull my hair up and put my wig cap on (mostly to keep my hair from my face) and do my makeup. Usually, my wig is the last thing I’ll put on.
33) Do you know a lot about the series' you cosplay?
Yes. I like to cosplay from series that I enjoy the most.
34) Do you wear costumes only once or many times?
Usually many times, especially if I put a lot of effort into them.
35) When you've decided what costume to do next, do you share that information with other people?
I usually post on social media.
36) Do you want to be in cosplay magazines?
I have been! I’m on the cover of Cosplayzine (June Edition, Alternative Cover)!
37) What's the most important part of cosplay for you?
The creation. Making something from nothing is pretty amazing.
Event Participation Questions
38) How active are you cosplaying in your own community?
I’d like to think I’m very active.
39) What do you wear on the day of an event?
Cosplay and only cosplay.
40) Do you eat lunch on event days?
Sometimes. Generally, just breakfast and dinner.
41) Do you eat breakfast before attending events?
Yes. I make sure to eat something in the morning.
42) How long does it take you to change?
Hahaha – an hour if I’m lucky. Usually two.
43) Do you think it looks geeky to attend an event with a big SLR camera?
What? No. -_-
44) What camera do you use? A compact? An SLR?
My iPhone.. hahaha.. though I’d LOVE a DSLR.
45) Are you afraid of cameramen? Are you cool with them?
I love them. I’m a bit of a camerawhore.
46) Are you one of the first to line up to get inside?
Nope.
47) Do you not mind showing up late?
Nope. I’ll show up whenever.
48) Do you have a small after party or a huge get-together?
After party? Bahahah. What? Nononono – I crash in bed HARD.
49) Do you like karaoke?
I mean.. yeah. I’m no good, though and don’t do it at cons.
50) Are you tolerant of bad singers?
I mean.. to each their own and good job for having the confidence, but I WILL cringe.
51) Do topics unrelated to animation and manga bug you? Or do you think it's okay to talk about anything at all?
I’ll talk about anything.
52) Do you eat lunch while inside event areas?
No.
53) Can you handle the cold?
I mean.. I’d probably rather be too cold than hot and sweaty when in cosplay.
54) Do you buy doujinshi at events?
…what is that?
55) Do you make doujinshi to sell at events?
…again.. what is that?
56) Do you have a group that participates in group events?
I mean, sort of. Us Star Wars cosplayers tend to gravitate towards each other (I think it’s the lightsabers) and I’ve made a good group of friends because of it.
57) Are you a member of a cosplay circle/club?
No.
58) When the event is over, how late do you stay out?
I go home as soon as the event is over.
59) If a new face approaches you at an event and takes up a few minutes of your time, are you annoyed?
No. I mean.. I’m all for making new friends!
60) Do you go to cosplay dance parties?
Sometimes.
61) Do you think your Layer status is higher than others if a lot of people want to take your picture? Does it bother you not to have your photo taken as much as you think you deserve?
Uhhhhh… I don’t know what ‘Layer Status’ is, but yes, it does bother me when no one wants to take my picture. OR when I get a bunch taken and then no one posts them online for me to see.
62) Do you get jealous of other cosplayers having a lot of pictures taken of them?
Sometimes, yes.
63) You're asked for a picture but have something else to do, do you refuse?
Depends on if I’m late for something important.
64) When you take pictures of people at events, do you give them all copies of the prints or data?
I don’t take pictures.
Photo Shoot Questions
65) (at a studio or shoot) Do you give a copy of each photo to all of the participants in it?
I don’t take pictures.
66) How do you approach photo shoots? As a chance to gather with friends and goof off or as a meeting to take nice pictures?
Both.
67) Are you particular about how you look in the test shots before the shoot? Do you mind how you look in general?
I’m VERY self-conscious about my body, so yes – I care a lot about how I look in pictures.
68) When you take photos, do you prefer shots from the front or odder angles?
Both.
69) Are you bothered by receiving lots of photos? Are you happy?
The more, the better!!
70) When you take photos, do you photograph only people you know personally and like? Or do you look for other people with great costumes to photograph too?
If I took pictures, I’d probably just take pictures of cosplay I recognized.. unless it was really badass.
71) Do you wander around to meet people at events or do you keep to your own group?
A little of both.
72) How many photos do you usually take with your own camera?
None.
73) How many photos do you usually take for others?
As many as my friends want.
74) Do you mind if people resize or crop the pictures you've taken to make them look better?
Nope.
75) Do you crop and resize pictures others have taken for you?
Yes.
76) Have you ever set up a photo shoot by yourself?
Yes.
77) Do you check shoot information beforehand?
I try to, yes.
78) Do you like it when there are a lot of people in the shoot area? Or do you prefer small events?
I’m okay with either.
79) What size (how many people) is the best for a shoot?
Too many and it gets crazy, though I don’t really have a preference.
80) What time of day do you like to take photos?
Any. I’m not a morning person, but I’ll take photos at any time.
81) Do you prefer indoor or outdoor shots?
Either. I like outdoor, though, ‘cause you can find places that fit your character better.
82) Which do you dislike more - hot weather or cold weather?
Hot weather.
83) Do you know any cameramen?
Yup! ^_^
84) Do you eat in the photo area?
…sure?
85) Do you like taking parts-shots? Or do you dislike them?
Uhhhhhh…?????
86) Do you retouch your photos?
Sometimes.
87) Are you annoyed by people who don't retouch their photos?
Nope.
88) Do you use reflectors?
I do whatever the photographer does.
89) Which is worse ~ breaking the rules and getting great pictures, or following them and getting poor ones?
I mean.. I don’t want to get banned from the convention sooooo…
Friend Questions
90) Why are your friends your friends?
Because we share the same interests and cosplay from the same series!
91) If you hang out for one day, do you consider yourselves friends?
Depends on if we share social media links or phone numbers and continue to talk after the convention is over.
92) Do you give copies of your photos to others?
Yes.
93) Do you want to make more friends?
Yes!!
94) Do you at least remember the names of people you meet at events?
Most of the time, yes.
95) Do you find yourself adjusting your behavior to that of the character you're cosplaying when dealing with people dressed as characters your character knows?
Only if they initiate it.
Home Page/Websites
96) Do you recieve permission every time you post a photo of someone else online?
No. :S
97) Do you get angry if a foreign site links to your page? Or are you flattered?
I’d like to know about it.
98) Are you happy to get mail from Layers overseas or does it scare you?
What is this ‘Layers’?!?!
99) Do you try to increase your web sites' contents/hits? Or doesn't it matter to you?
I do.
100) Do you not particularly care who links to you? Or do you ask people not to link without permission?
Again – I’d like to know about it.
Taken from: http://cosplaylife.blogspot.com/2011/07/102-cosplay-questions-originally-from.html
Author
Maiacat Cosplay
Amateur cosplayer new on the cosplay and con scene - just trying to get her name out there!
You can see all of my blog posts on the left, or click on a category to narrow down your search!
Archives
July 2018
April 2018
January 2018
December 2017
November 2017
October 2017
September 2017
August 2017
July 2017
June 2017
May 2017
Categories
All
Cosplay Conventions
Cosplay Fun
Cosplay How To
Cosplay How-To
Cosplay Updates
Feature Friday
General Cosplay Stuff