- Achieve an ombre look by dip dyeing – solid shade emersion
- Acid dye is good for dying silk
- Ritt is a union dye good for natural fabrics
- Dispersed dye is good for polyester
- Find dyes at local fabric stores
- Can apply dye directly with a spray bottle or a brush
- “Resist” technique – bunch up fabric, pour dye on, steam
- Use non-paintable caulking – apply it to fabric, let it dry, dye fabric, peel of caulking – can resemble pustules, seaweed/moss
- Can also use an airbrush or dry paint technique on fabrics
- Use multiple colours of paint/dye to achieve a look
- Where do you naturally touch garments during wear? These are the areas you want to distress: collar, cuffs, inner lining; dirt? Grime? Grease? Sweat? Soot?
- Spatter, spray colours onto fabric, or apply with a dry sponge, dry brush, fingers – anything really
- Always test dye/paint/techniques on fabric. I repeat: Always test dye/paint/techniques on fabric
- Remember: Always test dye/paint/techniques on fabric
- Natural fibers are easier to distress
- Can use airbrush to age or define (like highlighting and contouring for fabrics)
- Water down paint and wipe it on/off fabric using acrylic paint or fabric paint
- Paint is great to enhance and define existing textures
- “Opera shading” is your friend
- Use sponge painting with stencils to get great texture
- dynaflow paint works well
- Use natural sponges only – never use a synthetic sponge to distress fabric
- Think about how clothing would get stained/bloody
- Look at pictures online of blood oxidizing
- Think about how far people will see your costume from on average when distressing/detailing
- Can create a furry texture with dry brush painting
- Get a cheap natural bristle paint brush, cut the bristle length in half with scissors, then cut \ \ \ into the bristles for a dry brush
- 300-600 sandpaper is good to age leather
- Ritt dye or acid dye will dye leather
- Leather will shrink in the dryer
- Use 1C soda ash, 1C rock salt, 1C powder laundry detergent to break down fibers, and pull out excess dye
- Use the cheapest laundry powder for above
- Drip white wax on fabric for a realistic semen stain
- Paint wax on for frost or snow
- Acrylic gloss medium for a wet look
- Caulking can be used to make scales
Distressed a costume?
What did you do? How did it go?
It Takes A Village To Cosplay!
Earla Alara
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