How to make a mask

October 26, 2005 10:30 AM

I'm trying to make a mask of a famous person's face for Halloween, and my artistic skills are sorely lacking.

I want to be able to print out a picture of the person's face and somehow affix it to a blank mask. Any ideas? Would it be best to somehow make it into paper mache and affix it that way? What is the best shape to cut the face into the make it fit the mold of the mask? Any suggestions as to materials that I should use to affix the printout?

posted by elquien to clothing, beauty, & fashion (6 comments total)

You could try printing it on color transparency plastic and then heating it with a hair dryer whilst it is gently coaxed on to the surface of the mask.

The stuff melts very easily, in fact, so don't use it in a laser printer unless it specifically says you can on the box.
posted by odinsdream at 10:44 AM on October 26, 2005

Is it imperative that you affix it to a blank mask? For added comic effect I'd just print it out on a heavy card stock, cut out some eyeholes, tie a string around it, and it'll be just like those tacky things you used to cut out from the backs of cereal boxes and the like...
posted by Robot Johnny at 10:48 AM on October 26, 2005

You could cut it into horizontal strips and retouch the gaps later. Better still, if you printed two, you could cut overlapping strips so there would be no gaps. Print on thin paper, perhaps tracing paper, and prime the mask white first. Finish with a clear coat.
posted by weapons-grade pandemonium at 10:53 AM on October 26, 2005

Hello there famous-person halloween costume buddy. I myself am going with the Robot Johnny cheap-but-funny option which involves:

1. GIS for a good picture of said famous person
2. Crop and resize in Photoshop
3. Print on card stock, cut neat round eyeholes and string holes
4. Insert small metal eyelets to avoid rippage of string holes


w-gp you totally have the right idea for someone willing to make it impressive.
posted by plexiwatt at 2:15 PM on October 26, 2005

You can try the torn "photo-sculpture" used in Six Feet Under. Print out a high-res image of the famous person, tear up the pieces, and then glue it onto your paper mache molded mask. Eerie, unique look and you'd get props from 6' Under fans.
posted by junesix at 7:00 PM on October 26, 2005

I've long been a fan of the super-duper basic method: print out a face, glue it to cardboard, cut around the face, and tape a length of dowel to the back. No eye-holes, no elastic, no nothing. You hold it in front of your face like a masquerade mask. My old housemate and I made a bunch of these when we were in the habit of holding stupid theme parties (we had a Michael Caine party and a Judy Dench party, and every guest got a slightly different mask). I'm of the opinion that you get more bang for your buck with these, plus they're not at all uncomfortable.
posted by hot soup girl at 4:53 AM on October 27, 2005