Advanced Patterning for Puppetry

[@ashberg5011]

"work outside in the fresh air" i think is the best clip from this video. Thanks for the excellent production. Can't wait to check out the rest of your channel.

[@AlexAndOlmsted]

@@ashberg5011 Hahaha, I had forgotten we put that clip in there! Thanks for the reminder 😂

[@ashberg5011]

@@AlexAndOlmsted More Foam Sculpting tutorials pls ^_^ more fun projects hehehe

[@AlexAndOlmsted]

@@ashberg5011 It's on the list! 😊

[@robertwesterfield3454]

Really nice video. Thank you.

[@AlexAndOlmsted]

Thanks! Hope it was helpful!

[@jennifergeorgia5445]

This is terrific! I love the spiral cuts on the cheeks. I want to try that on some clothing pattern drafts for ... um... other rounded protuberances.

[@AlexAndOlmsted]

Haha, thanks! Let us know how the spirals on the clothing work out. Just don't make the spirals too extreme or you might hypnotize folks who see it!

[@OldManStan]

Lovely work and a really well presented tutorial :)

[@AlexAndOlmsted]

Thank you!

[@BradFeeser]

Nice work! About to start this new art form... but these Bevel cuts are confusing. I understand "outside" or "Inside" bevel cuts, but how do you decide the degree / angle of the bevel? And those darn Darts! Why isn't there a 3D app that can tell us where to make the cuts?

[@AlexAndOlmsted]

Thanks! For the most part foam is pretty forgiving if you're in the ballpark of the correct angle. If you're not sure, try cutting them at a 45 degree angle and see how they fit. You can always cut or sand more material off. I wish there was a good, simple 3D app that created flat patterns, too! The biggest issue is that we're cutting curves to create smooth organic shapes, and 3d models are made of flat polygons. Best of luck trying things out!

[@BradFeeser]

@@AlexAndOlmsted Thanks for the tips. For whatever reason I decided to start with a complex shape. Gluten for punishment I guess. Don’t stop making these tips videos. Really helpful.

[@ZenSpaceTurtle]

Fantastic work! I wish I found this a week ago when I was trying to figure out how to do this on my own.

[@AlexAndOlmsted]

Thank you! I feel your pain! I did so much research when I was first learning about this technique and I could never find a good tutorial. But I've found most really great innovations in puppetry (and any kind of design) are by trying to solve a problem without being told how to do it. I'm sure your experiments taught you way more than if you sat down with someone and they showed you.

[@ZenSpaceTurtle]

Totally! Admittedly I found one video on how to do it, but the design was very simple. I was making a puppet head with a comically large cleft chin. (or chin butt, for the lay person) And I was all like, “how do I make this 90 degree crease?”

[@stephaniexyz3781]

Thank you so much for this tutorial!!!

[@AlexAndOlmsted]

You're welcome! Hope it comes in handy for some fun projects!

[@gkline8288]

Fantastic loved the video!

[@AlexAndOlmsted]

Thanks so much!

[@THEcucufate]

Dope. So was this for demonstration only, or are you planning on using this as a real puppet? Wondering how you would put fabric on something like this, or color it.

[@AlexAndOlmsted]

Thanks! This was just for demoing the patterning process. If I were to cover it in fabric I'd probably use a draping technique and work in sections. If I were going to paint it I'd use acrylics and spray the surface of the foam with a little water to help the colors flow. Also, if I knew I was going to paint the foam from the start I would mark the insides of the pattern pieces so the marks wouldn't show.

[@THEcucufate]

@@AlexAndOlmsted That makes sense and is very helpful, just like the video in general! Thank you!

[@Ziggy_stardust124]

This is so amazing could you maby tell me what kinds for foam are best to use

[@AlexAndOlmsted]

Thanks! It really depends on at what scale you're building, if it needs to be flexible, how much detail you need, and some other factors. Generally for these types of heads I like to use 6mm EVA foam. It's a little less forgiving that upholstery foam because it's more ridged, but that also means you can do more detail and sharp angles.

[@Ziggy_stardust124]

@@AlexAndOlmsted thank you so much

[@puppetmaggie]

wait! what the heck was that moment with the red pen thing? I lost you there. also love the little self doubt moment

[@AlexAndOlmsted]

You mean the Red Auto-Vectorizer Pen? It's a handle little tool but it takes some practice. Just make sure to use your non-dominant hand and apply slight torsion to your wrist, while at the same time alternate counter torsion to the fingers. If that doesn't work for you you can always just bring the image into your photo editor of choice and trace it there.

[@gorey24fm]

F***ing brilliant! Than k you!

[@IMChrisThom]

I just discovered your channel. I'm looking forward to digging in. Would you use the same patterns here when you get ready to cut your covering?

[@AlexAndOlmsted]

Glad you found us! I wouldn't use that many pattern pieces for covering it, especially if I was using something with a lot of stretch like fleece. I'd probably do a light dusting of spray adhesive on part of the foam, drape the fleece in that area (gently stretching or gathering darts where needed) and move on to the next area. Then you could cut the excess off and tidy up your seams with a ladder stitch.

[@IMChrisThom]

@@AlexAndOlmsted That seems like it would be a good topic for a video ;D

[@atitagain83]

The rasterized pen wouldn't scale as well you have to explain. 😂

[@AlexAndOlmsted]

Haha, can't have our patterns getting all pixelated! :)