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Fake Blood 101 - By Abby Lyle  wound, blood makeup, horror effects

Okay Special Effects junkies, this is where you get the break down of all fake/stage bloods on the market and off. As a working special effects make-up artist, I’ve gotten to use many of these products and even choose to make blood myself on occasion. This article is to explain the pros and cons of each brand and there specific uses.

When shopping for your blood there’s a few things you need to know about your project: prep, color preference, consistency, clean-up. For instance, fresh blood and aged blood are very different in color or a wound that has scabbed would look much thicker from a fresh wound. Another factor, how many times will you have to do a blood gag to get it just right, cleaning and resetting between each take. It just saves you a lot of time and energy to know exactly what kind of blood you need for each situation.

Let’s start with the recipes you can make at home. I’ve found two recipes that have been used in the business for years, and believe it or not most make-up artist choose to make there own so they can get the color and consistency to their exact specifications. Not to mention knowing whether or not the blood will stain the skin and fabrics.

Realistic Mint Flavored Blood

2/3 cup Corn Syrup

1/3 cup Water

5 tbsp Corn Starch

3 to 5 tspn Red Food Coloring

2 to 3 drops Green Food Coloring

1 drop peppermint extract (optional)
Mix water and corn starch.
Add corn syrup, mix well.
Add red food coloring slowly, adjusting for color,
then slowly add green food coloring.
Add peppermint extract if wanted.

Hint: If blood is two transparent then add milk for a thicker consistency.

Hint: If wanting darker blood then cocoa powder.

Pros- Works great for overall Fx, can be used in the mouth.
Cons- Stains badly, but you can remove from skin with shaving cream.

Cardoff Red Blood

Water

1 tspn Arrowhead Baking Powder (found in health food stores)

Children’s non-toxic paint (red and brown)

Coffee Concentrate

Add Arrowhead to heated water on the stove,
stir until it becomes gloopy. Stir in red paint.
Add small amount of brown and coffee concentrate to make color darker.
Store in bottle, add water to thin out before use.

Pros- Stainless, can be used in mouth
Cons- thicker than usual, not to used for make-up effects.

Wardrobe Blood


Pro Style ( Hair gel that you can buy at any beauty supply)

Your choice of blood ( I would obviously say use a stainless recipe)

Mix the two to your liking, it comes out to a really nice brownish, red.

Pros- Looks great on wardrobe
Cons- Can stain depending on the blood you choose to use.
AddTime:  2007-07-02 14:22:34
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Keywords:  blood, makeup, effects, production, tips, tricks, wound,
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