found this just in time to start making the "barbarian armor" from Legend of Zelda Breath of the Wild- I was *this close* to buying fake leather but i actually like how this looks way more! Thank you :oD
you can use a hot iron, the one you use to iron clothes, foam, aluminum foil crumbled and slightly open up and press with the iron until the desired texture is achieved, you can have both very rough leather or very fine leather, experiment with the alu foil, hope this helps ... :D
I often use the trick of making a sandwitch of fake leather fabric, thin foam, and fake suede fabric, and glue and sew it all together. Instant two-sided "thick leather", plus it allows me to actually sew foam without it ripping.
Nice idea for formed pieces. I did a similar thing before, but on flat ones. I crunched foil, and "untangled" the ball, for a lack of better word. After that I used an iron to heat the foam though that foil. It gave me much finer texture, looking less worn out. Also instead of latex I just used clear wood PVA glue.
Thank you so much for sharing this Ted!! I love working with leather and making leather costumes, but the cost of materials is so high. This technique will make my projects so much more versatile and cost effective!
!! I was at a prop making panel at a con and literally asked how to make foam look like leather!! (It was a panel with moderatelyokaycosplays, he suggested you so you might know him!)
Dunno if anyone has already said this: but I’ve found it a lot easier when making flat pieces to put the scrunched foil on the foam and then iron the back to get a nice texture. This worked for some leather straps and thin body armour I’ve made in the past , I don’t know if I still have it to take a picture but it worked very well for the surface of a leather covered shield too! (Just food for thought)
Ahh! Thank you so much! This was so helpful! I didn't really think to use foam instead of actual leather/pleather, but since its so expensive it's difficult.. so thanks!!
I have leather but dont know how to harden it,im making Revalis belt from breath if the wild which looks much more thick that leather imo, thank you for posting this
you are more than welcome sir. I been following you for a while. You and Bill Doran inspired me to start building from foam and take my costuming business to the next level and especially since the expense is so much level than fabric lol. Again thank you for everything you do
Hi Evil Ted, since you are the armor expert, would you please consider teaching us how to do a stormtrooper's armor (from SW: New Hope) at least the chest, stomach and back piece please. Thank you!
also evil ted i tried to make bent legs like animal legs with foam with the same costume it was challenging but it was worth it i wore it at fanimecon 2017 it was called the protoss zealot
Oh, this would be perfect for a cosplay idea I have! And with a different paint job, it would make for some cool, weathered metal armor! You have saved my soul, Ted. My many thanks!
@EvilTed thanks so much for your videos! I'm a bit of a digital modeler/sculptor, but it's so cool to see how the prop/production design side of things works. The texture that the foil imprints is super cool, I can't believe how the foam holds the shape. To get a more specifically 'leathery' surface I wonder if the foil could be scrunched a certain way to make longer jagged lines, simulating the way (animal) skin tends to fold. Stamp a bunch in one direction and then another pass mostly perpendicular. I wonder if foil could get that shape or if I'd need to make some other sort of custom stamp?
I've seen someone unroll the crumpled aluminum flat, place it on top of foam, and press down with clothing iron. Probably wouldn't work too well for 3D pieces.
Since you go to Dragon Con, do you know Yvonne WIlliams? I think she is a great crafter and very sweet aparently. She knows a thing or two about leatherwork as well :) Maybe you can stop by the Back to Earth creations booth and say hi.
Thanks so much Evil Ted! Any chance you'd make a tutorial about Wonder Woman's Gold "Training" bodice/corset when she's on Themyscira? It's made of leather which I can't afford and I can't help but think it could be made with foam and still look awesome...
I LOVE your work! I've used many of your tips in my work, and your Fallout armor tutorial on the AWE Me channel really helped me out for a recent commission! I'd like to ask, do you have any tutorials for making foam look like wood? I have an idea for a cosplay mask in the near future and I'd like to know if you have any tips!
Take a piece of real wood, remove the softer and lighter parts of the wood with a wire brush (use angle grinder or any tool of your choice) until you have deep grooves and and use it to stamp the pattern to foam. Just don't overheat the foam so it doesn't stick. Then paint it with the colors of your choice, adding different color to a deeper grooves etc. just like in this video :)
+Evil Ted Smith: Let me know how it worked out for you. I have used pine, where the lighter parts of the wood are much softer than the darker parts, you get a suitable pattern for stamping quite easily.
CAN YOU PLEASE MAKE FOAM POWER RANGER MOUTH PLATE. I MEAN THE THING ON THE HELMETS THAT LOOKS LIKE A REAL MOUTH. I CAN DO THE REST OF THE HELMET MYSELF, I JUST NEED HELP ON THE MOUTH PLATE PLEASE
In creating a rubber based paint (combining acrylic paint with poly latex 60) instead of using poly latex 60 would using a clear "flex seal" provide the same effect? Likewise if I were to mix mod modpodge with acrylic paint in a 50/50 ratio, would that produce the same paint flexibility as the combination of rubber+paint? Thx! You're videos are freaking great!!
Do you have any hints to help deal with cracking in the paint? Often when I'm using my armor the acrylic paint starts to crack if the shape it tweaked at all. The video was very informative, thanks!
Yes try putting it on thinner. It's better to paint with a couple of thin layers of paint that one think coat. The thicker the acrylic is the more likely it will crack.
this technique doesn't work on super sturdy thick foam sadly :{ youd have to use an entire aluminum foil roll on this foam i was trying to use for this
Hi Ted Is there another latex product that I could use besides the Poly Latex 60? That I could get from Loews or Home Depot? I need it right away and ordering and shipping is out of the options right now- time is of the essence. What would you recommend please
hei i have a question, i was wondering if you use this tecnique for any particoular reason over the ironing tecnique (wich consist in basically ironing a piece of foam placed under a crumbled piece of tin foil) or the roll tecnique (basically the same just instead of using an iron you heat the tin foil over then foam then roll any cilinder shaped object on it). thank you for the video you are awesome!
Hey Ted! Do you know of a good way to make the textured side of eva foam smooth? I'm currently working on a project where both sides of the foam piece will be visible. Would it be best to sand it, fill it in, or maybe a combo of both?
Hey Ted, random question for you, but if you were making faux leather armour that is meant to be a glossy black, what would you do to pick out the detail? I used the tin foil technique to get a leather texture to the armour and I'd like to highlight this in the paint job. The only thing I can think to do is dry brush a lighter black onto the armour... but I worry this will make it look grey rather than black. Do you have any thoughts?
Thanks Ted! If the armour turns out I'll be sure to send a photo your way. Thanks for the inspiration in 2017, I'm looking forward to what you come up with in 2018!
found this just in time to start making the "barbarian armor" from Legend of Zelda Breath of the Wild- I was *this close* to buying fake leather but i actually like how this looks way more! Thank you :oD
Thank you for subscribing and watching.
😂😂 today I also Start to make this Cosplay 🙈
hey im using this for a botw cosplay as well! cant wait to finish my hylian tunic
I love how he is learning UA-cam as we are learning about foam. you are so great keep it up
Yes, I'm getting better making videos. Thank you for subscribing.
Foil texturing... Simple but brilliant. This is what I was missing when I made the foam leather belt for my Edward Elric costume. Thank you!
Thank you for subscribing.
I'm just getting into cosplay... and this video was a great tutorial! Thank you for your time and wisdoms!
You're so welcome! Thank you for subscribing.
you can use a hot iron, the one you use to iron clothes, foam, aluminum foil crumbled and slightly open up and press with the iron until the desired texture is achieved, you can have both very rough leather or very fine leather, experiment with the alu foil, hope this helps ... :D
Yes you can, I just like pushing harder so the texture is deeper and easier to paint.
I often use the trick of making a sandwitch of fake leather fabric, thin foam, and fake suede fabric, and glue and sew it all together. Instant two-sided "thick leather", plus it allows me to actually sew foam without it ripping.
Thanks for the tip.
I used this technique to make a leather handle for a War Axe that I made for a convention. Thank you Evil Ted!
Thank you,
This man is a genius
Now you know how to do it as well.
Nice idea for formed pieces. I did a similar thing before, but on flat ones. I crunched foil, and "untangled" the ball, for a lack of better word. After that I used an iron to heat the foam though that foil. It gave me much finer texture, looking less worn out. Also instead of latex I just used clear wood PVA glue.
Good ideal.
Thank you so much for sharing this Ted!! I love working with leather and making leather costumes, but the cost of materials is so high. This technique will make my projects so much more versatile and cost effective!
Happy to help and thank you for subscribing.
!! I was at a prop making panel at a con and literally asked how to make foam look like leather!! (It was a panel with moderatelyokaycosplays, he suggested you so you might know him!)
Yes! I do know him. We met al A-Kon.
Dunno if anyone has already said this: but I’ve found it a lot easier when making flat pieces to put the scrunched foil on the foam and then iron the back to get a nice texture. This worked for some leather straps and thin body armour I’ve made in the past , I don’t know if I still have it to take a picture but it worked very well for the surface of a leather covered shield too! (Just food for thought)
I've done that, but I found that the detail was too settle for me. I like the texture to be deeper witch makes it easer to paint.
Looks great, Ted!
Thanks buddy!
Ahh! Thank you so much! This was so helpful! I didn't really think to use foam instead of actual leather/pleather, but since its so expensive it's difficult.. so thanks!!
I’m glad you like this technique. Yes, leather is expensive.
I'm mindblown. Wow.
I am an artist myself and have, in the past, made props like this. However, I bow my head to Ted, the Master of the Trade.
Great job
Thank you.
I have leather but dont know how to harden it,im making Revalis belt from breath if the wild which looks much more thick that leather imo, thank you for posting this
To make it thicker, you can just use thicker foam, like 3mm!
Thanks for making this video
Thank you for watching and subscribing.
J'ai pas compris un mot
Mais c'est super se que vous faites
dan36100 mdr mais avec les images tu peux te débrouiller !!
Awesome!
Your awesome for subscribing.
Great video. Can't wait to experiment with this technique.
Thanks for this. Perfect for a plague doctor mask!
Happy to help.
You just saved my ass, thanks Ted
Happy to help.
Thank you Ted, this will make my Viking armor so much better
Thank you for subscribing.
That's really and simple . Thanks for the tips
You're welcome.
Awesome Ted!
This video could not arrive at a more perfect time, currently researching methods to make a Cassandra Cain Batgirl cosplay. ^^
I'm glad it will help.
Ted your made my day with this video
You made my day subscribing.
GREAT tip!
This was a great video for this. I was curious how to do this exact look for a cosplay I plan to do
Just Go for it! I get so many comments on how to start. It's not rocket science... just pick some foam and start building!
this video just saved my life omg
So happy to hear that! Thank you for your support.
Awesome and looks so simple. Many thanks for sharing.
You're welcome and thanks for subscribing.
Awesome video ted!, im going to use this to make a armored vault dweller for Dallas comic con
Nice!
Holy crap this is genius, thank you! I'm going to have to apply this on a much larger scale but this should still work nicely.
Thank you so much Ted for this tutorial. I look forward to seeing you at a future con up here in Seattle.
Yes, I'll be at Rencon this year. www.rentoncitycomiccon.com/
Fantastic video! Shall be using this!
I'm happy to help.
wow
Thank You Ted it looks easy and helpful!
Thank you for watching and subscribing.
Awesome.
Im glad you liked it.
Ah ha! This is exactly what I needed!
that is completely amazing!!!
Thank you.
you are more than welcome sir. I been following you for a while. You and Bill Doran inspired me to start building from foam and take my costuming business to the next level and especially since the expense is so much level than fabric lol. Again thank you for everything you do
Hope to meet you at DragonCon!!
Me too!
Looks great. perfect for my star lord cosplay! Thank you evil ted!
Thankyou for subscribing.
Thank you!
Welcome!
That's amazing!
Thank you.
Hi Evil Ted, since you are the armor expert, would you please consider teaching us how to do a stormtrooper's armor (from SW: New Hope) at least the chest, stomach and back piece please. Thank you!
Thank you so much
Thank you for subscribing.
I've also found a nice bumpy rock works real good as well in place of the foil!! Awesome tips as always man thanks for the inspiration!
I really like the rock ideal. Thanks.
this is exactly the technique i needed! thank you so much
Thank you for watching and subscribing.
Sick
Thanks Ted! That was exactly what I needed :)
Happy to help.
Fantastic channel! Gracias
Thank you for subscribing.
this is such a helpful tip!!!! Thank you
You're welcome and thanks for subscribing.
Evil Ted, awesome work! Will there be a video on the Zelda Master Sword. I bought the print and having a hard time putting it together. Thanks!
Try using Citadel inks (chestnut) wash with this technique 👍👍
Wow
Thank you.
also evil ted i tried to make bent legs like animal legs with foam with the same costume it was challenging but it was worth it i wore it at fanimecon 2017 it was called the protoss zealot
I hope to see it someday.
That looks amazing. That foil texture would have made my Chewbacca foam belt and bag even better. I will use that for next time. Thank you.
Glad you like it!
I don't make costumes or attend conventions. I watched this simply because it's just really really cool. Good job!
Thanks for subscribing.
Oh, this would be perfect for a cosplay idea I have! And with a different paint job, it would make for some cool, weathered metal armor!
You have saved my soul, Ted. My many thanks!
Happy that it helped!
Guess I’ll be making a plague doctor mask!
Thanks! This helps so much!❤
Thank you for subscribing.
@EvilTed thanks so much for your videos! I'm a bit of a digital modeler/sculptor, but it's so cool to see how the prop/production design side of things works. The texture that the foil imprints is super cool, I can't believe how the foam holds the shape. To get a more specifically 'leathery' surface I wonder if the foil could be scrunched a certain way to make longer jagged lines, simulating the way (animal) skin tends to fold. Stamp a bunch in one direction and then another pass mostly perpendicular. I wonder if foil could get that shape or if I'd need to make some other sort of custom stamp?
Sounds like a plan...try it out!
How do I heat the foam to texture. Without reactivating the glue again
That's a really good and cheap way to create "leather" armors with foam. As always, thanks for sharing your knowledge with us Ted
Thank you for watching and subscribing.
I've seen someone unroll the crumpled aluminum flat, place it on top of foam, and press down with clothing iron. Probably wouldn't work too well for 3D pieces.
I used an iron before, but wasn't happy with the detail in the foam. I found just pressing it in by hand worked better for me.
Accidentally did that for my zealot costume already lol
Since you go to Dragon Con, do you know Yvonne WIlliams? I think she is a great crafter and very sweet aparently. She knows a thing or two about leatherwork as well :) Maybe you can stop by the Back to Earth creations booth and say hi.
Thanks so much Evil Ted! Any chance you'd make a tutorial about Wonder Woman's Gold "Training" bodice/corset when she's on Themyscira? It's made of leather which I can't afford and I can't help but think it could be made with foam and still look awesome...
No but I believe that you could do it. I showed you how it can be done. Trust me, you can do it!
I LOVE your work! I've used many of your tips in my work, and your Fallout armor tutorial on the AWE Me channel really helped me out for a recent commission!
I'd like to ask, do you have any tutorials for making foam look like wood? I have an idea for a cosplay mask in the near future and I'd like to know if you have any tips!
Take a piece of real wood, remove the softer and lighter parts of the wood with a wire brush (use angle grinder or any tool of your choice) until you have deep grooves and and use it to stamp the pattern to foam. Just don't overheat the foam so it doesn't stick. Then paint it with the colors of your choice, adding different color to a deeper grooves etc. just like in this video :)
I'll have to give that a try.
+Evil Ted Smith: Let me know how it worked out for you. I have used pine, where the lighter parts of the wood are much softer than the darker parts, you get a suitable pattern for stamping quite easily.
going to be at wizard con in Chicago?
Not sure yet.
Would it work the same way to make it look like black leather?
Yes!
beautiful effect. see you at DragonCon
Yes, see you there!
This could of been so useful instead of the spray! I have boots needing to be leatherizes.
Poly latex 60 is a little pricey for me. Will plastidip ruin the foil technique?
Not at all.
If I was to use plasti dip doing the leather texture design will I still be able to see it
Yes!
@@EvilTedSmith thank you
CAN YOU PLEASE MAKE FOAM POWER RANGER MOUTH PLATE. I MEAN THE THING ON THE HELMETS THAT LOOKS LIKE A REAL MOUTH. I CAN DO THE REST OF THE HELMET MYSELF, I JUST NEED HELP ON THE MOUTH PLATE PLEASE
In creating a rubber based paint (combining acrylic paint with poly latex 60) instead of using poly latex 60 would using a clear "flex seal" provide the same effect?
Likewise if I were to mix mod modpodge with acrylic paint in a 50/50 ratio, would that produce the same paint flexibility as the combination of rubber+paint?
Thx! You're videos are freaking great!!
Not sure I've never done that before. Let me know how it works out.
@@EvilTedSmith I definitely will! Thx!
Very cool technique! Looking forward to seeing you at DragonCon! Will you be at any panels?
No I'll be just a fan walking around on foot!
Can Eva be textured/tooled with leather stamping tools, to make different patterns?
Yes, you just need to heat up the foam first.
Evil Ted Smith thank you! Working on some costumes for my first feature & can’t wait to see how they turn out.
Poly Latex 60 seems to be discontinued, is there another product you'd bow recommend?
Yes, I use NaturalForm 60-R bit.ly/2JuekgL It works the same as Poly Latex 60.
Love this! Have you ever worked with chrome car vinyl for covering patterns? I wanted to see if you have any tips. Thanks ☺️
Do you have any hints to help deal with cracking in the paint? Often when I'm using my armor the acrylic paint starts to crack if the shape it tweaked at all. The video was very informative, thanks!
Yes try putting it on thinner. It's better to paint with a couple of thin layers of paint that one think coat. The thicker the acrylic is the more likely it will crack.
this technique doesn't work on super sturdy thick foam sadly :{ youd have to use an entire aluminum foil roll on this foam i was trying to use for this
Was it super sturdy EVA foam?
For the bracer, could it be easier to put the foil on the board and roll the foam over it?
Not as effective as pushing the foil it in the foam.
What colors would make pink look weathered?
Very light dark brown wash maybe.
Evil Ted Smith thank you i will give it a try!!!
Hi Ted
Is there another latex product that I could use besides the Poly Latex 60? That I could get from Loews or Home Depot? I need it right away and ordering and shipping is out of the options right now- time is of the essence.
What would you recommend please
You can use other products to seal your foam. Check out this video on sealing foam. ua-cam.com/video/ug6Rs06FEpk/v-deo.html
I thought it is not possible to mix latex with acrylics?
You can with Poly latex 60.
if i order stuff through these links does it help you out?
Yes it does!
where do you buy foam?
I have links below the video.
Great idea .. thanks for sharing with us ..
.. 🎨 👍 ●○•°
Thank you for subscribing.
is the poly latex 60 necessary?
No you can use Mog podge amzn.to/1X4Wq3D Plastic dip spray amzn.to/1N2rqf2Weldwood cement, for sealing foam.amzn.to/1UJxlhc
Any alternative for the $60 poly latex? Do you need it?
No you can use whatever you want to seal it.
Evil Ted Smith thanks. I'm trying this technique, first time cosplay. 👌
in terms of latex are there any specific properties to look out for or any latex would be fine to mix with acrylic
I have a list with links of every thing I used just below the video.
hei i have a question, i was wondering if you use this tecnique for any particoular reason over the ironing tecnique (wich consist in basically ironing a piece of foam placed under a crumbled piece of tin foil) or the roll tecnique (basically the same just instead of using an iron you heat the tin foil over then foam then roll any cilinder shaped object on it). thank you for the video you are awesome!
I've done that, but wasn't happy with the detail. The texture was not deep enough to my liking.
i see, thanks for replying.
Hey Ted! Do you know of a good way to make the textured side of eva foam smooth? I'm currently working on a project where both sides of the foam piece will be visible. Would it be best to sand it, fill it in, or maybe a combo of both?
Can I use mod podge or does it have to be latex?
Yes of course you can.
Hey Ted, random question for you, but if you were making faux leather armour that is meant to be a glossy black, what would you do to pick out the detail? I used the tin foil technique to get a leather texture to the armour and I'd like to highlight this in the paint job. The only thing I can think to do is dry brush a lighter black onto the armour... but I worry this will make it look grey rather than black. Do you have any thoughts?
My advise you be to get that a try and see how it work. That what I would do.
Thanks Ted! If the armour turns out I'll be sure to send a photo your way. Thanks for the inspiration in 2017, I'm looking forward to what you come up with in 2018!
#class