ABSTRACT

Foam Patterning and Construction Techniques: Turning 2D Designs into 3D Shapes explains how to create your theatrical prop, puppet, or costume design using the unique and tricky medium of foam. Step-by-step instructions, photographs, and explanations illustrate how to translate your design from paper to reality by creating custom "skin" patterns, followed by creation of a foam mockup. The book details how to bring your project to life with varied finishing techniques, including using fur and fabric coverings and dying and painting foam. Numerous supplies, tools, and safety procedures and protocols are also covered.

section Section I|39 pages

The Medium of Foam: Materials, Tools, and Safety

chapter chapter two|10 pages

Safety

chapter chapter three|8 pages

What Type of Foam to Use?

section Section II|18 pages

Design

chapter chapter four|9 pages

An Approach to Design

chapter chapter five|7 pages

Renderings, Working Drawings, and Simplicity of Form

section Section III|31 pages

Translating Design into Reality: Techniques Used in the Patterning Process

chapter chapter six|8 pages

Additive Patterning: Adding a Surface Layer

chapter chapter seven|8 pages

Subtractive Patterning: Cutting Away the Surface Layer

chapter chapter eight|7 pages

Speed Patterning

chapter chapter nine|6 pages

Free-form Foam Patterning

section Section IV|34 pages

Determining the Pattern Divisions, “Truing” Patterns, and Changing Scale

chapter chapter ten|7 pages

Determining the Pattern Divisions

chapter chapter twelve|8 pages

Scale: Determining the Size of the Finished Piece

chapter chapter thirteen|4 pages

Formula for Reducing and Enlarging

chapter chapter fourteen|6 pages

How to Enlarge and Reduce Pattern Pieces

section Section V|18 pages

Putting it all Together: From Pattern to Object

chapter chapter fifteen|8 pages

How to Bevel Corners and Utilize Darts

chapter chapter sixteen|4 pages

Cutting Pattern Pieces out of Foam

chapter chapter seventeen|4 pages

Gluing and Sewing

section Section VI|32 pages

Finishing the Design

chapter chapter nineteen|5 pages

Uncovered Foam: How to Finish

chapter chapter twenty|8 pages

Detailing and Bringing to Life

section Section VII|44 pages

This Section Goes Through the Full Process for Six Projects

chapter chapter twenty-one|6 pages

Free-form Foam Construction

chapter chapter twenty-two|11 pages

Making Two Different Shapes from the Same Foam Pattern

chapter chapter twenty-three|7 pages

Patterned Foam Mask

chapter chapter twenty-four|8 pages

Patterned Foam Armor

chapter chapter twenty-five|10 pages

Patterned and Carved Raptor