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Which puppet making technique do you prefer?
Which puppet making technique do you prefer?
Of course the Design of the film and puppet, as well as your own budget and abilty will ultimately decide which materials you use, but from the techniques you've used, which do you prefer?
Which one do you enjoy the process of most?
Which has given you the best results?
What kind of puppets do you prefer animating?
I remember it was a little annoying on SMM not being able to discuss the poll options, so this should be good.
Personally I like to build up around the armature, and make the hands by dipping latex, and the clothes from fabric. I've make all-clay puppets before but I find it a bit of a pain to be sculpting and smoothing all the time, and the way the weather is here, or maybe it's the brand of the clay, but it dries out and cracks and crumbles very quickly. I've tried casting puppets but I've never gotten a usable puppet out of it.
The way I make these puppets is quick and fairly cheap to do, I like the look of it, and it's nice to animate because I don't need to worry about the clay splitting at the joints. It's also really light.
By the way, the puppet I'm talking about will be revealed soon, I'm waiting for a tiny jacket to be mailed over from a Hong Kong ebay seller 
Other than that I've made the rest of the clothes myself, with glue instead of stitching.
Jun-29-10 09:35:59
- Marc_H
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- 113 Posts
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Re: Which puppet making technique do you prefer?
As most polls, this is a tough one. I agree that the old poll system was a little limiting. I have only made one foam cast puppet, but liked the experience very much. In many ways I do think that foam casting yields the best results. You can refine that sculpture until it's as close to what you want as can be. Also, the cast foam just stretches right.
Almost all of my puppets, due to different reasons, are built up, not a preference, just the way it is. I also like to use latex to glue the clothes as opposed to stitching them, mostly because I can't really sew that well.
Great poll.
- tim smyth
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- 27 Posts
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Re: Which puppet making technique do you prefer?
Heh, I glue my clothing for the same reason, I'm terrible at sewing. I'm actually considering buying a cheap sewing machine off of ebay or something so that I can get really darn good at making tiny clothes. There's ones which are made specially for making little things. I'm going to try casting stuff again sometime and see if it turns out better because I have some silicone sitting here doing nothing.
- Marc_H
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- 113 Posts
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Re: Which puppet making technique do you prefer?
I came back and voted for foam cast puppet, For animation purposes I just like the way the foam moves on those puppets better than the foam on the build up ones. Like I said before, I have only made one foam cast model, but have animated many. I really would like to try clay animation again, now that I am older.
- tim smyth
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- 27 Posts
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Re: Which puppet making technique do you prefer?
m_) Great idea Marc H : Now let me just say this: I enjoy all kinds but then that is just being neutral on your point.
m_( I went B for answer's sake.
m_) Basically is the latest method I've tried and, so far, the one I enjoyed the most.
m_) However, there is still more to get to know and see before knowing what fits more my preferences.
m_) For example, I have never made utheran based puppets, is this how you call it? Basically I refer to Nick's method, one method I never tried but find very curious to reach.
- Metalmadcat
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- 51 Posts
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Re: Which puppet making technique do you prefer?
"urethane sheet foam, with liquid latex applied to form a skin, and MDF teeth and spines." ---quoted from Nick's dragon description.
m_) This is one that seems to be very promising to work with, and makes me wonder if one day would be among my preferences. Nothing I can answer right now.
- Metalmadcat
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- 51 Posts
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Re: Which puppet making technique do you prefer?
I'll be honest, I've been using kitchen sponges and some weird kind of medical tape rather than urethane cushion foam
- Marc_H
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- 113 Posts
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Re: Which puppet making technique do you prefer?
I like using armatures and wrapping soft foam and fake clothing around, then the heads and hands are clay... that sounds like "other" to me.
- JesseOffy
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- 168 Posts
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Re: Which puppet making technique do you prefer?
I have only done clay yep thats it never anything else so I just said c and well sometimes I think it is fun to just animate objects around you you should put that as a 5th option
- mongothemonkfish
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- 59 Posts
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Re: Which puppet making technique do you prefer?
I only animate clay characters, I've never used an armature!
- HeroicHam
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- 28 Posts
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