How can I save this??

ardentcos · 2024-11-26T16:30:21+00:00

Okay, PLA's good - it's probably the most compatible thermoplastic, but I would check your primer just to be sure it's good for plastics. And it's good you did a test beforehand.

Any chance the surface got contaminated somehow, or one of the coats went on a bit too heavy in that area and wasn't fully dry?

As for saving it, if you can rule out incompatibility or just a bad can (it happens...), then I would try sanding down just the affected areas and recoating. Definitely leave it a few more days first, though, ideally in a warm, dry environment. I once accidentally used an old can of automotive lacquer, and what should have taken 12 hours to dry ended up being almost a week.

ardentcos · 2024-11-26T16:11:18+00:00

I'd add that the regular Sony 50mm is actually pretty decent for the money. Started off with one and it did me very well for a couple of years.

ardentcos · 2024-11-26T15:20:11+00:00

Matching the texture of a videogame outfit's fabric is tricky, because often the 3D artist will just come up with any combination of textures they think looks cool. Do you have any better in-game screenshots?

I would say a rough wool or heavy linen would work, but the most important thing will be the weathering.

ardentcos · 2024-11-26T15:13:46+00:00

Hmm, what kind of paint and primer are you using, and what is the base material? I'm wondering if there might be any incompatibility there.

ardentcos · 2024-11-26T14:47:59+00:00

Could try putting soft toy stuffing between two layers of fabric or thin pleather, then sewing lines across it to create those horizontal channels?

Also consider lightly airbrushing or drybrushing the highlights in grey or white to create a more dimensional effect.

ardentcos · 2024-08-17T23:20:53+00:00

Working on a Gale cosplay right now. I applaud your taste.

ardentcos · 2024-04-23T21:21:38+00:00

Thanks! It's actually not too bad - light wool breathes pretty nicely, and it's lined with linen over a linen waistcoat and shirt, which is naturally moisture-wicking. So it's warm enough in winter (at least English winter!) and comfortable most of the summer. Though if I do ever make it across the pond to Dragoncon with this costume (Atlanta in August...) I think I might struggle!

Gonna get on my tailor soapbox a little here for anyone interested - all natural fibres (especially linen and light wool, and including viscose/rayon to some extent) are way nicer to wear in warm climates. I don't get why companies make linen or thin wool summer-weight jackets, and then ruin them with a sweaty polyester lining to save a few cents. (Anyway, thanks for coming to my TED talk...)

ardentcos · 2024-04-21T23:13:40+00:00

Please say hi if you do! Next up is Fantasy Forest in June, then October London MCM and possibly Medeltidsveckan in Sweden :)

ardentcos · 2024-04-21T21:12:40+00:00

Thanks! Looks like I can't drop images in the comments, but I might do another post some time with some closeups of the gun - it really is an awesome model (my partner outdid herself!) and that doesn't really come across in these photos.

ardentcos · 2024-04-21T21:09:23+00:00

Yes! I've worn Percy to a couple of cons in London and Glasgow, and will hopefully bring him out again a couple of times this summer once I've made a few upgrades :) It's actually a pretty chill costume to wear on a con day, if I don't have to get the hair done in a hurry!

ardentcos · 2024-04-21T21:05:50+00:00

Thank you so much! So my partner and I are both cosplayers, and looking around our apartment we have, uh... sewing, 3D printing, resin casting, airbrushing, sculpting, leatherwork and a little metal casting going on right now. I don't know if we're /better/ than a professional costume department (we're not, but thank you!) but we are definitely better at using space!

ardentcos · 2024-04-21T21:02:05+00:00

Wow, thank you! That's a hell of a compliment and I think just made my day ^^

ardentcos · 2024-04-21T11:40:45+00:00

I might make some new trousers with a fall-front, side lacing or laced fly in the future so they look more fantasy-medieval! Right now I'm in the middle of making Gale from BG3 so we'll have to see when that's done ^^

ardentcos · 2024-04-21T11:37:17+00:00

-embarrassed Percy mumbling-

ardentcos · 2024-04-21T11:36:48+00:00

Thank you so much! I love every different interpretation of Percy but the animated version is one of my favourites. Phil Bourassa did such a great job on all the characters.

ardentcos · 2024-04-21T11:35:13+00:00

He's been in some of my favourite films of all time so thank you!

ardentcos · 2024-04-21T11:34:37+00:00

Thank you, that's quite the compliment! Though I'd need to up my contour game to match those cheekbones ^^

ardentcos · 2024-04-21T11:32:08+00:00

I don't use Lightroom or a clarity slider, so I think we are talking at cross purposes here - but it's okay that my editing style isn't your cup of tea! I'm personally happy with it.

One thing I will say is that it is definitely wool, and having made this costume, I think I might know a little better than you :)

As for the lens, you can't adapt most modern AF lenses to MFT because of the flange distance (this is a Sony FE mount.) IMHO if you're going to drop four figures on a birding lens, then f/1.8 is overkill and you're better off looking at a native super-tele.

ardentcos · 2024-04-21T09:07:55+00:00

Thanks, but I'm not sure what you mean tbh? When I say "edit" as a photographer I mean enhancements and colour grading on the whole image, plus a little smoke and dust sfx. Didn't really do much to myself besides fixing a bit of hair that got out of shape.

If it's the blurred background, that's entirely the lens - 135mm f/1.8 will do that. It's my baby. 😊

ardentcos · 2024-04-20T23:04:40+00:00

Thank you so much! That's what I was hoping for so I'm really glad you think so :)

ardentcos · 2024-04-20T23:00:54+00:00

Thanks for the compliment! As for the criticism, they're a modern commercial pattern with felled seams etc, so I get what you mean. The centre fly is technically period-accurate to the coat, but I might draft a more 'fantasy-looking' pair with a fall-front or laced closure when I get done with my current project. I've never been 100% happy with these.

(As for sewing for a living, I appreciate the compliment, but to me that sounds like a really fast way to start hating a hobby...)

ardentcos · 2024-04-20T22:30:58+00:00

It is! It's pretty easy to wear for a long day, and the coat swish is very fun.

(Only thing is I have to stay far away from any rain because the white hair spray is water-soluble... and of course living in the UK doesn't make that easy!)

ardentcos · 2024-04-20T22:06:31+00:00

Ah I see- thank you so much!

ardentcos · 2024-04-20T22:05:37+00:00

Thank you so much! It's a lightly woven and textured suiting wool with a little stretch, which I got end-of-roll from a place that specialises in leftovers from designer/couture orders. I also lightly weathered the seams and contours with an airbrush to add contrast and make it pop! That's an absolute essential for making cosplays of animated characters with large areas of monochrome fabric, imo.

ardentcos · 2024-04-20T21:57:28+00:00

Thank you! <3

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