Practical: Cuts, Scratches, Bruises & Black Eyes

Creating Bruises & Black Eyes

http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/d/d3/Black_Eye_01.jpg/220px-Black_Eye_01.jpg

I like this image because it shows how bruises develop and change over time. I decided to create a bruise that was a few days old, e.g. the third image on the top row.

• Using a sponge, apply supracolors to the area (ensuring you go in the eye socket if it is a black eye)
• Ensure to use a few different colours, to make it look more realistic
• You can also apply some vaseline to give it a shine and make it look as though the skin is tight and swollen

I was actually very pleased with how this black eye came out - I thought it actually looked quite realistic due to the mottled colours and the positioning of the colours, e.g. how it was yellow and more faded around the edges, where the pressure would have been less, but it was red and purple where there would have been direct contact. 

Creating Scars

• Apply some pro shield to the area you will be working on
• Apply colludion to the area
• Using a spatula, create a dent where required
• Dry this area with a cool hairdryer
• Add another layer, and again, dry with a hairdryer
• You can then apply any foundation/supracolor on top

Creating Cuts & Scratches

• Scrape out some cine-wax and put it on the back of your hand 
• Make a sort of roll with it and then apply it to the area of skin 
• Mould it into the skin (apply some cleanser/moisturiser to help it blend easier) ensuring you cannot see the edge between the skin and the wax
• Using a palette knife, cut down the centre of the wax, leaving a gash, and push the rest of the wax to the sides, to make the gash quite defined. You can also use a pin to move the wax around
• Apply some sealer or liquid latex (using a baby bud) over the wound to keep it in place and give it some longevity 
• Using a cool hairdryer, dry the liquid latex
• Using a sponge and supracolors/foundation colour the wound and the area around it to ensure that it blends in
• Then fill the gash within the wound with some Wound filler using a spatular
• Add some fake blood using a stippling sponge (to create scratches) or drip it on (to show blood pouring out of the wound). It is key to remember that new blood is bright/vibrant, and old blood is much darker
• Add some fake dirt/dust/puss, if required

I was very satisfied with how these wounds came out, considering I have never worked with special effects before. I thoroughly enjoyed working with the products and learning what kind of things they can create. The only thing I would say I need to improve is ensuring that all of the cine-wax is blended into the skin as best as it can be, but overall I was very pleased with the outcome.