Cosplay

The Cosplay Handbook

A book of costume and prop making techniques.
By Grace Herbert

The Cosplay Handbook is full of techniques, and tips for everyone interested in cosplay! Learn how to create your own patterns, costumes, props, photoshoots, and more.

The Art of Extreme Wig Styling

By Regan Cerato

A styling handbook for the ambitious wigsmith!
Complement your cosplay with incredible wigs―custom-designed and created by you! Regan Cerato of Cowbutt Crunchies shows you how to make dozens of extravagant wigs for cosplayer needs, from dyed spikes to dragon scales to fiber flowers and so much more! Extravagant wigs can be intimidating, they can even stump the most seasoned of crafters but with the expert Cosplay guidance wig making can be accomplished by everybody. Whether you’re a new or experienced sewist, this handbook will help you turn your cosplay dreams into reality.

• All the core basics that will help take your wigs to the next level
• Learn trimming tips, dyeing techniques, weft basics, teasing, volumizing, and so much more
• With the right tips and tricks, an arsenal of skills, and guidance from seasoned cosplayers – extreme wig making can be for everybody!

Make: Props and Costume Armor

By Shawn Torsson

Have you been trying to think of a way to conquer your local comic convention through cosplay? Do you gaze with envious eyes upon the fan-made suits of armored awesomeness strolling around every year on Halloween? Do you have a spot on your wall, bookshelf, or desk that desperately needs to be filled with a screen-accurate replica of your favorite science-fiction or fantasy weapon? If so, look no further. We’ve got just the book for you!

Foamsmith – How to make foam armor and costumes

By Bill Doran

“Foamsmith: How to Create Foam Armor Costumes” helps you create stunning, comfortable pieces of costume armor as painlessly and cheaply as possible. Learn everything you need to fabricate, paint, and wear your stunning foam armor creations. You’ll be introduced to basic tools to work with EVA foam floormats. Then, you’ll learn how to make armor templates and combine the foam pieces together. Go over painting techniques and how to add straps to your armor. Also, learn how to add lights to your amazing costume!

Foamsmith 2 – How to forge foam weapons

By Bill Doran

You’ve read our first Foamsmith armor making book and now you’re ready to build that perfect, complimentary prop to go with your jaw-dropping armor costume. Fantastic! Foamsmith 2 is a deep look into the tools, materials, and techniques you’ll need to know to make your own incredible foam prop weapons! Foam weapon making can be a challenging proposition for the uninitiated. Fortunately, this book breaks it down for you in a way that’s easy to pick up quickly. With the techniques in this tome, you’ll be building incredible prop swords and guns quickly and cheaply in no time! Not only does this book include two highly detailed example builds, it also includes two free PDF blueprints to go along with those builds! That’s right, you can follow along as professional prop maker Bill Doran takes you through his creative process, building a pair of amazing foam prop pieces. Looking to up your game? Foamsmith 2 also covers many tools and techniques that are a little bit more advanced than the first armor making book. Prepare to start making props that have your friends asking “Wait, that’s made from foam!?”

Foamsmith 3 – How to make helmets, crown and masks

By Bill Doran

Our first two books on EVA foam crafting, Foamsmith 1 & 2 taught you how to make stunning foam costumes and armor. Foamsmith 3 will empower you with the knowledge you need to make mind blowing headgear from humble sheets of foam. Building costume pieces that you wear on your head can be an extremely frustrating and challenging process. In this book you’ll learn how to tackle the challenges of patterning a wearable piece of costume art so that it looks exactly the way you want. You’ll also figure out how to build a helmet so that it’s as functional, and comfortable as possible. The first half of the book is focused on techniques like patterning, assembly, prototyping/fitting, making visors, and advanced finishing techniques. You’ll also learn about some new materials like EVA foam dowels and foam clay! The second half of the book is a series of three example builds, complete with free, downloadable templates that you can print at home to follow along with the build! Each project varies in difficulty and style, so there’s something for every maker.

Foam Patterning and Construction Techniques

Turning 2D Design into 3D Shapes
By Mary McClung

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.

300 Cosplay Tips

Tips, Tricks, and Hacks to Make Your Costume Look Amazing

By Kate Bianchi

Blizzard Cosplay

Tips, Tricks and Hints
By Matt Burns

The fans of Blizzard Entertainment are some of the most innovative and passionate fans in the world!
The Blizzard Cosplay Book is a celebration of their creativity and love of the characters that inhabit the many worlds of Blizzard.

Featuring costuming tips, tricks, and photos from the best across the globe, The Blizzard Cosplay Book is a must-have for all fans of epic adventures and killer shoulder pads!

Cosplay Crash Course

A Complete Guide to Designing Cosplay Wigs, Makeup and Accessories
By Mina Petrovic

Cosplay lets you step out of your own skin and into someone else’s shoes (or boots, or paws…). This beginner’s guide helps you walk that walk with confidence in an awesome costume of your own creation.

True to the cosplay spirit of collaboration, Cosplay Crash Course shares favorite tricks and techniques from some of the community’s most imaginative artists. Step by step, you’ll learn how to turn ordinary fabrics, inexpensive toys, easy-to-manipulate thermoplastics, wigs and other humble materials into original costumes you’ll wear with pride. Whether you’re making fabulous feathers, metallic armor, wicked horns, lifelike claws or form-fitting boots, this book puts it all within your reach. You’ll even learn awesome hair and makeup effects to complete the look.

Use this inside advice to fast-forward through years of trial and error; learn to select the best fabrics and adhesives and to make practical choices for comfort and wearability. Armed with the know-how in these pages and a spirit of adventure, who will you become?

Everything you need to dress your part!

• 25+ step-by-step projects for creating authentic looking props, costumes and accessories
• Easy techniques and clever shortcuts from nine international cosplay artists
• How to manipulate wigs, extensions and your own hair to create unique and expressive looks
• Awesome makeup effects, from tattoos and zombie bites to tricks for making faces appear more feminine or masculine
• Bonus tips for striking a pose and snapping dynamic, in-character photos

Creative Cosplay

Selecting & Sewing Costumes Way Beyond Basic
By Amanda Haas

An inspirational guide to sewing cosplay

Boldly enter the world of cosplay and gain the confidence to design the costume of your dreams! Award-winning cosplayer Amanda Haas helps you translate your ideas from fiction to reality as you research costumes, shop for fabrics, mash-up patterns, and present your cosplay at a competition. A gorgeous photo gallery will have you frantic to join the cosplay community, while the author’s seasoned advice will give you the courage to take the first step. Bonus project: Sew a bum bag to carry your keys and other essentials to a con. Learn the art of making and wearing designer-quality costumes that will transform your persona.

• Turn fiction into fashion! A step-by-step guide to designing your own cosplay
• Dive into the fun world of cosplay with the author’s trusted advice
• Step up your cosplay costumes with inspirational photos, techniques, and more

Level Up! Creative Cosplay

Costume Design & Creation, SFX Makeup, LED Basics & More
By Amanda Haas

Expand your costume and cosplay-making skills and go from beginner to confident maker!

Picking up where Creative Cosplay left off, this new volume prepares costume enthusiasts to create out-of-this-world effects from head to toe! Cosplayers of all experience levels have much to gain from Amanda’s expertise as a national cosplay competition winner and judge. Learn the basics of making an original costume pattern, using prosthetics and latex, and customizing fabric through dyeing and painting. Transform yourself into the character of your choice with Special Effects (SFX) makeup. SFX makeup uses prosthetics and smaller on-skin materials to create illusions — such as wounds, scars, deformities, or supernatural features — directly on the skin.

• Get the scoop on sergers, embroidery machines, and using a digital cutter
• Pick up industry secrets on the basics of LED work, body painting, and SFX makeup (Special Effects Makeup) and prosthetics
• Create a DIY costume repair kit for conventions, and market yourself in the cosplay world

Cosplay Fabric FX

Painting, Dyeing & Weathering Costumes Like a Pro
By Julianna Franchini

Elevate your costume-making skills to the next level!

Getting exactly the look you want and achieving knock-out special effects can be as simple as weathering or painting on fabric, but strategically damaging or adding paint to your costume can be intimidating – what if you get it wrong?! Many cosplayers are adept at sewing up costumes but have no idea how to add details and effects that help tell a story. Marquise Cubey (Julianna Franchini), a veteran cosplayer and industry expert, demystifies paint, tools, and techniques to help you add fabric painting and weathering to your arsenal of costume effects!

• Learn how to manipulate paint on fabric and add weathering to your arsenal of costume effects
• Create special effects like metal, dirt, burns, blood, wear and tear, and rust, plus shading techniques, with detailed how-to instructions
• Enhance your tiny details and give your props and costumes more dimension than ever!

Printing Props

A beginners guide to 3D printing for cosplay and replicas
By Christopher Maddalena

If you have ever wanted to use 3D printing to create a replica prop or use 3D printed parts in your cosplay, this book is for you. Whether you’re new to 3D printing or a veteran, these pages contain what you need to know to take a raw print to a fully finished prop that looks like the real deal. The chapters cover basic concepts and materials and progress towards more intermediate topics: editing and creating models, tips and tricks for finishing printed parts, and how you can reproduce a 3D print in solid metal. Each chapter features models created by the author and other makers so you can see the discussed techniques in action. The book also includes free 3D models you can edit and print to follow along with the examples.

Costume Craftwork on a Budget

Clothing, 3-D Makeup, Wigs, Millinery & Accessories
By Tan Huaixiang

Costume Craftwork on a Budget demonstrates how to use inexpensive materials to create durable costumes and props in a short amount of time. Fully illustrated step-by-step instructions teach readers how to use 3-D makeup and create teeth, wigs, masks, hats, nonhuman costumes, leather products, and other accessories.

This new edition features updated introductions for each chapter and project, expanded chapters on 3-D Makeup, Wigs, Masks, Headdresses, and Animal Costumes, and projects from shows such as Shrek the Musical (latex ears), Orphie & the Book of Heroes (headdresses), and Side Show (a lizard costume). From creating armor out of laundry baskets to detailed tricks for creating a witch’s prosthetic nose, this book equips aspiring costume designers with the techniques needed to produce costumes and props that are beautiful, economical, and safe.

The Art of Cosplay and Creative Makeup

Create Incredible Looks with Simple Techniques and Affordable Materials
By Chris Peck

Body painter extraordinaire Chris Peck, aka Rainbowskinz, shows you the fundamental techniques he uses to create an infinite number of extraordinary looks.

Learn the secrets of stunning transformations with cosplay superstar Chris Peck in The Art of Cosplay and Creative Makeup. Peck shares invaluable techniques for aspiring and experienced cosplayers alike, including:

• Accessible methods for elevating costumes using affordable makeup and other techniques
• Insights into product usage and savvy application techniques
• Practical tips for facial contouring, scar simulation, prosthetic application, and more
• Advice for creating your own social media content
• QR code links to videos that further demonstrate techniques

Whether you attend comic, anime, sci-fi, or other conventions, want to elevate your Halloween look, like face paint or SFX makeup, or even want to showcase your own transformations on social media, The Art of Cosplay and Creative Makeup will show you everything you need to know to make your cosplay dreams come true.