Sourcing/Fabricating Eye Masters
Hey, everyone!
I have a relatively simple question.
I've been having some difficulty deciding how to make some eye masters. Most specifically, some nice, highly glossy masters with a corneal bulge. I'm more than comfortable with making the silicone molds.
I'm just unsure what the best approach to make them. I have considered 3D printing a model, but I'm not sure how to proceed from there. I could sand and then coat in resin or a clear coat, or make a mold of the rough master, cast in resin, and then polish.
I also have a lathe I could spin an acrylic rod on.
Alternatively, I would be happy to buy some as well.
At any rate, it doesn't seem like there's a terrible amount of information about this process. If anyone has some direction, I would greatly appreciate their input.
I have a relatively simple question.
I've been having some difficulty deciding how to make some eye masters. Most specifically, some nice, highly glossy masters with a corneal bulge. I'm more than comfortable with making the silicone molds.
I'm just unsure what the best approach to make them. I have considered 3D printing a model, but I'm not sure how to proceed from there. I could sand and then coat in resin or a clear coat, or make a mold of the rough master, cast in resin, and then polish.
I also have a lathe I could spin an acrylic rod on.
Alternatively, I would be happy to buy some as well.
At any rate, it doesn't seem like there's a terrible amount of information about this process. If anyone has some direction, I would greatly appreciate their input.
0
Comments
3D printing and then filling/sanding/polishing would be a good option. So is the acrylic rod + lathe idea. Both would work great.
We have a few courses that can help here:
Epoxy Eyeballs Part 1: Casting & Painting
https://www.stanwinstonschool.com/tutorials/epoxy-eyeballs-part-1-casting-and-painting-realistic-epoxacast-resin-eyes
Making Creature Eyes
https://www.stanwinstonschool.com/tutorials/how-to-make-eyes
Oversized Eyes Part 1: Digital Sculpting & 3D Printing
https://www.stanwinstonschool.com/tutorials/oversized-eyes-digital-sculpting-and-3D-printing-a-t-rex-dinosaur-eye
Fourth Seal Studios:
https://fourthsealstudios.com/ (in their accessories & kits section)
Kens Tools:
https://www.kenstools.com/shop
/Chris
Ultimately, I decided to 3D print the eye form and sand it down as smooth as I could. From there, I made a silicone mold of the form and then cast it in resin. I sanded and polished the cast to a near-mirror finish and made a final silicone mold. I was able to achieve the effect I was seeking this way without inhibiting the silicone with clear coats or resins. I did lose about 0.06mm in diameter at the widest point from sanding, but that was acceptable for this application.
/Chris