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Cosplayer's Ultimate Guide to EVA Foam: Design, Pattern, Create - Level Up Your Costumes & Props
Unlock the unlimited possibilities of EVA foam!
Turn your wildest costume dreams into reality! Whether you are a master-level cosplayer or brand-new to making costumes and props, this is the ultimate reference guide to using different kinds of EVA foam and other up-to-date materials and to make epic costumes, props, accessories, and other projects out of this world! If you want to create your own high quality props, EVA foam is the way to go ― it is a rubber-like thermoplastic that is easy to work with, durable, and lightweight. You can build an entire costume with EVA foam ― shields, armor, helmet, weapons ― without getting weighed down.
Turn your wildest costume dreams into reality! Whether you are a master-level cosplayer or brand-new to making costumes and props, this is the ultimate reference guide to using different kinds of EVA foam and other up-to-date materials and to make epic costumes, props, accessories, and other projects out of this world! If you want to create your own high quality props, EVA foam is the way to go ― it is a rubber-like thermoplastic that is easy to work with, durable, and lightweight. You can build an entire costume with EVA foam ― shields, armor, helmet, weapons ― without getting weighed down.
240 pages, Paperback
Published November 25, 2022
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Displaying 1 - 4 of 4 reviews
January 3, 2024
As an educator who must work with a campus bookstore for course materials/texts, it's exciting that FanPowered Press, an imprint of C&T Publishing, is bringing out such high-quality titles from cosplayers through a traditional publishing avenue! (I reviewed a prior title of theirs on gloves/gauntlets/bracers here.)
My perspective as a reviewer of this book is that of a professional costumer for entertainment--theatre, film, ballet, opera, and other performances. As such, I've kept informed in general of innovations that come out of the cosplay community [1]. Cosplayers have more control over the choice of projects they pursue and the timeline in which to finish them; entertainment costumers like myself often have minimal influence over the projects on which we work and even less control over the timeline to completion.
In part because of this, innovation with newer materials and technologies comes more quickly from cosplay costumers. And I'm particularly appreciative of how forthcoming cosplayers are about the methods and techniques they develop, how generous they are with their expertise, and how dedicated they are about documenting their work. Cosplay is a different context and purpose for the costumes created, so it's helpful to keep that in mind when reading references written for a cosplayer readership.
It's also useful when reading this book to consider that its author is not only a renowned cosplayer, but also boasts a degree in industrial design. An industrial designer and a theatrical costume designer are related in that both are design specialties, but having worked as a fabricator for both, IME a costume designer can be more devoted to aesthetic whim than technical specifications. I'm getting pretty far into the weeds here though, so back to this fantastic book and why it belongs in the libraries of entertainment costume and propbuilding studios.
The book is packed with valuable information, and the author starts with the basics--how foam differs from fabric, and why a maker of foam costume pieces will likely need a body form as well as how to make one. Downer covers the materials, tools, and adhesives needed and how to safely use them. She also discusses topics like patternmaking for foam structures and how to create seamless joins and dimensional decor elements. She also reveals "hacks" for how film armor pieces disguise the closures and supports that allow actors (and cosplayers) to get in and out of EVA foam armor.
Examples of surface textures and finishes are shown, and charts on the properties of various media/products are found throughout the text, from comparisons of adhsives to primers to thermoplastics and much more. The section providing an overview of hardware types and uses in a costume armor context is fantastic, comprehensive, concise, and well-illustrated. In fact, full-color photographs clearly illustrate the materials, media, and processes described throughout.
At 240 pages, this is no thin pamphlet either--it's almost exhaustively thorough. I will definitely use this book as a reference in my class this spring semester! Highly, highly recommend.
[1] ...which overlaps with performance costume making--there are many artists active across both spheres...
My perspective as a reviewer of this book is that of a professional costumer for entertainment--theatre, film, ballet, opera, and other performances. As such, I've kept informed in general of innovations that come out of the cosplay community [1]. Cosplayers have more control over the choice of projects they pursue and the timeline in which to finish them; entertainment costumers like myself often have minimal influence over the projects on which we work and even less control over the timeline to completion.
In part because of this, innovation with newer materials and technologies comes more quickly from cosplay costumers. And I'm particularly appreciative of how forthcoming cosplayers are about the methods and techniques they develop, how generous they are with their expertise, and how dedicated they are about documenting their work. Cosplay is a different context and purpose for the costumes created, so it's helpful to keep that in mind when reading references written for a cosplayer readership.
It's also useful when reading this book to consider that its author is not only a renowned cosplayer, but also boasts a degree in industrial design. An industrial designer and a theatrical costume designer are related in that both are design specialties, but having worked as a fabricator for both, IME a costume designer can be more devoted to aesthetic whim than technical specifications. I'm getting pretty far into the weeds here though, so back to this fantastic book and why it belongs in the libraries of entertainment costume and propbuilding studios.
The book is packed with valuable information, and the author starts with the basics--how foam differs from fabric, and why a maker of foam costume pieces will likely need a body form as well as how to make one. Downer covers the materials, tools, and adhesives needed and how to safely use them. She also discusses topics like patternmaking for foam structures and how to create seamless joins and dimensional decor elements. She also reveals "hacks" for how film armor pieces disguise the closures and supports that allow actors (and cosplayers) to get in and out of EVA foam armor.
Examples of surface textures and finishes are shown, and charts on the properties of various media/products are found throughout the text, from comparisons of adhsives to primers to thermoplastics and much more. The section providing an overview of hardware types and uses in a costume armor context is fantastic, comprehensive, concise, and well-illustrated. In fact, full-color photographs clearly illustrate the materials, media, and processes described throughout.
At 240 pages, this is no thin pamphlet either--it's almost exhaustively thorough. I will definitely use this book as a reference in my class this spring semester! Highly, highly recommend.
[1] ...which overlaps with performance costume making--there are many artists active across both spheres...
September 20, 2023
This is the book I wish I'd had when I was getting started with prop making projects. Seriously, This book makes all the other cosplay books look like so much flaming hot garbage. The author has a degree in industrial design, so I guess it makes sense that she takes this stuff real seriously.
This author.... I cannot say enough about her organization skills. She's made all these helpful charts. There's one for costume pieces and the appropriate attachments and several for the different kinds of paints and adhesives that are compatible with different materials and rated for use with parts that require flexibility..... it's *chef's kiss*
That's one of the things that I've struggled with--having to test out different sealants and paints without having the money for it. She's got pictures of The same material with different primers, to show exactly what they look like. She's even marked the more commonly used ones for you. The instructions for application are extremely detailed 🙏🙏🙏 Thank you, mother.
I really hate watching YouTube videos for this kind of saying because people are windbags and it never seems like the things they tell me are actually true for me. Granted, idk if many of these things will work, but I see the evidence that she's tried them all on identical things, USING THE SCIENTIFIC METHOD-unlike basically all cosplay content creators.
Also, now I know what greaves are. Thanks, Mistress Downen!
This author.... I cannot say enough about her organization skills. She's made all these helpful charts. There's one for costume pieces and the appropriate attachments and several for the different kinds of paints and adhesives that are compatible with different materials and rated for use with parts that require flexibility..... it's *chef's kiss*
That's one of the things that I've struggled with--having to test out different sealants and paints without having the money for it. She's got pictures of The same material with different primers, to show exactly what they look like. She's even marked the more commonly used ones for you. The instructions for application are extremely detailed 🙏🙏🙏 Thank you, mother.
I really hate watching YouTube videos for this kind of saying because people are windbags and it never seems like the things they tell me are actually true for me. Granted, idk if many of these things will work, but I see the evidence that she's tried them all on identical things, USING THE SCIENTIFIC METHOD-unlike basically all cosplay content creators.
Also, now I know what greaves are. Thanks, Mistress Downen!
June 13, 2024
In-depth dive into different foam materials, tools, and techniques. Has a few specific project instructionals, but mostly really understanding the materials and tools.
August 11, 2024
A great book. I will admit that I'm quite a beginner with foam, so I thought all of the tips were useful. I borrowed this book from my library but I will definitely be borrowing or purchasing soon!
Displaying 1 - 4 of 4 reviews