Member of Association of Lifecasters International ALI
The Body Casting Process
Body Casting (Lifecasting) can be performed in many ways with a number of materials used to make moulds. The most common material used is Alginate, derived from sea weed and used by dentists to take teeth moulds. Alginate powder is mixed with water and sets like a soft rubber. Alginate can reproduce very fine detail such as fingerprints. However, an alginate mould has very little strength and usually needs a support such as a plastic container, or a plaster jacket. Alginate also has a limited life and the mould will start to harden and crack after a day or so. Often the alginate mould is destroyed when removing the cast.
Other materials commonly used are plaster bandages (not as good at reproducing detail), and skin safe silicon (more expensive, but can be used to make a number of casts from the same mould.
Body Casting is an art not a science and as such some imperfections will exist in the final pieces. Experience and care is used to create the best quality cast for you and most imperfections can be fixed with skilled finishing.
Call us or e-mail to discuss what you would like cast and learn more about what is involved.
We have a video of us making the mould for a female torso cast from neck to knees. Click here to watch it .
