how to thicken stage blood at DVinfo.net

Nathan Quattrini · August 17th, 2007, 10:43 AM

The stuff you buy at halloween shops, its very watery. How can I thicken it? I know adding blue food coloring helps the color, but i need it to thicken up without being super sticky like corn syrup

John Miller · August 17th, 2007, 10:49 AM

Corn starch?

Lisa Shofner · August 17th, 2007, 11:32 AM

I think a small amount of gelatin would thicken it also. but i haven't tried this, it is just a theory.

Cole McDonald · August 17th, 2007, 01:04 PM

cornstarch is what i use, it also adds some opaqueness to it.

Paul Izbicki · August 17th, 2007, 03:18 PM

Glycerine used to be popular as tears and thickener. Dunno if that's still the case.

iPaul

Andy Graham · August 18th, 2007, 02:55 AM

washing up liquid and some red food coloring is very realistic, the food coloring can stain your skin a bit so have baby wipes handy.

Richard Alvarez · August 18th, 2007, 07:00 AM

Using Corn Syrup (Kayro is a popular brand) Add red and a drop of blue. If it's too thick, add a bit of water, shake and test. Keep adding water untill it's thin enough. Adding corn starch, cocoa powder and 'peanut butter' for chunks if it's in the mouth... can work but it's nasty.

Using baby shampoo works on clothing, with the additional plus that it 'foams' over chest wounds, more realistic.

I've used these solutions for more than twenty years of stage combat experience. It works just fine.

Gabriel Yeager · August 18th, 2007, 09:13 AM

Cornstarch is the way to go if you just want to thicken it. I prefer to make my own. Its simple, entertaining, and you get the exact results you want. But for what you asked, cornstarch is how you are going to want to go about this.

Good luck,
~Gabriel

Nathan Quattrini · August 18th, 2007, 08:46 PM

ahh corn starch...now will that make it stick? There are parts where i`ll use the Karo...but some stuff we don`t want it sticky like when they have to hit each other after the blood is applied...with Karo that just makes a mess like little kids and lollypops....we need smearable blood that can just be reapplied every take. Does that make sense?

Richard Alvarez · August 18th, 2007, 09:43 PM

Nathan

Spend five dollars. Buy a bottle of Karo and food coloring. Mix it up in a measuring cup. ADD A LITTLE WATER - test it out untill you get the mixture viscosity that you like.

Personally, I like a mixture of about one third water... I think that's closest to real blood on the skin... but some people think it's too thin. So it's really a matter of trial and error till you get what YOU like.

You're just going to have to experiment... enjoy the creativity.

August 17th, 2007, 10:43 AM	#1
Nathan Quattrini Major Player Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: Warwick, Rhode Island Posts: 740	how to thicken stage blood The stuff you buy at halloween shops, its very watery. How can I thicken it? I know adding blue food coloring helps the color, but i need it to thicken up without being super sticky like corn syrup __________________ Cinematography Site

August 17th, 2007, 11:32 AM	#3
Lisa Shofner Major Player Join Date: Aug 2006 Location: Madison, WI Posts: 373	I think a small amount of gelatin would thicken it also. but i haven't tried this, it is just a theory. __________________ [http://www.ljparkerphotography.com] photos [http://www.youtube.com/darkdragonvegas] videos

August 17th, 2007, 01:04 PM	#4
Cole McDonald Trustee Join Date: Nov 2005 Location: Sauk Rapids, MN, USA Posts: 1,675	cornstarch is what i use, it also adds some opaqueness to it. __________________ Web Youtube Facebook

August 17th, 2007, 03:18 PM	#5
Paul Izbicki Panoramic Join Date: Mar 2005 Location: Knoxville, TN Posts: 85	Glycerine used to be popular as tears and thickener. Dunno if that's still the case. iPaul __________________ Paul Izbicki i2inewMedia

August 18th, 2007, 02:55 AM	#6
Andy Graham Major Player Join Date: Dec 2005 Location: Lanark,Scotland Posts: 736	washing up liquid and some red food coloring is very realistic, the food coloring can stain your skin a bit so have baby wipes handy. __________________ Actor: "where would that light be coming from?" DP: "same place as the music" -Andrew Lesnie-

August 17th, 2007, 10:49 AM	#2
John Miller Major Player Join Date: Oct 2005 Location: Hillsborough, NC, USA Posts: 968	Corn starch?

August 18th, 2007, 07:00 AM	#7
Richard Alvarez Inner Circle Join Date: Sep 2002 Location: San Mateo, CA Posts: 3,840	Using Corn Syrup (Kayro is a popular brand) Add red and a drop of blue. If it's too thick, add a bit of water, shake and test. Keep adding water untill it's thin enough. Adding corn starch, cocoa powder and 'peanut butter' for chunks if it's in the mouth... can work but it's nasty. Using baby shampoo works on clothing, with the additional plus that it 'foams' over chest wounds, more realistic. I've used these solutions for more than twenty years of stage combat experience. It works just fine.

August 18th, 2007, 09:13 AM	#8
Gabriel Yeager Major Player Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: Washington, NorthWest USA Posts: 788	Cornstarch is the way to go if you just want to thicken it. I prefer to make my own. Its simple, entertaining, and you get the exact results you want. But for what you asked, cornstarch is how you are going to want to go about this. Good luck, ~Gabriel __________________ Gabriel Photography

August 18th, 2007, 08:46 PM	#9
Nathan Quattrini Major Player Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: Warwick, Rhode Island Posts: 740	ahh corn starch...now will that make it stick? There are parts where i`ll use the Karo...but some stuff we don`t want it sticky like when they have to hit each other after the blood is applied...with Karo that just makes a mess like little kids and lollypops....we need smearable blood that can just be reapplied every take. Does that make sense? __________________ Cinematography Site

August 18th, 2007, 09:43 PM	#10
Richard Alvarez Inner Circle Join Date: Sep 2002 Location: San Mateo, CA Posts: 3,840	Nathan Spend five dollars. Buy a bottle of Karo and food coloring. Mix it up in a measuring cup. ADD A LITTLE WATER - test it out untill you get the mixture viscosity that you like. Personally, I like a mixture of about one third water... I think that's closest to real blood on the skin... but some people think it's too thin. So it's really a matter of trial and error till you get what YOU like. You're just going to have to experiment... enjoy the creativity.