Beetlecat Originals - Mini Tutorial #6

Mini Tutorial #6 - Fur Trimming

Jan. 2nd, 2007 at 3:54 PM

A quick tutorial on the importance of timming the fur on your fursuit head and how to do so.

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	The fully furred and untrimmed head. I normally trim the fur as I'm attaching it, but I refrained from doing so on this head, in order to make this tutorial.
	I roughly trimmed the fur from between and around the eyes. This is a good starting point because it's important for good vision using this style of eyes. I first cut off the fur with scissors and then smoothed it out with my clippers. I use human clippers so they take longer to cut and I do not inadvertantly cut off too much at one time.
	Now I trimmed the fur around the lips and muzzle. I go very slowly to make sure I do not cut off too much as then all you can do is cut off the rest of the fur to match. By watching how you trim, you can also subtly change the look and shape of your head to conform better to your vision.
	The fur is mostly trimmed and smoothed out by this point. This has taken almost two days. Do not feel you have to finish quickly, as this is perhaps the most important step towards bringing a head together into what it is supposed to be and defining an expression. I clean my clipper constantly as I go along and oil them around twice for each fursuit head. Fake fur is really hard on clippers, so be good to them.
	The finished product after painting and adding whiskers and a tongue. I darkened around the eyes, repainted the nose and lips, and added a brown wash to the muzzle, in order to blend the cut and non-cut portions of the face.

Comments

( 27 comments — Leave a comment )

diadexxus wrote:

Jan. 2nd, 2007 11:36 pm (UTC)

Gods, you have some of the BEST Tutorials!! THANK YOU!

*adds to LJ FURSUIT MEMORIES*
-J

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beetlecat wrote:

Jan. 2nd, 2007 11:48 pm (UTC)

I'm interested in suggestions for future tutorials :)

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diadexxus wrote:

Jan. 3rd, 2007 12:00 am (UTC)

Hmm! Maybe ask that question in LJ Fursuit when posting this? I am sure people have a LOT of questions you could answer :) :) :) Thanks again!

-J

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(Anonymous) wrote:

Oct. 13th, 2007 12:28 am (UTC)

Tutorial suggestions

I am really interested to see how you make a functioning jawset. Aka, the internal workings of the mask so it does conform to your chin so you can effectively "speak" with the mask. Also include what materials you use to get the initial mask shape, how you like making your noses, and especially how or where you get your fursuit eyes.

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jt_whitewolf wrote:

Jul. 23rd, 2008 07:13 am (UTC)

I was wondering if you could make a tutorial about how you create the FULL head. Like how you make a movable jaw and how you attach the jaw to the face, and back of the head to the face etc. Im brand new to this but am confident that with the right help i could do it.

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beetlecat wrote:

Jul. 23rd, 2008 07:35 am (UTC)

Perhaps in the future - I have plans to print a comprehensive fursuit-building book at some point. But for now I think it's best to make you figure out all the larger details on your own :D Plus there are lots of head tutorials by various builders floating around on the internet - there's not much I can contribute to that.

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(Anonymous) wrote:

Dec. 15th, 2009 12:36 am (UTC)

Suggestion

A suggestion for a tutorial: Im really having trouble with my articulated jaws. Think you could add a tutorial on articulated jaws?

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tonyringtail wrote:

Jan. 3rd, 2007 12:26 am (UTC)

is there a preferred way of keeping the fur smoothed down? like hairspray or something?

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beetlecat wrote:

Jan. 3rd, 2007 01:20 am (UTC)

By 'smoothed' I meant that I had gone over the area with clippers several times and clipped away all the uneven and stray bits of fur.

If your fur is constantly getting messed up then it is, IMO, not high quality enough (no undercoat) and/or it is too long.

That said, you could try a small amount of hair gel, liberally diluted with water. Spread it all over your palms and then wipe them over the head in the direction of the hair pile. That should tame the 'fly-aways'. Let it dry.

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grrrowly wrote:

Jan. 3rd, 2007 12:51 am (UTC)

Great tutorial! :) I'm planning on making a video tutorial on the physical action of trimming- how to handle the clippers on the fur, etc. I'll link to this when I do!

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beetlecat wrote:

Jan. 3rd, 2007 01:21 am (UTC)

very cool :)

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brokkentwolf wrote:

Jan. 3rd, 2007 02:28 am (UTC)

Good one. I had hoped to do a "How to shave down your head down" at FWA as a way to improve an existing costume, but was told by the track organizer that it might carry a little much liability. I tend to agree, but it would have been nice. Kudos on your tutorial.

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midori8 wrote:

Jan. 3rd, 2007 02:35 pm (UTC)

nice! it's been a while since i have trimmed the fur on my suits. i usually use seal fur ( the really short stuff) cause lately all the fur i have use looks UGLY when you shave it down. but this fur looks nice and smooth.

pssst hey i thought about you the other day when i was in my hardware store they have bunch of screening there. i am sure a hardware store up there will have the same stuff you use cause it seems to work for you nicely =)

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beetlecat wrote:

Jan. 3rd, 2007 05:32 pm (UTC)

I though about mentioning how you don't really have to clip seal fur, but I actually do clip small touch ups in it. Though, nothing like the critter above, of course.

I still haven't found a good material to use for your critter's antlers. So I haven't made too much progress on him lately :)

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unknowbie wrote:

Jan. 3rd, 2007 04:59 pm (UTC)

do you use electric clippers, something like a beard trimmer or just regular clippers? Any benifits from either?

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beetlecat wrote:

Jan. 3rd, 2007 05:28 pm (UTC)

I use normal electric clippers for trimming human hair.

More heavy duty ones would work more quickly, but they also tend to leave 'furrows' or 'clipper marks' in the fur.

Pet ones may work with out leaving clipper marks but I've never tried them. The ones around here are $70 to over $100 for a pair, and I'm quite happy with my $30 Costco clippers.

I did used to use a cheaper pair (bought at a a non-costco box store for $30), and they were so cheap they hardly cut at all and were very frustrating.

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swirling_chaos wrote:

Jan. 4th, 2007 03:30 am (UTC)

Thanks for sharing this. :) May I ask what kind of clippers you use? (Brand name, etc.) I've been looking for a good pair myself.

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beetlecat wrote:

Jan. 4th, 2007 03:59 am (UTC)

Mmmm... *looks at clippers*

They're Conair brand.

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swirling_chaos wrote:

Jan. 4th, 2007 06:14 am (UTC)

Thanks, I'll check for them next time I'm out. :)

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jaesharp wrote:

Jan. 4th, 2007 08:17 am (UTC)

Beautiful tutorial. I like the way you take your pictures and how well you describe each step :)

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beetlecat wrote:

Jan. 4th, 2007 06:55 pm (UTC)

Thank you!

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swandog wrote:

Jan. 17th, 2007 03:10 am (UTC)

Ah, you trim so beautifully! :) You won't be needing that short green fuzzy material I sent you then, unless you want to use it for the pinfeathers on the wings, or something similar (like trimmed, forest green seal).

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czgoldedition wrote:

May. 17th, 2007 06:36 am (UTC)

Wow, great tutorial, thanks! Now I just have to go buy me some clippers... :}

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seaweedotter wrote:

Dec. 19th, 2007 01:16 am (UTC)

Hey, It's Seaweed!! YAY!!

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lithefider wrote:

Apr. 13th, 2008 10:45 pm (UTC)

First let me say your work is astounding! X33 I have admired your work for some time (This is the same Lithe from Deviantart as well, btw) ^__^

I wanted to thank you so much for this tutorial!! It will be invaluable to me when I go to make my Amaterasu quadsuit! I was unsure of how to get the best short fur look and to control the lengths in various places. This cleared that up! :) You rock!

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lassialaguna wrote:

Oct. 24th, 2008 03:24 am (UTC)

I can think of one. I'd LOVE to see a hand paw tutorial. You make some absolutely MAGNIFICENT paws, and I'm sure I'm not the only one eager to try out your techniques. ^_^

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