Technical File - 3rd Degree Gelatin Burns

Types of burns:

1st Degree - Causes red skin. Typically caused by sun burn or boiling water.

2nd Degree - Causes red skin, blistering and peeling and also often shiny. Typically caused by acid or heat.

3rd Degree - Fleshy and bloody in appearance. Typically caused by acid or fire.

How to create a 3rd degree burn with Gelatin:

Products needed;

• Gelatin
• Supracolor
• Hairdryer
• SFX Blood
• Moisturiser 

Step by Step:

1. Get a piece of Gelatin and put it in a bowl and put it in the microwave for about 10/20 seconds (depending on size).
2. Once heated, allow it to cool slightly so that it doesn't burn the skin. If you are unsure, test it on yourself first and not the person you are applying the burn on to.
3. Apply over the area of the skin, with a spatula, and use it to make texture rather than staying smooth.
4. To blend out the edges, use witchhazel and a cotton bud and rub away the edges with a zig zag motion.
5. Powder over the gelatin with translucent powder.
6. Apply red supracolor over the area with a soft brush, making sure to keep the edges blended.
7. Apply some moisturiser, particularly in risen areas, to add shine to the burn.
8. Add darker shades (such as dark red, purple, and even black in the very deepest areas) to add depth to the burn.
9. Add blood in the deep and flat areas of the burn to make it look like an injury (as without blood, the burn would just look more like a skin condition).

Health and Safety:

• Make sure all product is decanted and not used straight from the palette/bottle to keep good hygiene.
• Use clean brushes/sponges.
• Ask your model if they are Vegan as an alternative to Gelatine will need to be used.
• Test the Gelatine after being heated on yourself before using it on your model to make sure it isn't too hot/won't burn them.
• When using a hair dryer to dry the Gelatine, test on yourself first to ensure it is a suitable temperature and won't burn your model.

Evaluation:

Overall, I am quite pleased with my burn and think that it looks effective. If I were to do it again, I would make the edges with supracolor on it more blended as it looks quite obvious that it was applied with a brush which reduces how realistic it looks.