What is lifecasting?
Lifecasting is an ancient technique of making an impression of the body.
Molding from life.
Life & Death masks have been made since 1300 B.C. Until the invention of photography, a mask was the only way of capturing someone’s exact likeness.
Lifecasting is used to capture timely moments like pregnancy, babies and weddings. Major events in one's life like weight loss or mastectomy are also captured with lifecasting. Life & Death masks are still a way of capturing a moment in time.
What is the Procedure?
A mold is made of the subject by covering the area with alginate (feels like yogurt) and it becomes firm (like jello). A support mold is then made from plaster over the alginate. The support mold and alginate are then pulled together, as one, from the subject. Gypsum is then poured into the alginate mold. Once the gypsum cures, the alginate and support mold are removed and discarded. The result is a copy of the subject.