Plague Doctor Mask: 3D Papercraft Low Poly Halloween Costume (PDF Pattern)

PAYMENT

I have no credit card can I pay with PayPal?

Yes you can pay with PayPal via the Esty site.

www.etsy.com/uk/shop/Wintercroft

HOW DO I RECEIVE MY PURCHASE?

Do I get a download or do you ship it to my address?

You get an immediate download you then print out.

Do you sell completed masks?

I’m based in the UK and I think that the cost, difficulty and not to mention the environmental impact of shipping a large, fragile object to the US, for example, would be prohibitive.

The original idea was to produce a low impact alternative to shop bought masks. The instructions and templates are designed to be easy to follow, so that the mask can be assembled by anyone, using local materials and removing the need for shipping. Besides it’s very satisfying turning what is waste 2D material into a 3D mask.

PRINTING PROBLEMS/SOLUTIONS

So do I need a colour printer for these masks?

The PDF templates are black and white with the idea that you can decorate the mask yourself.

I'm in the US where letter-sized paper is easier to come by than A4. Do any of your plans run right up to the edge, or will I be okay printing on letter? Letter is a bit wider and a bit shorter than A4.

The templates are FULLY COMPATIBLE WITH BOTH A4 AND US LETTER PAPER. The templates are 1:1 scale and are intended to be printed at ACTUAL SIZE on either A4 paper (210mm X 297mm) or US Letter paper (8½" X 11"). In your printer setting please select the type of paper that you are printing on but DO NOT SCALE THE TEMPLATES TO FIT THE PAPER.

I am trying to print out the template and it is almost an inch to half an inch difference in size. I cannot get the 150mm line to be the size I need it to be. Is there a way to adjust this to fit the way It needs to?

Please check your printer setting.
Usually when you press print you get a dialog box with either print settings or print options. Just check that you are printing at full size and not scaling to fit the paper.

The program won't let me print them without signing up with a program that changes PDFs into other things. I’ve downloaded the masks how do I print them?

The easiest way to open and print the templates is by using Adobe Reader. It is a free PDF Reader from Adobe.
You can download it for free from here: get.adobe.com/uk/reader/

MATERIALS

Could you recommend where I could buy "thin card" and "spray mount"... I'm a beginner at all of this and I want to buy the right supplies.

Reclaimed/recycled card is the first choice and the most Eco friendly.

I recommend using cardboard that is about the thickness of a cereal box - but basically anything that will hold a decent crease, as long as you can score and fold it Is the important factor.

If you do want to go out and buy supplies - office supply shops sell card. The minimum weight needs to be around 250gsm (any less is too flimsy).

As for glue; most of the time I use pritt stick (or equivalent) as it is cheap and easy to use.

CONSTRUCTION

I'm just reading the instructions for the skull mask and was wondering what does it mean when you "score the valley folds"?

The mask contains two type of folds, valley and mountain.
Valley folds look like a valley on a flat sheet. Mountain folds look like a raised ridge. by score i mean if you take a rule and line it up with the fold line you can then run something blunt like an old biro along the fold. this weakens the card so that when you make the fold the crease follows the score line.

How do you suggest binding the edges together?

The quickest easiest and in my option best way to join the edges is clear adhesive tape. Any brand will work but I use invisible tape.

Why don't the templates include tabs?

I've tried to keep the build time on the masks to a minimum and taping the edges is by far the quickest way to build the masks. Cutting, scoring, folding and gluing tabs is fiddly work and would add 1-2 hours on to the build time.

If you have other questions regarding building your mask please take a look at this How To Video

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EB95TvCLyLA

MASK SIZE AND FITTING

I was wondering whether these masks fit adults or kids (as shown in the picture).

The templates are scaled to fit an adult, you can easily scale the masks down when you print them if you are making them for children. Try around 80% of the original for children.

Is it possible to wear any of these with eye glasses underneath?

Yes the full head masks are very roomy underneath, but unfortunately glasses will not fit under the half masks as they fit snug to the face.

How do these plans scale to fit people with different size heads?

The masks are design to fit me and I have quite a large head. The masks come with a diagram for a headband to stop the mask rattling around on your head.
If you have a particularly small head you could try scaling down the masks a little when you print them.

I am wondering how well they stay in place on your head. Is there some strap, string, etc that will keep them from flopping down as I can’t see from the eye holes?

On the last page of the instructions there are dimensions and a diagram for a basic head band that fits inside the mask. It is pretty simple but it works. Just make the band to fit your head and then tape it to the inside of the mask.

Is the humanoid/polygon mask meant to be attached to the face using a string around the back of the head? I can’t tell in the pictures and don’t see anything in the details.

Yes just attach a piece of elastic (available at any haberdashery/fabric shop – very cheap) at about ear height. The same applies for the half face masks.

MASK DECORATION

What kind of paint do you use that will adhere to the tape and the cardboard?

Acrylic car spray paint works well, or if you wish to hand paint it white car spray primer is effective at covering tape to enable oil based paints to be painted on top. Spray paint are not the most Eco friendly way but this is effective and quick and cheap.

Does the template include decorative designs?

The painting is entirely up to your own creativity!
You can print out the template on to paper and stick on to coloured card. Materials/fabrics or spray paints can be used. A trip to a craft store for inspiration!

USE OF MASKS

I wanted to know how sturdy the mask would be?
I was thinking of making one for a Halloween party but with all the dancing I am not sure it would hold.

The masks are surprisingly robust due to the polygon construction. Many people use them at events and festivals:

https://wintercroft.com/blogs/news/tagged/press-and-politics

Just make sure that you use a reasonably stiff card and good quality tape.

May I use the photograph of Wintercroft masks for a news web site?

For press enquires lease get in touch via info@wintercroft.com

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