SFX Designer and Prosthetic Makeup Artist: What’s the Difference?

 Do you have a plan to create any iconic imaginary character in your next TV show or film? A prosthetic makeup artist and SFX designer can bring your ideas into reality. Although many consider these two similar or alternative options, they are entirely different, just like chalk and cheese!

So, to know which is the perfect fit to bring your creation to reality, you need to understand their role and differences in work. If interested, keep reading it!

 Difference Between a Prosthetic Makeup Artist and SFX Designer

It’s true that both SFX (special effects) and prosthetic makeup artists produce striking looks, whether you want a terrifying monster or realistic wounds. You may have found the proof so far in different TV shows and films, like ‘Thunder’ music video, ‘Imagine Dragons’, ‘Bennie and The Jets’, ‘Black Sails’ TV drama, ‘Terminator’, and so on.

Actually, the line where the skill of a prosthetic makeup artist starts and SFX’s stops makes everything vague and unclear. The following details may help you distinguish that:

What does a prosthetic makeup artist do?

A prosthetic makeup artist creates the look using moulding, sculpting, and lifecasting in a way that can transform the actor entirely. In this process, the professionals use the products and materials according to the effect you desire for your actor, like any small changes or a completely new one!

However, the common ones are gelatine, foam latex, and the actual prosthetic pieces mostly with colours and removers. To bring the look, the makeup artist utilises their skill of painting, sculpting, and moulding with their sense of creativity and artistic eye.

What does an SFX designer do?

Generally, the SFX makeup artist brings the smaller on-screen effects, like the appearance of scars, wounds, and wrinkles, to highlight the ageing effects directly on the skin. In this process, the experts don’t use many different materials and products from prosthetic makeup, like liquid latex, on-skin silicone, and gelatine.

Also, they use blood products and makeup palettes with pre-made bullet wounds and scars to give a realistic look! In short, SFX designers handle the intricate process with their artistic eye and creativity.

Best Prosthetic Makeup Artist to Work With

The best professional you can contact is Monika Swiatek. She is a prosthetic makeup artist and SFX designer! She has earned almost 50 credits on IMDB for her makeup and SFX in films. Her style is inventive, clean, and fresh. Visit monikaswiatekmakeup.com to know more about her and look over her previous work!