FAQ
Where is Lifecasting done?
I have a comfortable home studio in Cranbury, NJ where I can take impressions and where you can choose from a variety of my creations as inspiration for your keepsake. For Baby hand and feet impression (newborn thru 1 year) and Blessings series I can take it in the comfort of your own home (within a 25 mile radius of my studio), provided you are purchasing the shadow box along with the casts.
What is the Process ?
For Adult hands and feet a pose is selected and we do a rehearsal positioning. The impression mousse is mixed to a creamy yogurt like consistency. The impressions are taken by slowly dipping the hands/feet in a skin safe, hypoallergenic non toxic mousse. Adult hands and feet take 5 minutes and babies impression for a single hand and foot takes about 30- 90 seconds .
During that time, the child can wiggle and move for the first 20-30 seconds after which a setting process occurs which turns the liquid into a gel like solid. When the mold material starts to set we strive for as little movement as possible in order to capture lots of detail. The impression mousse is not sticky, it is wet and sets to a soft rubber texture. Babies are unpredictable and will move freely in our mold material until "the 30 second setting period". The child's hand/foot position at this " set time" will determine its final position. Sometimes the fingers and toes are placed together and sometimes they are spread apart. After the mold is set we gently remove the hand or foot from the mold and your part is done. The process is quick and painless. Once the mousse sets, the hand or foot slips out of the mold very easily, with little or no residue left on the skin.
The next stage is pouring of the casting material, custom ordering shadow boxes/bases/trophy plates, demolding, hours of clean up and detailing, application of the finish and then the final presentation treatment.
How long will it take during the casting session?
At the casting appointment once you fill out the information form, the alginate ( impression material) is mixed in 5 mins. Following is rough timeline for taking the impressions in alginate:
Single baby hand/foot impression: 1-2 mins
Child (5 years -10 years)/Adult single hand or foot casting : 3 mins
Adult single hand/foot casting: 5 mins
Family freestanding sculpture: 5-10 mins
Family wreath: 20-30 mins
Longer time is spent in making choices on the frame and mats for ordering shadow boxes (for babies). On an average you can plan for 1/2 hour total time for baby hand and foot impression and 45 mins-60 mins for family casting sessions.
What if my baby will not stay still in the setting time?
As a lifecasting artist we will try our best with your help to distract the baby and get a good impression. The best time to cast a baby is while they are sleeping, feeding or just being distracted. Inorder to get a steady and clean impression if the baby just does not cooperate we would try another round of taking the impression at a time convenient to your baby's schedule. The price quote for baby hands and feet casting covers for an additional session (just in case) of taking baby impressions after which there will be an additional $25 charge per additional try to cover for material costs.
How long does it take to have the following items completed?
Since all the products are custom made one at a time, we have to ensure that they are detailed, cleaned, dried and properly sealed for longevity. For most orders we have to place custom orders for supplies, mats, laser engraving, engraving plates etc .The following time lines are from the date of the casting session:
Umounted lifecasts: upto 4 weeks
Lifecast statues: 4-6 weeks
Shadow box: upto 8 weeks
What if I want multiple casts of the same person?
Each cast is produced from an original mould that can be only used once to produce one single unique piece of art. If you want more than one cast please inform the artist well before the time of the casting session as we have to be equipped with extra material and containers for taking the additional impressions.
Adult hand clasps/casting
Can multiple hands and people be cast together?
Yes, hands can be beautifully cast as a group of family members, friends, siblings, parent & children, colleagues and couples.
How many adults can we have cast holding hands in a group?
The largest family group that can be cast together is five adults in a wreath clasp.
Can rings be worn in the casting process?
The casting will pick up the most beautiful details of your rings making your sculpture even more personal. Rings can be easily cleaned after the casting process. Not all rings/stone cuts are suitable for casting though. If you could send a quick photo of any ring/stone cut that you would be wearing we can assess it for viability. We cannot cast very high and angular rings. If you want a cast without a ring that you normally wear you should remove it ahead of time (at least 2 hours prior) so that there will be no indentation mark on your finger.
Should I have a manicure or cut my fingernails prior to my casting session?
The impression mousse captures every detail of flesh, cuticle and nail exactly. You will have to decide how you want the details to be captured.
Can you ensure that my hands will not look old?
Casting is not about having a perfect body but about celebrating the unique beauty of you. We can help bring out the best out of hands and feet casts while retaining the unique character of the model.
Family castings
These castings can be made with a group of 2-5 people. Minimum age for children varies but is typically 4-5 years of age.
Baby/ Child Hand and Foot casting
What is the best age for making the 3D baby hand and foot casting?
It is advisable to make the 3D baby hand and foot casts in the earlier months after birth (Newborn- 6 months), as babies have definitive sleep patterns then. While sleeping babies are calm and still. For casts to capture details well the baby has to remain still for a minute or two. If the baby moves or twists in the casting then the 3D image captured will be blurry. Planning the time of taking the impression is crucial for baby/infant casting.
Will it hurt my Baby or Child?
Absolutely not. The impression mousse used is non toxic, hypoallergenic and safe on sensitive skins (safe enough for use on a 1 day old baby). It is the same material that dentists worldwide use for making teeth impression. The process is simple since it involves dipping the hand or foot in this impression mousse. The only tricky part is keeping the baby or infant keeping still for a minute or two since that is the time it takes to get a good cast. With babies this can be achieved when they are napping, feeding or being distracted.
What if I want my baby cast to have an open hand not a fist?
With little ones there is no guarantee of pose. 99% of baby casts will end up in a loose fist or clenched fist shape because babies have an instinct to “grip” items placed into the palm of their hand- and when they feel the cast gel it triggers this gripping reflex. Cannot guarantee position of child's hand.Its upto the child whether the hand will be open or closed or whether their toes will be spread or curled...making it truly unique!!!.
Things to consider just before the casting appointment
The alginate material captures every detail of flesh, cuticle and nail exactly. You will need to decide how you want these details captured. For a baby/child foot casting make sure that the kid is not wearing tight shoes or socks that will create indentation on the skin.
Payment
We ask that 50% payment is made at your casting session and the remaining 50% when the lifecast artwork delivered. We accept payment by cash, cheque, venmo or zelle.
Can I cancel after the mold has been taken?
Since the keepsake order is handcrafted, each one is custom made and unique to the individual and therefore non-refundable.