Create a Realistic Gunshot Wound Using Play-Doh, Makeup, and a Bit of AfterEffects

Whether you are a photographer or a videographer, special effects are one way to separate your work from the crowd. Not everyone is willing to put in the time or effort, and many don’t know how to get it done. If you are amongst the ones missing the knowledge, don’t worry, Film Riot has got you covered with a new tutorial on how to create a fake bullet with Play-Doh, a bit of post-processing, and a few makeup products.

While SFX may sound like something limited to big productions, highly skilled makeup artists, or post-production gurus, some tricks are easier and more accessible than others. In the video above, Ryan Connolly from Film Riot explains to us how to create a fake bullet and bullet wound with very minimalist equipment. The total won’t cost you much more than $30, and you’ll be able to reuse nearly everything for multiple productions. The bullet he created was made out of Play-Doh and spray paint, then covered in fake blood. The bullet wound uses scar wax and fake blood as well to look realistic.

In the example presented in the tutorial, it was made for a video, but you could imagine doing the same for a still frame. The only difference would be to use Photoshop to blend the two images instead of relying on After Effect. The explanation is quite concise, but it’s well described enough that you can get it done easily and if not, you can always browse through YouTube to find complementary videos on the different parts.

Quentin Decaillet's picture

Quentin Décaillet is a photographer and retoucher based in Switzerland specializing in portrait and wedding photography.

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