FFXIV NA Fan Fest 2016 Cosplayers Unite!

[Ryuko]

Nariko: I know you've probably seen a bunch of comparisons between Wonderflex and Worbla, so I think the only thing I can personally add is that Wonderflex excels in situations that require both strength and flexibility. This is due to its fabric-like weave. It holds up well against itself, without any sort of sandwiching, and you can double/triple it to the desired rigidness. However, it isn't so great for fine details -- even worse than normal Worbla -- again due to the weave. Worbla, on the other hand, is more 'mold-able'. This also means it doesn't hold up well on its own and needs some sort of 'base', but that's not a super big deal because a thin foam sheet is more than enough for basic shapes, and it won't add much thickness that way. Worbla can also be heated up and rolled out to 'recycle' scraps. This is impossible with Wonderflex, so Worbla wins in the 'economical' category. Also worth noting -- black Worbla is smoother and takes details better, so many people prefer it because it's easier to prime/sand/paint. Wonderflex may be a little smoother than Worbla (regular) and easier to prime/paint, but I didn't do any sanding with my last costume (no time -- awful, I know), so I can't really give you a good comparison.

So really, it boils down to preference. A lot of people prefer one over the other. I personally think they both have their pros and cons when it comes to individual situations, but people can make the most of either material if they know how to use them.

I'm actually going to use a combination of both for my costume. For example, I'm going to use a Wonderflex base for the 'corset' belt thing, and possibly as a base for the horn because it needs to 'give' a little as it wraps around my head. But, I'm using Worbla for fine details and anything backed by foam, like the cuffs, gold details, wings, etc. It really just makes 'sense' to me... but again, a really skilled person could achieve really similar (if not identical) results with both.

For my Garuda-Egi: I was hoping to make something out of foam... but to make it 'true to size', I would have to find a way to disassemble it and fit into a suitcase. A plush thing would be cool, but I reaaaaaally want to make it as big as I possibly can.

I can relate regarding the photographer thing. One photographer in particular asked me to come take pictures right after prejudging, so we went outside and... he kind of expected me to have poses ready. I'm not a model. I'd never been asked to have my picture taken in a more 'professional' setting before (not hall shots). So I really only had my default 'hold up my book' pose. That was super awkward. And a lot of people asked for my Instagram or something, and when I didn't have one... they would just be like, "Oh." Lots of missed opportunities there. I know a lot of us aren't super established and don't have a following, so it can seem weird to get a social media account just for cosplay... but at this point, it's sort of expected for everyone to have one, if only to network properly and make sure your pictures are tagged well. You won't want to be giving out your personal profiles to every person who asks for it. XD