Harry Potter Book/Paper Prop Tutorials, Photos + Complete Advanced Potion Making

[ecl]

Re: Tutorial for my HBP Advanced Potion Making book

Thanks! I've actually continued working on the book by adding more subtle layers of Acrylic paint/medium on top of it to give it some depth. It sort of creates the impression of a translucent film of age over the surface which is kind of cool;

I prefer the look in some of the screenshots where it's much more worn and old looking than some of the versions you see in promotional photos where its cleaner and more purple. (The screen one appears more dark, worn and faded brown/purple for the most part)

This shows what light acrylic washes with some sanding with high grit sandpaper does to give it a more pleasing surface to look at, as opposed to just a straight printout.

 

[kraken slayer]

Re: Tutorial for my HBP Advanced Potion Making book

how much

 

[ecl]

Re: Tutorial for my HBP Advanced Potion Making book

Do you mean how much for the book or how much paint i put on it hehe. I probably won't be selling it because it's been the one prop that I've always wanted a replica of for myself, and it's taken too much time to finish this one for me to make any more really, which is why I wanted to tell people how I made mine so they might make one if they want.

 

[lukeforester1]

Re: Tutorial for my HBP Advanced Potion Making book

What was the total cost for this project?

 

[ecl]

Re: Tutorial for my HBP Advanced Potion Making book

Hey Luke; I'll try to breakdown the cost for you. I have a lot of supplies on hand because of my work, so it personally wasn't much of an additional cost for me, aside from the time spent, but I know not everyone has paints, etc. It can unfortunately be pricey if you don't have any of these tools. I won't list some of the more common things, like an exacto knife, glue, printer.

journal - $5
Acrylic Matte medium and paint, brushes (really only need a tiny bit of paint. smallest bottle/tube would be fine, or even borrow from someone) - $20-25
Sandpaper- $3-5 depending on how many types you want to get. don't need much, maybe 2-3 different grits.
Paper- $3-5, for a large sheet.
heat transfer foil- $20-25 for a roll. This stuff is kinda pricey, and was my first time using it. (you'll need access to b/w laser/copy printer)

If you have a Michaels craft store near you, you can print out 40% off coupons. (not sure if you have them where you are. Michael's are everywhere here.) Most of the stuff can be found there except for the foil.

That's really about it. Most of the cost is definitely in the paint stuff and foil, but there are other ways to do the same thing, like painting with reflective ink.

 

[lukeforester1]

Re: Tutorial for my HBP Advanced Potion Making book

Thanks so much! I had no idea Micheal's had that stuff... and here I was all prepared to go to the city for Dick Blick... and I think I have a fool proof plan for getting the printing/foiling done in one shot!
Do you know if this is heat transfer foil, or shall I go with this?

 

[ecl]

Re: Tutorial for my HBP Advanced Potion Making book

The papilio heat transfer stuff is the exact foil I used, it's pretty easy to iron on (just put a sheet of paper in between your work and iron..its gets really hot!) I'm not sure if the foil in the first link is the same technique, looks interesting though, maybe worth a try? Sounds like some kind of embossing foil (not sure what that is)

Post your progress on the book! I'd like to see it.

 

[Hp197]

Re: Tutorial for my HBP Advanced Potion Making book

thanks this really helps

 

[Leeisawesome]

Re: Tutorial for my HBP Advanced Potion Making book

This is incredible. I'm new to this site and model making and i'm thinking this will be my first crack at something I'll take pictures as I go along if I do :]

 

[ecl]

Re: Tutorial for my HBP Advanced Potion Making book

UPDATE:



Dark Arts Defense: Basics for Beginners

Made with the same techniques as the Potion book. The found book was a sketchbook that happened to be completely bound in a white book cloth material, which was perfect because all I did was cut and peel the excess cloth off the cover and left the spine portion intact, then I basically dyed it with acrylic paint that was watered down to make it darkish red. Since the cover art doesn't actually wrap around on the original prop (The cardboard edges of the covers can be seen in the original), it was just cut to size and glued over the board.

Cover Art was from a file Brucelee42 touched up; he did great work recreating the text and imagery on the back cover also.

Easy Spells to Fool Muggles:

This book was done differently because it only required that a dust jacket be made. I redrew the cover in photoshop based on references of the original found online. A smooth stock paper was then cut to 11"x17" and spray painted gold. Then the rest was printed on top via laser printer and then cut down to size to fit over the book. (The found book is a larger hardcover novel sized book about the philosophy of Narnia hahaaa)

Tales of Beedle the Bard:

Built exactly the same way as the Advanced Potion book, except the gold parts were entirely hand painted with liquid leaf. Very time consuming and I had put this off for a while because painting all the diamonds around the front and back covers wasn't fun at all lol. But I feel it paid off because painting them with the leaf gave them a more worn look, as opposed to the more slick heat transfer foil method.

The file was modified and enlarged from an image touched up by Nickilenart.

The edges of the pages were then spray painted gold as the found book about undersea creatures, and had very bright white edges. The front and back cover was also simply embossed using the back end of a small paint brush, roughly tracing the various patterns on the cover.

 

[ecl]

Re: Harry Potter book prop tutorials!

This weekend I had some time and was messing around trying to cut and paste a bunch of potion pages together from online images. I've been wanting to try and fill the inside of my potion book with more potion like pages, and just couldn't find any way to get them. Losing patience, I just sat down and tried to put something together.

All I did was base the layout off of some screen shot references. Mostly these are just to give a potential replica book the feel of an actual text book, rather than being really coherent, as the text and imagery is kind of random alchemy stuff....which I assume the original was possibly like also.

Just keep in mind these are mostly a starting point for page designs and are not that refined. Also, they are sized at 5inx8in which is the size of my potion book replica I did earlier.

 

[lukeforester1]

Re: Harry Potter book prop tutorials!

The new books look FANTASTIC! Really! But I have a question, since there is no way in hell I have the patience to hand paint the gold for beadle bard, do you have any ideas on how to age the gold foil?

Also, have you been making TWO copies of every book?

 

[ecl]

Re: Harry Potter book prop tutorials!

Hi Luke: I had some time the previous week to make another copy of the Potion book and Dark Arts book, as a member here wanted to purchase them. As for the Beedle Bard book, I think it would be possible to use the heat transfer foil method still, and just use some high grit sand paper to dull it down a little. The main reason I didn't do that is because I didn't want to buy more foil haha, but I believe it would be a lot easier.

 

[ecl]

Re: Harry Potter book prop tutorials!

I put in marbled endpages for the Potion book, and also found a potentially interesting technique that involves transfering digital printouts onto different surfaces, which might make it possible to get text onto the blank pages.

*Edit, updated more pics of the potion book in a post above.

 

[Barneyrfd]

Re: Harry Potter book prop tutorials!

I put in marbled endpages into the Potion book, and also found a potentially interesting technique that involves transfering digital printouts onto different surfaces, which might make it possible to get text onto the blank pages. I will update on that later.

Marbled end pages...geeze!! (Where's that slapping the forehead smiley). Very nice touch ecl.

Very interested to hear about the technique you have found to transfer digital printouts to blank sheets.

bfd

 

[ecl]

Re: Harry Potter book prop tutorials!

:lol Yea this potion book just wants more and more lol. Every time I think it's done, there's more to do. So now it's become a long term hobby project for me....as I could potentially end up getting text and artwork into the book too.

The transfer method I found is this!

inkAID Transfer Film : inkAID

I'm going to order a few sheets and test them out. I saw a few tutorials on youtube and it looks interesting. If it works, it could provide a way to make a lot of interesting things.

 

[Beechy McFly]

Re: Harry Potter book prop tutorials!

:cry Now you tell me!! Looks great mate..

 

[ecl]

Re: Harry Potter book prop tutorials!

Hello! Even if it works it'll take me months to finish probably :lol, actually just stumbled on this technique today, it sounds interesting, and I might even use it for my own work, but not sure how good it actually looks yet!

 

[steffi955]

Re: Harry Potter Book Prop Tutorials!

They all look so amazing! This is for sure the most accurate Potions book I've seen so far!

 

[lukeforester1]

Re: Harry Potter Book Prop Tutorials!

What kind of paper do you think would be best if I were to print out your pages to the potion book? What would be thick enough to be the width I need for the graphic to work?