Horror Dome Studios mask, costume and prop design.

INTRODUCTION

Producing a great Halloween product is very time consuming and requires experience with sculpting, mold making and casting. These three skills are most often used in creature special effects. Making monsters for Movies and TV we are very experienced at our craft and we try to bring this experience to every product we make.

DESIGNING - First we come up with a concept and then create a CAD drawing of the product for our sculptors to work off of.

BLOCKING IN THE SHAPE - Once the CAD drawing is complete our sculptors go to work blocking in the design in clay.

REFINING THE SCULPTURE - After the piece is blocked in our team approves the shape and the real sculpting takes place. This process refines the sculpture and adds all of the detail bringing the piece to life.

THE MOLD - Once we feel the sculpture is finished and looking its best it is time for the molding process. Probably the most important part of making the mask, costume or prop. If the mold is not done correctly the whole project is scraped and we have to start all over again. Luckily our sculptors are top of the line FX artists and this normally doesn't happen.

DRYING THE MOLD - This is an important step. The mold needs to be able to absorb moisture from the latex rubber in order to form a skin. We have our own process to dry the molds which insures our mold lasts a long time and do not lose any detail in the mask or costume making process. Each mold is only used 20 times (that's 20 masks per mold) to insure the detail is perfect for every product we make. It is more expensive for us to do this but it makes the final product look its best.

CASTING - Before pouring the latex into the mold we make sure to clean the mold thoroughly. We fill it all the way to the top with latex and slush it around making sure to get rid of any air bubbles. Then we let the latex sit in the mold until the skin is about 1/16" thick. (our masks and costumes are among the thickest masks and costumes in the Halloween industry).

REMOVING THE FINISHED PRODUCT - Before pulling the product out of the mold we brush some talcum powder on the inside of the latex. Powder will prevent the mask from sticking to itself and pulling out of the mold without any defects. This will insure a perfect pull every time.

TRIMING -  Once the mask or costume is pulled out of the mold we then have to trim all the excess latex from the blank to get it smooth and looking it's best.

PAINTING - Now for the fun part. Our artist use different colors to bring your mask or costume to life. Every mask we make is inspected to insure they all look close in appearance. Please remember these are hand made items there might be a 1% differance in the paint job since we are only human but this is a rare occourance and to get the high quality we offer we need talented artist making our products. Rest assure all products will all be made to perfection.

HAIRING - To hair a product, we use wigs, glue on hair, or punch in hair. All of this being a crucial process for the appearance of the product. It is a time consuming part of the process be we feel it is necessary.

 

FINISHING - Once the product is painted and haired we coat the finished product with a protective clear coat to protect the paint and then we epoxy the eyes to give the eyes realism. 

PACKING - Once the clear coat and epoxy dries we insert the product into a clear plastic bag to ensure it stays in good condition for shipping.



IT TAKES A LOT OF TIME AND WORK TO MAKE A HALLOWEEN MASK, COSTUME AND PROP. WE TAKE PRIDE IN WHAT WE DO. HALLOWEEN DOESN'T JUST COME AROUND ONCE A YEAR FOR US. IN FACT, AS A PREMIUM HALLOWEEN SUPPLIERS AND HALLOWEEN MASK, COSTUME AND PROP DESIGNERS, WE WORK YEAR-ROUND TO DELIVER THE BEST POSSIBLE ITEMS FOR BRINGING NIGHTMARES TO LIFE.

THEHORRORDOME.COM - SERVING THE HAUNT AND HALLOWEEN COMMUNITIES FOR OVER 24 YEARS.

Have Questions?
We Have Answers.

Get quick solutions to your common lawn care concerns, from mowing to pest control.

If we Still haven't answered your question? Email us at Sales@thehorrordome.com or Contact us at 516-238-5108 and we will be more than happy to help you.

Can I buy Horror Dome products in stores.

Horror Dome masks, costumes and props are not available in stores, as the manufacturer we only sell our Collector masks, costumes and props right here on our website. This ensures that you will have an original Horror Dome mask design and not a cheap knock off.

What is the difference between Horror Dome products and other Halloween products?

Horror Dome Studios products are made thicker but are still
very comfortable so they last longer and could take much more abuse than other
Halloween products on the market. We also have Hollywood artists sculpting our
designs keeping every product we make original. Each Horror Dome product is
hand painted for the most realistic look possible. Our products are not sold in
stores so you can be guaranteed not to have the same over produced product that everyone else has.

What is a Pre-Order?

A Pre-Order is an item that has not yet been released by the
manufacturer, but is available to be ordered in advanced.

Pre-Ordering an item is a great way to guarantee yourself a
place in line, as we ship on a first come first serve basis.

The expected ship month for the product is an estimate of
our release date. It is the most accurate information we have, but not
necessarily a guarantee.

If you place a Pre-Order, you will be billed now to
guarantee your place in line. There are no cancellations on Pre-Orders since
once you place your order the product will be added to our production list and
we will start making it for you.

Can you ship overseas/internationally?

Yes, we do ship internationally. It will cost more to ship your order internationally than within the United States. Delivery times are also longer for international shipping.

Why have shipping costs gone up?

If you looked at shipping costs recently, chances are you’re
shocked by how it’s risen exponentially since the outbreak of COVID-19 in March
2020 and how it continues to do so. A large part of it boils down to the
ongoing COVID-19 pandemic and its heavy impact on global supply chains. This is
reflected in the spike in shipping prices, which are estimated to remain at a
high until 2025.

Shipping costs ‘cover materials, manpower and many different
supply chain activities that transport inventory to the end customer,’ while
also consisting of taxes from the country the shipment originates from and the
country where it’s shipped to, and all other documentation fees.

In simpler terms, every step of the fulfillment process
costs money—from labor costs and fuel charges to transportation and delivery
fees. Of course, the parcel’s weight, dimensions, value, and shipping
destination are also factored into the final shipping price.

In order to combat shipping costs, we are trying to keep our
product costs the same as past years even though material costs and labor
costs have gone up tremendously.

My order just came in and something is missing. What do I do?

Often when you purchase more than one item, it will come from more than one studio or warehouse. This means that the rest of your order is being sent separately and can sometimes arrive at different times.

Another possibility is that one of the items is out of stock. When this occurs, the amount of that item plus its shipping will be refunded back to your card (or PayPal or check in the mail).

What if my mask doesn't fit?

If your mask too loose, you can glue some new and unused sponges or sheet foam cut to size into the inside using rubber cement or silicone bathtub caulk. If it is too tight, you might consider slitting the back. However, it is very rare that a mask is too tight as our artists design our pieces with wear ability in mind.

Can I get my product by (insert your date here)?

By such and such date - we cannot make promises on delivery times but we will try our best, and do not accept refunds for any non-Halloween deadline. You can always email and ask.

How do I care for these masks once I get them?

Keep your mask on a wig stand, or something roughly head-shaped. Keep them out of heat. Keep them out of sunlight and fluorescent lighting. If the mask becomes distorted (remember latex is a natural product) use a blow drier on the low-heat setting. Store covered in a plastic bag, or in a sealed display case.