maximvsv wrote:I picked up a Jiaou Doll body with "black" PS skin, which is much too pale. I am looking to color the body to match up with a head that I have on hand. Has this oil pastel method worked on a TPE body?
Also, I have been looking into the possibility of dying the TPE outright. What I found are TPE specific pigments, meant to be used with mineral carrier oil. Has anyone tried this?
Welcome again.
I have realized that while this thread started with some failed experiments on a Jiaou TPE-covered body, it shifted to the successful method of applying oil pastel onto TBLeague (Phicen) silicone-covered bodies and never looked back. I had been meaning to try again on a Jiaou TPE, but hadn't until you asked. So I found a floppy-footed one in the pretty pale "natural" color and did a quick (and imperfect) test with the Staedtler Van Dyke brown oil pastel. It seems to take the oil pastel even more readily than the Phicen silicone, and produces comparable results. First I rinsed the body with water (to remove the protective powder), then I dried it, then I applied the oil pastel (again, for a quick test, I didn't go at it long enough to get a perfect consistency of coloring), then I smoothed (don't want to say "massaged") it on for a while with a make up sponge, then rinsed again (even used some soap on parts of it, to see if it makes a difference), and dried it again. No oil pastel coloring seems to have come off the body, and even fairly aggressive dabbing and scraping with white paper towel does not seem to produce any noticeable color transfer (and a more thorough job with the make up sponge would surely improve even more on this good result); also, more careful, consistent, and repeated application of the oil pastel would yield a much better appearance. Haven't done so yet, but I should apply protective powder next.
So the answer is (now) -- oil pastel works on Jiaou TPE-covered bodies same as on TBLeague silicone-covered bodies. At least based on the quick test I just did. Here is the preliminary result:
As for dyeing the TPE with TPE-secific pigments mixed with mineral carrier oil, I would not know what to tell you. In principle it would probably work, but it sounds like a possibly more complicated or expensive process to me, that I personally do not see the need to try unless the simpler solution with oil pastels fails to yield satisfactory results. The issue is that not all TPE is the same (probably), the protective powder may cause complications (depending on how thoroughly you are able to remove it or not), and I wouldn't know about the availability, pricing, or any potential hazards involved in using these pigments (I know products designed specifically for use on silicone can have harmful effects so you need to take at least basic precautions -- ventilation, gloves, etc -- and there is still no guarantee for excellent or lasting results). Some have experimented with dyeing TBLeague (Phicen) bodies with fabric dye, but apparently it is a lengthy, messy, and stinky process, producing variable results.
I hope this helps.