Ep. 017 - Secrets of Cosplay Docs for Contests!

This week Pannon and VFire talk about documentation for Cosplay Contests. This can be a document that help make or break a good presentation of your work to craftsmanship judges.

Check out these Documentation examples here free to check out from le Googles.

Contests may have different requirements so make sure to check what the judges are looking for. Here are 5 thing to remember when making your documentation.

VFire working on her Lyre for Sheik.
Safety first, she wearing a mask!

1. Reference pictures.If you have one thing have this in your docs. Bring a reference of the character. Front, back, and side views are always a nice bonus!

Sometimes it is nice to put a reference right next to something in progress. For example VFire used the above images to show how she worked on Sheik's braid and aimed to replicate the weird criss cross at the top.

2. Progress picture.
Show your process. Did something not work out? Show that and why you chose another path. Show the evolution of your work.

VFire showing off a test fitting before the
final version of her armor was created.

3. Summarize.
Group similar methods together (e.g. when your armor is all made of the same material group it together.) Keep it short and sweet as possible. Try and show multiple steps in one photo to help save steps.

This pic of Sheik's leg armor shows some before and after weathering.
This helped show how the weathering made the armor pop.

4. What can't the judges see in person? Show that! Especially if it is a clever or useful method that helped your work.

VFire melted pewter in her fire pit for
some of the metal bits on Sheik.

5. Show off! Show all the good things about your cosplay!

VFire loves her bow!!

Thanks for listening and reading!
- the Stitch and Seam Team