16 replies to this topic

[Legolassie Malfoy]

Some costumes that have been entered in recent events have been excellent quality but have been let down by the absense of reference photo/picture.  To help you get the most of your cosplay entry heres some tips to make the best of your photo as reference photos will now be required in all competitions.  

Film/TV cosplays
This is by far the easiest catergory to set up a reference picture for.  Most of the judges will be familiar with the character and will know of the cosplay.  Therefore you only need to set up a basic photo of the character.  Ideally full length.  If there are any props with the character make sure to include them.  Full colour is better.  

anime/manga/game
For this catergory its worth including a face shot as well as a full length as quite a few characters from this catergory will have interesting make-up/different coloured eyes and unusal hair.  Most judges will not be familar with the characters so worth including a clear full length as well as any props.  Don't have the manga if doing a manga costume.  The judges won't have time to look for your costume.

Original
This is the hardest one to set up a reference picture but it dose need to be set up.  Ideally a full length drawing of the costume.  You don't have to have brilliant artistic skills (its the costume itself that will be judged, not the photo).  Just as long as the costume you want to show is clear and any props is clear.  

General tips

In all cases a full length shot is needed

If there are any props included make sure they are in the photo.  If there isn't a prop and the character normally carries one then make sure the prop is NOT included in the photo.  Entries have been marked down in past events if the prop wasn't there and it was in the picture.  

Colour is prefered as it gives the judges the best idea of what the costume should look like.  The picture should come to about A4.  

Back shots are not nessercary unless the costume has very particular back detail that you want to include in the judging.  

The judges will only have a few moments to check the reference photos.  Follow any of the tips above and you'll have a good chance of being judged well.

Refence sample

Heres a sample of one of my cosplays and how I would set up the reference photo for it.  

My cosplay.  Abel Nightroad from 'Trinity Blood' anime.  Photo by Bloo. (some of you many have seen this cosplay already)



The reference (I'm going list the good points and bad points)



Good points - Full length shot
                    Being an anime character I've included close up to show unusal hair
                    Full colour and good quality photo

Bad points -  The sholder armour props are missing from the cosplay.  Its a very high chance that I would loose points for that
                    The gun prop I'm carring with the costume is missing from the pic.
                    Ideally I would of needed the full length shot to be bigger as the judging would be on the whole cosplay.  


Have fun setting up your refence photos.  Any questions feel free to ask.

Edited by Legolassie Malfoy, 08 May 2008 - 12:01 PM.

[naurarwen_fangorn]

*Jumps up and down with hand up* I have a random question. If you are carrying a prop which does not happen to be in the certain full length shot you have given in. For example my Tonks full length shot is one from a display so the costume is on a mannaquin therefore carrying no wand. Should I get a picture of the wand and give that in with my other reference picture???

[Legolassie Malfoy]

naurarwen_fangorn, on May 8 2008, 04:10 PM, said:

*Jumps up and down with hand up* I have a random question. If you are carrying a prop which does not happen to be in the certain full length shot you have given in. For example my Tonks full length shot is one from a display so the costume is on a mannaquin therefore carrying no wand. Should I get a picture of the wand and give that in with my other reference picture???

Yes, any props that are to be included must be pictured.  You can either photo edit the two pictures together like I did with mine (I used Paint Shop Pro 7) or you can hand in a seperate pic that is attached to your main one.  

Don't hand in loads of pics as the judges only have moments to check out the reference and compare.

[Mich]

Ahh, that's great. Thanks for the info.

[Haruka]

I've had to draw some reference pictures for a book-based cosplay that I'm considering doing in November. The costume is clear enough, the props are pictured... but there's no detailing on the face.

Would that count against me, or not?
Because I really can't draw faces.

[wyrdsister]

Haruka, on Jun 7 2008, 01:10 AM, said:

I've had to draw some reference pictures for a book-based cosplay that I'm considering doing in November. The costume is clear enough, the props are pictured... but there's no detailing on the face.

Would that count against me, or not?
Because I really can't draw faces.

I don't see why it should...It would be your face anyway, since it's your original design. Get some tracing paper and trace a picture of you on it  

[Legolassie Malfoy]

Haruka, on Jun 7 2008, 01:10 AM, said:

I've had to draw some reference pictures for a book-based cosplay that I'm considering doing in November. The costume is clear enough, the props are pictured... but there's no detailing on the face.

Would that count against me, or not?
Because I really can't draw faces.

Don't worry your drawing talent wouldn't be judged.  As long as the costume and props are clear.  Bascally anything you want to be judged on would need to clear to the judges.

[liremaer]

Hun do historical portraits count as referance pics. I.e madame pompadour. lol we ll there will be that and a shot of sophia myles. pity it doesn't include having to show how the costume was made. I know alot of cons have this a s a requirement to ensure that shop bought costumes (i.e everything i know people use shop bought elements in costumes) aren't included.

[Legolassie Malfoy]

liremaer, on Jun 13 2008, 08:38 PM, said:

Hun do historical portraits count as referance pics. I.e madame pompadour. lol we ll there will be that and a shot of sophia myles. pity it doesn't include having to show how the costume was made. I know alot of cons have this a s a requirement to ensure that shop bought costumes (i.e everything i know people use shop bought elements in costumes) aren't included.

Yeap.  Thats fine.  As long as the costume and props/jewelly can be seen clearly that will be fine.

[tk2303]

hi all,

just wanted to ask.

i'm in the process of making a costume with a star wars theme, basically a mix of the clonetroopers from ep.3 and the AT-AT drivers from ep.5. as such it's basically my own design and a mixture using parts from both. am i eligable for cosplay?

tk2303

[Legolassie Malfoy]

tk2303, on Aug 14 2008, 07:56 PM, said:

hi all,

just wanted to ask.

i'm in the process of making a costume with a star wars theme, basically a mix of the clonetroopers from ep.3 and the AT-AT drivers from ep.5. as such it's basically my own design and a mixture using parts from both. am i eligable for cosplay?

tk2303

Yes, you can enter as an original design costume as long as you have a reference drawing showing your design/costume.  Unfortunatly, without the reference you will not be allowed to enter.  This applys for all enters.  I'm intriged on how your design will turn out.  It dose sound interesting.

[Liessa]

Legolassie Malfoy, on Jun 12 2008, 11:57 PM, said:

Haruka, on Jun 7 2008, 01:10 AM, said:

I've had to draw some reference pictures for a book-based cosplay that I'm considering doing in November. The costume is clear enough, the props are pictured... but there's no detailing on the face.

Would that count against me, or not?
Because I really can't draw faces.

Don't worry your drawing talent wouldn't be judged.  As long as the costume and props are clear.  Bascally anything you want to be judged on would need to clear to the judges.

I actually own a costume and several items based on the Wheel of Time books. I wore the dress at CM once, but only one person recognised it . If I were to enter a competiotn, I'd only have the description from the book, is that enough for reference? Any picture material would be just a drawing of photo of my own dress, which defeats the purpose, doesn't it? I mean, it's not fair to judge how much my dress looks like my dress, because obviously, it does!

[Quicksilverneko]

Um just wondering, my friends and I are going to the July, but my friend is going as Gunner Yuna - from Final Fantasy X-2 - she was just wondering what would be the best options to construct the guns out of so that she doesn't get any trouble. Any hints or tips? Oh and I'm going as Miki from Shugo Chara (The Amulet Spade transformation) and I have to have a human sized paint brush, what would be the best option of making the bristles out of?

Edited by Quicksilverneko, 05 June 2009 - 03:37 PM.

[Jaja]

Quicksilverneko, on Jun 5 2009, 04:36 PM, said:

Um just wondering, my friends and I are going to the July, but my friend is going as Gunner Yuna - from Final Fantasy X-2 - she was just wondering what would be the best options to construct the guns out of so that she doesn't get any trouble. Any hints or tips? Oh and I'm going as Miki from Shugo Chara (The Amulet Spade transformation) and I have to have a human sized paint brush, what would be the best option of making the bristles out of?

Ummmm take apart and clean up an old dustpan brush? Or broom?

[ToriClarkson]

Do I include the reference photograph within the e-mail or bring it on the day?

[RoxxyRinesparda]

hey.
Uhm I'm doing a cosplay of a human Rainbow dash, so would I like draw out my design and give that or would I have to give a picture of the original rainbow dash along with it? (: x

[carolgreen405]

Ahh, that's great. Thanks for the info.