- Paints & finishesAcrylic paintsWater-based acrylic paints are a beginner-friendly choice for adding colour, shading, and detail to almost any cosplay prop or costume piece.
- AdhesivesContact cementA strong adhesive used to bond foam, fabric, and other costume materials permanently, popular with cosplayers for joining large surfaces.
- FoamsEVA foamEVA foam is a lightweight, easy-to-cut material widely used by beginner and experienced cosplayers alike to build armour, props, and accessories.
- FabricsFaux leather and vinylA fabric-like sheet material that mimics real leather, widely used by cosplayers for armour panels, belts, and detailed costume pieces.
- Paints & finishesFlexible primers and sealers for foamFlexible primers and sealers prep foam armour pieces for paint by filling tiny surface pores and stopping colour from cracking when the prop bends.
- FoamsFoam clayA lightweight, air-dry modelling clay that cosplayers use to add fine details and texture to foam armour and props.
- FabricsFour-way stretch spandexA smooth, clingy knit fabric that stretches in all directions, ideal for bodysuits, superhero suits, and tight-fitting costume bases.
- AdhesivesHot glueA fast-setting adhesive stick melted through a glue gun, popular with costume makers for quick bonds on foam, fabric, and lightweight trims.
- ThermoplasticsPETG filamentPETG filament is a popular 3D-printing plastic for cosplay props and armour pieces, valued for its durability and easier printing compared with some alternatives.
- ThermoplasticsPLA filamentPLA filament is a beginner-friendly 3D printing plastic used by cosplayers to create props, armour pieces, and decorative parts.
- Resins & castingPolyurethane casting resinA two-part liquid plastic that cures hard in a mould, used by cosplayers to reproduce detailed rigid props and armour pieces.
- Resins & castingSilicone mould rubberA flexible rubber compound used to capture fine detail from a master sculpt, letting cosplayers cast the same part many times in resin or other casting materials.
- Wig fibresSynthetic wig fibreSynthetic wig fibre is the monofilament strand material used to make costume wigs, and understanding fibre types helps cosplayers style safely.
- ThermoplasticsThermoplastic pelletsSmall plastic pellets that soften in hot water and can be shaped by hand, ideal for beginner cosplayers building small details and props.
- ThermoplasticsWorbla and similar thermoplastic sheetsThin heat-activated plastic sheets that soften when warmed and harden when cooled, popular for rigid armour pieces and props.
Cosplay · Materials
Looks, techniques, materials and tools for building costumes, from foam armour to wig styling.
There’s much more to the member Atlas
You’ve seen what’s in the Atlas. A free account shows you all of it the way it was meant to be read:
- The illustrated Atlas map across all six Realms
- Each collection in its own art, colour and type
- Cover grids and list views you can switch between
- Portraits and fact sheets laid out beside every entry
- A contents rail and reading progress on every guide
- Section tabs and a quick switcher for jumping between collections