Editing Animatronics (section)

=== Materials ===
* '''Latex:''' White [[latex]] is commonly used as a general material because it has a high level of elasticity. It is also pre-vulcanized, making it easy and fast to apply.<ref>{{cite book|last1=James|first1=Thurston|title=The prop builder's molding & casting handbook|date=1997|publisher=Betterway Books|location=Cincinnati|isbn=978-1-55870-128-1|page=51|edition=6. pr.}}</ref> Latex is produced in several grades. Grade 74 is a popular form of latex that dries rapidly and can be applied very thick, making it ideal for developing molds.<ref name="buffingtonfx-skin" /> [[Foam latex]] is a lightweight, soft form of latex which is used in [[mask]]s and [[facial prosthetic]]s to change a person's outward appearance, and in animatronics to create a realistic "skin".<ref name="buffingtonfx-skin">{{cite web|last1=Buffington|first1=Jack|title=Skin and Molds|url=http://www.buffingtonfx.com/j1432/animatronics/molds.html|publisher=BuffingtonFX|access-date=2014-08-09|archive-date=2015-09-23|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150923195050/http://www.buffingtonfx.com/j1432/animatronics/molds.html|url-status=live}}</ref> ''[[The Wizard of Oz (1939 film)|The Wizard of Oz]]'' was one of the first films to make extensive use of foam latex prosthetics in the 1930s.<ref>{{Cite book|title = Special Effects: An Introduction to Movie Magic|last = Miller|first = Ron|publisher = Twenty-First Century Books|year = 2006}}</ref>
* '''Silicone:''' Disney has a research team devoted to improving and developing better methods of creating more lifelike animatronics exteriors with [[silicone]].<ref name="siliconeresearch">{{cite web|last1=Chan|first1=Normal|title=Synthetic Skin For Animatronic Robots Gets More Realistic|url=http://www.tested.com/tech/robots/198315-synthetic-skin-for-animatronic-robots-gets-more-realistic/|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140812200316/http://www.tested.com/tech/robots/198315-synthetic-skin-for-animatronic-robots-gets-more-realistic/|url-status=dead|archive-date=August 12, 2014|publisher=Whalerock Industries|access-date=9 August 2014|date=15 August 2012}}</ref> [[RTV silicone]] (room temperature vulcanization silicone) is used primarily as a molding material as it is very easy to use but is relatively expensive. Few other materials stick to it, making molds easy to separate.<ref>{{cite book|last1=Baygan|first1=Lee|title=Techniques of three-dimensional makeup|date=1988|publisher=Watson-Guptill|location=New York, NY|isbn=978-0-8230-5261-5|page=100}}</ref><ref name="molding">{{cite book|last1=James|first1=Thurston|title=The prop builder's molding & casting handbook|date=1997|publisher=Betterway Books|location=Cincinnati|isbn=978-1-55870-128-1|page=55|edition=6. pr.}}</ref> Bubbles are removed from silicone by pouring the liquid material in a thin stream or processing in a vacuum chamber prior to use. [[Fumed silica]] is used as a bulking agent for thicker coatings of the material.<ref>{{cite book|last1=Whelan|first1=Tony|title=Polymer Technology Dictionary|date=1994|pages=144–168|doi=10.1007/978-94-011-1292-5_8|publisher=Springer Netherlands|chapter=F|isbn=978-94-010-4564-3}}</ref>
* '''Polyurethane:''' Polyurethane rubber is a more cost effective material to use in place of silicone. Polyurethane comes in various levels of hardness which are measured on the [[Shore scale]]. Rigid [[polyurethane foam]] is used in prototyping because it can be milled and shaped in high density. Flexible polyurethane foam is often used in the actual building of the final animatronic figure because it is flexible and bonds well with latex.<ref name="buffingtonfx-skin" />
* '''Plaster:''' As a commonplace construction and home decorating material, plaster is widely available. Its rigidity limits its use in molds, and plaster molds are unsuitable when undercuts are present. This may make plaster far more difficult to use than softer materials like latex or silicone.<ref name="molding" />