Color gradients in silicone and latex

[kaliamberscale]

After doing some research I have a bit more understanding of how to cast solid colored latex and silicone, but how would I achieve a gradient of two or more colors?  I'm going to be casting a silicone tongue for my garter snake character, and I want it to have a nice, smooth gradient from red to black:

Comments

[ryu_no_tenshi]

I'm not sure about the gradient, but Fenrir also has tutorials on how to make molds (http://www.furaffinity.net/user/mordrudesmonsters is her new account)

This is to make the two part mold http://www.furaffinity.net/view/6488006/

This is to use the mold http://www.furaffinity.net/view/9248991/

She hasn't made a new tutorial of how to make it, but it's still very good.

[mordrude]

It's on my list of to-do things, I've just got other things going on that take priority.

I haven't done gradient-work, but I have done two-color work with oogoo. My snow-leopard nose needed black edges, so I mixed just a small amount of black, laid it in around the edges, then put the pink in while it was still tacky. It's not really a gradient, but it might give ideas. Kind of craptacular photos, but best I can do: http://www.furaffinity.net/view/5742035/

I have a few two-tone noses coming up in the near future, I will make a mini-tut with at least one of them.

[yoka_neko]

for a blended effect mix up two seperate silicone mixes, one red and one black.
and pour in on each side. It helps if the mixture is like honey, so not too runny, and not too thick ^_^

i did this with a pair of pawpads to make a sunset effect, i dont have apic of those
but here is one that i tried with blue and green> http://www.furaffinity.net/view/6743262/

[quescostumes]

Theoretically, once both colors are mixed, can't the first (black) be poured in, rotating the mold around so the silicone slides up the walls, so it forms a kind of bowl, and then the next color poured in? I don't know how 'transparent' that thin layer would be though.

Additionally if you mix both colors, you could have gradual darkening reds, mixing less and less black in separate small batches. It might not be that smooth of a transition depending on how many shades you have, and it could be tricky factoring in drying times.

The last thought I have is using silicone thinner on the black, so possibly after its poured and started curing, and when you add the red it mixes.

I don't have personal experience with casting silicone so I'm just hypothesizing here - perhaps someone could negate or add to one of my theories.

(edited for clarity)

[incognitofurs]

Just a theory:

Pour the first colour (the red) into the mold and allow it to cure for about half its time (until it starts to gel, but is still gooey). Then pour a thin layer of black on the top of the red, using a plastic utensil to mix the two together especially around the sides. Finally, pour the rest of the black in and allow it all to gel and cure together.

That is my theory, anyway.

[drakeducaine]

Don't know if this would work with silicone, but I've had good results with resin and it should work just as well for thicker consistencies of latex: you can use a brush to paint at thin layer of your casting material on the inside of your mold, blending the colors with the brush. Do this before you put the halves of your mold together (assuming you're using a multi part mold) so you can see exactly where you're painting and make sure you get the blending you want. Then put the mold halves together, pour in the black up to the point where you started blending, then pour in the red. This way even if your silicone or latex is translucent, you'll still get the color change reinforced from the inside.

Good luck! And as a keeper of garter snakes myself, props for your choice of species :)