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Becoming a Mercreature: Tail Markings and Adding Fins

Creating a solid colored tail is certainly a legitimate method and may work out best for your mercreature design. But more likely than not, you will run into the necessity to design and incorporate markings. These can be as minimal as a color shift in scales or a distinctive set of markings only found on that species. I'm looking at you blue-ringed octopus and Blue Tang and Orcas. 

My focus for this will be on fabric based tails. The tutorials for silicone or latex tails can be found in the Basic Tail Design post. 

Make your Mark

So, we have four approaches to creating markings: 
  1. Pre-Printed Fabric
  2. Paneling
  3. Applique
  4. Fabric Paints or Dyes

Pre-Printed Fabric

For this method, you would create the design or find one with a fabric printing service. Many of them will print onto spandex or similar fabric types. I also believe that the FinFun brand has a design-your-own tail product which may be a method.

For a pattern like fish scales or tiger shark stripes you will be fine with a default repeating pattern. But for something a bit less random like an Orca or Blue Tang you really have to think in 3D and then flatten out the shape and scale it to the right size. Basically, the idea is that you would use the printed pattern as if someone created a paper pattern  like this pencil case. Only you'd have it print out to a full size tail. 

Paneling

This is a method of sewing the marking into the pattern itself. The best way to illustrate this is the designing of a superhero spandex suit. The leotard is the base pattern, but you add panels of color to add strips or "panels". 
This is both paneling and applique.
Basically once you create your tail pattern or tail duct tape dummy, draw the marking pattern and use the linked tutorial for how to Sew a Spandex Paneled Suit. 

Applique

In the grand scheme of things, applique is a little easier to comprehend and in some cases perform over paneling. Paneling definitely looks good and clean. Applique is similar in concept except the method is to cut out the shape and past it on top. because we're using stretch fabric and we need it to stretch iron-on or glue methods will not work as well as sewing it in. The downside is that the stitching may be visible and the edges may fray. 

Painting + Dyes

For many patterns, you'll just have an easier time with fabric paints. You just need to make sure the paints are suitable for spandex. I used Setacolor for my spandex cosplay pictured above. Other mertailors use Permaset Aqua.  Painting can work great for things like spots, stripes and patches. You can create stencils to help. 

For larger areas or soft edges, I've used Design Master's ColorTool Sprays. I have not experimented with air brushing acrylic + Textile Medium but that could be a method too. 

If you are looking to create a gradient of sorts, then dip dying can work but you MUST use dyes appropriate for polyester or synthetic fabrics. Rit Dye Synthetic and iPoly are examples of common synthetic dyes. 

Also check out Courtney Mermaid's Tail Painting Videos.


Fins

Adding additional fins to your tail depends on the style of fin and location. 

On our mermaid tail pattern, these will run along the side seams in most cases. So there are a couple ways to incorporate them. 

Part of the Pattern


For dolphin or shark fins, adding this fin to the silhouette of the tail pattern will account for the fin. However, it's advised to add some stabilizing material such as plastic or foam to help it hold shape. Otherwise, it will lose shape while swimming. Ideally, you don't want "pockets" that can hold water so make sure you leave a "hole" in the seam for water to flow through. 

Inserted on the Tail


These look best on fish fins. The idea being that you create a fabric tab for either a fabric or silicon fin and sew it into the seam. You can add fins to other parts of the tail with this method too! Although it may require you to cut a hole in the tail and sew the tab down. 
A method for a dorsal fin
And there you have it! Ways to add markings and fins to your tail design! Here are a couple of resources that may also prove helpful. 
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