Plaster casting involves making a 3D copy of something in plaster form, and the process can have both recreational and practical benefits. Those working in sculpture have often used the casting as a way of getting their ideas down before starting work on the final product. However, more often plaster casting is used to form a replica of an original. This process involves plaster being added to the edges of an original piece in order to replicate the frame of the original item before plaster is poured into the mould.
Personal casting
The processes have been used in the form of body casting, in which moulds are used to create a replica of the human body. This involves a mould being taken from a human body in a process that only takes a few minutes. The resulting plaster casting can be used for personal and creative purposes, and is often seen as an alternative to capturing a body through image alone. Accuracy is not always so important in body casting, and many people ask for certain features to be added or removed in order to achieve the results that they require. The history of body plaster casting goes a back a long way. The medical world however uses casting for entirely different reasons. Casting in the medical arena is used for treatment of broken bones for instance, as the techniques involves generally ensure that broken bones can retain their shape whilst the healing process takes place.
Casting for broken bones
Plaster casting for medical purposes can be put in place for anything between one and three months depending on the severity of the injury alongside other factors such as general health levels. It is essential that the plaster itself is kept dry whilst the healing process occurs, as wet plaster can reduce the chances of a successful recovery taking place, or at least slow recovery down. There are several uses for plaster casting, and whether it is being used for practical or recreational purposes, it seems that there’ll always be a public desire for it whether it is being used in medical, artistic or simply personal environments.
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