If you do liquid latex body-painting, sooner or later, you'll want to add designs and markings of some sort to your work. Tiger stripes, stars, superhero symbols, or whatever.
Here is a simple way to create these that will give you clean, even lines and a good appearance, and which lets you make any mistakes before you paint your own or another's body... which can save lots of work and heartache.
Liquid latex body paint is not the same as acrylic or house paint. This guide assumes you already know what this is and where to get it. If not, find out first.
You'll want a color that contrasts with the base color that is going to be on the person's body. Normally, my base color is black, so I'll use white for the decals.
Yep. That's right. Regular old wax paper.
You can use this to reinforce your decal, as well as to increase opacity. I recommend Scott's or a similar brand that is thin, smooth, and sturdy. This isn't for your butt, it's for your art.
You'll use these to cut out your decals later.
This is used to dry the latex paint in between coats.
Spread out a sheet of wax paper large enough to contain your finished design, and if necessary, tape the corners down to a work surface (one that won't be harmed by getting latex on it). I usually tape it to a scrap piece of cardboard. You will want the wax paper to be shiny side up.
Paint a layer or two of liquid latex body paint over your entire piece of wax paper. Allow it to dry completely between coats, using a hairdryer to accelerate the drying process if you have one.
Now, put an additional layer of latex paint on, but this time, before it dries, gently lay lengths of toilet tissue onto the latex in a single layer. Try to match the edges up as carefully as possible without overlap. When you've got it placed, gently press it down smoothly so that it sticks to the surface of the latex. Try to smooth it out until the color is fairly uniform, but don't rub it so hard that you wrinkle or tear it. Use the blowdryer to dry it completely. It will take slightly longer than the latex without the tissue on it.
Paint a smooth layer of latex carefully over the tissue, and let it dry, or use the blowdryer. You may add another layer or two.
Repeat with layers of latex and tissue until you have achieved the desired level of opaqueness (remember, many colors of latex are transparent by themselves).
(Optional)
If you are using a dark color, you may want to put on a layer of black latex after a few layers of colored latex and tissue. If a light color, you may want to put on a layer or two of white.
Remember, you want the last layer to be latex, not tissue paper.
You should now have a sheet of latex, reinforced several times with tissue, on a piece of wax paper.
On the non-latex side of the wax paper, you can trace your design (what you want the decal to look like). Once you have done this... use a pair of sharp scissors to cut out your decal.
You can also simply cut the latex decal into strips to make lines, into simple stars or shapes, or circles, or whatever you want.
Paint the person with the base coat of latex. That process is the subject of a different guide, though one should be available in the same place you found this guide.
Make sure that the place(s) for your decals have unsealed latex... latex that has not been sealed with shine spray or talcum powder. If necessary, apply a fresh coat of the base latex color to the area the decal must stick to.
Remember, liquid latex that is not sealed sticks to itself readily. We're counting on that to stick our decals on!
Gently apply the latex (not the wax paper) side of the decal to the desired location on your subject. Start at one end and gently roll it down over the area, being sure not to let any bubbles form. When it is in place, press it firmly down and rub the wax paper until the decal latex has adhered to the body latex.
Gently pick at the edge of the wax paper, and peel it off your decal.
Voila! You should now have a well-formed decal, with smooth, scissor-cut edges, on your body-painted subject!