Special effects artistry has been practiced around the world for centuries. It was first used in ancient Egypt. Romans used lead based makeup and also lightened their faces with chalk. In 1914, Max Factor introduced pancake makeup. It is a water based pressed powder that was used in black and white movies. Pancake makeup is a fundamental part of special effects makeup because it was the first type of makeup used in early black and white movies.
The first special effect artist was Jack Pierce. He created the scary vampire look made famous by actor Bela Lugosi. Modern special effects artistry consists of using materials such as latex, and rubber. Latex is used because it can be molded easily and used for skin effects.
Facial features can get blurred on the theatre stage. Audience members in the very back row need to be able to see the actor, therefore highly pigmented makeup is used on stage. Pancake makeup is used to create dramatic special effects and to accentuate an actor's facial features.
Body painting is used to enhance features and create illusions such as camouflage. Small designs are are painted all over the body and resemble tattoos. Body special effects artistry can also be used to transform the actor into a monster, alien, or creature. Liquid latex and rubber are used to transform the appearance of the body.
Fantasy characters play an important role in television and movies. Makeup is applied instead of rubber to give a more realistic look. A wide variety of products and accessories are used to create different appearances. Fantasy special effects can be focused on a specific area of the body, such as the eyes. Fantasy characters are usually made for science fiction films and television shows.