Make your own Halloween mask
Create an original mask in minutes
Sure, you could go to the store and buy the same Halloween masks as everyone else. Or in just minutes you can make an original mask that will wow the Halloween crowd.
Imagine the perplexed looks of the neighborhood children when they come to the door and see you wearing a mask of your child's face. Or, for a last-minute costume, you can go as your spouse or your pet. The possibilities are endless.
To begin, you'll need a good close-up photo of a face; a person or a pet. Some other things you'll need:
| • | Microsoft Windows XP |
| • | An image editing program or image library program with a cropping tool, such as Digital Image Suite |
| • | A photo printer |
| • | Photo printing paper (the thickest-or heaviest stock-that your printer can use) |
| • | A paint stirring stick or strips of wide ribbon |
Capture your photo
Here are some tips to keep in mind when you're shooting the photo for your mask:
| • | Check your lighting: Whether you take the photo indoors or outdoors, be sure that your subject's face is well-lit, with no deep shadows. |
| • | Get close: Move in as close as possible, so your subject's face fills the screen. You can use your camera's zoom feature, but you'll get a better photo by shooting close up and using less zoom. |
| • | Give them a clue: Prompt your subject with, "Look scary!" or, "Make the funniest face you can!" to get the expression you want for your mask. |
| • | Make it up: You can add makeup to create Halloween scars, whiskers, funny moustaches, or other embellishments before you take your picture. |
| • | Take several shots: Shoot four or five images so you can choose the best one for your mask. |
| • | Add special effects: Use your image-editing program to add special or funny touches to your photo. Add dramatic colors, eye patches, glasses, scars, facial hair, or whatever strikes your fancy. |
Crop the image
The next steps outline how to crop the photo to ensure that your mask looks right.
1. | Select the cropping tool in your digital image editor or image library program and select only the face. Get in tight around the perimeter of the face, eliminating as much of the background as possible.  |
2. | Crop the image and save a copy with a new name. An easy way to remember what file is your mask image is to add the word "mask" to the end of the file name so it's easy to find. If you are adding any special effects with your digital image editor, add those artistic touches now before you print the mask. |
Print the mask
The Photo Printing Wizard in Windows XP will print a photo that is large enough for a mask. Make sure to use thick- or heavy-stock photo paper so your mask is durable.
1. | Open the folder in which you saved your cropped image. |
2. | Click Print pictures under Picture Tasks.  |
3. | In the Photo Printing Wizard, click Next. |
4. | Click to select the photo you want to print by making sure that the box in the corner of the photo has a check mark in it. Be sure that other photos in your folder do not have a check mark in their corner boxes.  |
5. | Click Next. |
6. | Select a printer and then click Next. |
7. | In Available layouts, under Full Page Prints, click to select Full page photo print.  |
8. | Click Next to print your mask image. |
Let the photo dry thoroughly before assembling the mask.
Assemble the mask
Assembling the mask starts with cutting out the mask. With sharp scissors, carefully cut around the perimeter of the face.
You can assemble your mask in two different ways:
| • | If you are going to wear the mask, cut holes for the eyes and mouth. Punch a hole on each side of the mask and reinforce the holes with masking tape and small pieces of cardboard for added durability. Now tie a piece of ribbon to each hole. Use the ribbon to tie the mask around your head. |
| • | If you want to carry the mask, just cut holes for the eyes and then glue the mask to a paint stir stick or strip of balsa wood so that you can hold it in front of your face. This is a good option for greeting trick-or-treaters because you don't have to wear it around the house all evening. |
You're done! In just a few minutes, you made a personalized mask that will at least get a few shrieks of laughter on Halloween.
