udor wrote:
Try liquid tar!

...


... wait!

You want easily removable and not staining the model's skin? 

Never mind! 

Besides, liquid tar is VERY hot. (If we're talking about the same stuff). I think you should have put the "evil grin" with the liquid tar !
-Don

CamelliaFlower wrote:
Activated charcoal should work to turn water black, and it should rinse off pretty easily since it's a powder.

I also found this mommy blogger who says she used black food colouring in bathwater and it didn't stain, you might want to experiment before dunking your model though.

http://www.growingajeweledrose.com/2012 … n-fun.html

That is so cute!
*Makes mental note for happy fun time*

CamelliaFlower wrote:
Activated charcoal should work to turn water black, and it should rinse off pretty easily since it's a powder.

I also found this mommy blogger who says she used black food colouring in bathwater and it didn't stain, you might want to experiment before dunking your model though.

http://www.growingajeweledrose.com/2012 … n-fun.html

NO  !!  Having used activated charcoal many times in a medical setting, it does not clean off easily.  Stainless steel and porcelain can be cleaned, teeth will eventually come clean, skin gets rubbed off, nail beds will be black for weeks, hair may never get unstained, clothes will be permanently stained. If you get charcoal in tile grout, it will never come out.  Hospital laundry services put sheets through a thorough cleaning and decontamination process including HOT water and bleach, and they have a special cleaner for charcoal. In some facilities we had separate laundry bags for charcoal stained sheets so the rest of the laundry didn't get messed up.

Answer for black water is a black plastic sheet/tarp lining the tub.  There will still be water on top of the model's skin, but underneath will be black.

Pictures of Life wrote:

NO  !!  Having used activated charcoal many times in a medical setting, it does not clean off easily.  Stainless steel and porcelain can be cleaned, teeth will eventually come clean, skin gets rubbed off, nail beds will be black for weeks, hair may never get unstained, clothes will be permanently stained. If you get charcoal in tile grout, it will never come out.  Hospital laundry services put sheets through a thorough cleaning and decontamination process including HOT water and bleach, and they have a special cleaner for charcoal. In some facilities we had separate laundry bags for charcoal stained sheets so the rest of the laundry didn't get messed up.

Answer for black water is a black plastic sheet/tarp lining the tub.  There will still be water on top of the model's skin, but underneath will be black.

OMG. *facepalms* This one didn't cross my mind until I read that.

Pictures of Life wrote:
NO  !!  Having used activated charcoal many times in a medical setting, it does not clean off easily.  Stainless steel and porcelain can be cleaned, teeth will eventually come clean, skin gets rubbed off, nail beds will be black for weeks, hair may never get unstained, clothes will be permanently stained. If you get charcoal in tile grout, it will never come out.  Hospital laundry services put sheets through a thorough cleaning and decontamination process including HOT water and bleach, and they have a special cleaner for charcoal. In some facilities we had separate laundry bags for charcoal stained sheets so the rest of the laundry didn't get messed up.

Answer for black water is a black plastic sheet/tarp lining the tub.  There will still be water on top of the model's skin, but underneath will be black.

This is surprising to me since when I searched there were a lot of links about activated charcoal baths as well as activated charcoal facial masks, and none of them mention anything about staining which I would think would be an important point to mention. I've done DIY charcoal face masks with no staining issues, perhaps the medical grade activated charcoal you have experience with has different properties from the type sold to regular consumers?

In any case experimenting with any of the methods advized before dunkig your model will probably be a good idea.

And OP has already address the possibility of using a black tarp to line the tub, she specifically stated she knew this was an option but was looking for a method to make the water on top of the model's skin appear black as well.

CamelliaFlower wrote:
Activated charcoal should work to turn water black, and it should rinse off pretty easily since it's a powder.

I also found this mommy blogger who says she used black food colouring in bathwater and it didn't stain, you might want to experiment before dunking your model though.

http://www.growingajeweledrose.com/2012 … n-fun.html

Thanks,  I will experiment on myself before submerging a model.

KOLMANS STUDIOS wrote:
http://www.dyofix.co.uk/pond-black-dye.html

This is what you want. I use it for shoots and no staining,even models with blond hair never complained.

This sounds like it would work best.  Thanks for your input.

KOLMANS STUDIOS wrote:
http://www.dyofix.co.uk/pond-black-dye.html

This is what you want. I use it for shoots and no staining,even models with blond hair never complained.

Does the product stain?
In concentrated form, dyes WILL stain hands and clothing, so it is always recommended that gloves should be worn when handling the products. At a recommended dilution rates no staining will occur.

Hero Foto wrote:

Does the product stain?
In concentrated form, dyes WILL stain hands and clothing, so it is always recommended that gloves should be worn when handling the products. At a recommended dilution rates no staining will occur.

Thanks.  I did find this product when I did an internet search but hearing from someone who has used the product for this particular use makes me feel better about trying it. 

I really appreciate your help.

Zack Zoll wrote:
Off topic, but is anyone else hearing Frank Zappa in their heads right now?

Weasels Rip My Flesh...

Zack Zoll wrote:
Off topic, but is anyone else hearing Frank Zappa in their heads right now?

Hah, that's the first place my mind went, too.  And thanks to this thread, I found this groovy 1968 live performance video and this arrangement for clarinet, viola, and piano.

Zack Zoll wrote:
Off topic, but is anyone else hearing Frank Zappa in their heads right now?

Not until you mentioned it !

Don Garrett wrote:

Besides, liquid tar is VERY hot. (If we're talking about the same stuff). I think you should have put the "evil grin" with the liquid tar !
-Don

OOoooppss!!!        

Hero Foto wrote:
http://abduzeedo.com/beautiful-water-ef … otoshop-cc

Hmmmmm,  maybe the best way to go is in post editing.  I already have the water since the model is in a bath tub.  Thanks.

I did a quick, sloppy job with mask in levels and then another in saturation and then dialed down the density to see if I could achieve the blackened water lapping over her skin. It seemed to work. 

When I have a little more time, I will go back to my raw image and practice, practice, practice.

https://www.modelmayhem.com/portfolio/pic/39941569

Hero Foto wrote:
hey Mary, it was just an after thought, sometimes PS can help save the day when staging and props cannot be found or used without harm. I would like to see the end product

I just linked it to my latest post in forums.  Just the quick and somewhat sloppy fix just to see how it would look.

ME_retouching wrote:
McCormick makes black food coloring.

Do you have any idea what food coloring does to skin?

Orca Bay Images wrote:

Do you have any idea what food coloring does to skin?

Yes,  I once used food coloring as art of a Halloween costume.  I was a tinge of yellow for a week.  Lots of showers and scrubbing

Shawn Wright Photo wrote:
I'm genuinely surprised that no one has mentioned this stuff.

http://getblk.com/
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Blk._%28water%29

I've drunk this! It tastes like regular water. And it is pretty opaquely black.

But how many bottles of it do you think would be needed to fill a tub? It's not cheap either...