Dick Smith's Blood Formula #1 This is the formula that I use most of the time; it is a basic recipe developed by the legendary makeup artist Dick Smith (THE EXORCIST, TAXI DRIVER, LITTLE BIG MAN to name a few). It is fairly easy to make and shows well: 1 Quart White Corn Syrup (any grocery store) 1 Level Tsp Zinc Oxide (any laboratory supply) 2 Oz. Ehler Red Food Color 5 Tsp Ehler Yellow Food Color 2 Oz. Kodak Photo-Flo *Poisonous* (any photo supply store) 2 Oz. Of Water (from the tap) Mixing Instructions Put the zinc oxide into a bowl, add an equal amount of water and stir into a paste. Add the food coloring and stir. (If you are not using Ehler's brand yellow, use only one-half the amount indicated). Then add a little of the corn syrup and mix well. Pour into a container that holds more than the final amount (you have to shake it up before use, as it may separate), add the remaining corn syrup and mix well. Then add the amount of water specified and mix again. This will give you blood with a normal consistency. Keep the blood refrigerated when not in use (or it will grow mold) and mix well before use. If you want to thin this blood for pumping, use the Photo-Flo (a wetting agent which makes the blood flow and soak into fabric better) and dilute the corn syrup with an equal amount of water before you add in the rest of the ingredients. Only use the Photo-Flo if you are NOT going to use the blood in the mouth. For thicker blood, add small amounts of smooth peanut butter. Experiment with the amount until you get the thickness you want. (Make sure your actors are not allergic to peanuts). This blood may look too bright when used on white materials; if you need to darken it, add about 35 drops of green food coloring per quart of blood. While this formula washes off of skin and most clothes with no trouble, certain fabrics may stain. So test them first and/or use old clothing that you do not mind ruining. Dick Smith's Blood Formula #2 9.9 grams of Methyl Paraben (any laboratory supply) Weigh 7.6 gr. Alcone Red #33(718-361-8373) in N.Y. Weigh 10.4 gr. Alcone Yellow #5 (718-361-8373) in N.Y. 3.5 quarts Karo (any grocery store) 6 oz. Photo-Flo *Poisonous* (any photo supply store) Add Methyl Paraben (A preservative, which can be omitted it if the blood is used right away.) to 1/2 oz Karo corn syrup in a 5 oz. paper cup, and beat to a smooth cream. Add the colors to 1 pint of distilled water. Add remaining Karo in a 1.5 gallon pail and stir in the colors. Add 6 oz. Of Photo-Flo (Be aware that Photo-Flo is poisonous and should not be used in the mouth.) MB2 Blood Formula This recipe comes from Murr Rhame, moderator of the SHOW-FIRE mailing list; he can be reached at murr@vnet.net. It makes a good base for stage blood. Slightly slimy. Fairly low surface tension. Soaks and spreads well. Flour Base: 1/2 To 2 Level Teaspoons Plain All Purpose Flour 1 Cup Of Water. 1 Oz. Red Food Coloring (Durkee Brand Or Equivalent) 1/8 Teaspoon Green Food Coloring (Durkee Brand Or Equivalent) Mix flour into water completely (no lumps) before heating. Bring to boil then simmer for 30 minutes. Stir frequently. Let cool before adding the food color. Stir in any surface scum. This is both much more realistic and simpler than the old Karo corn syrup, Hershey's chocolate syrup and food coloring based formula. There is no sugar and very little food in the MB2 formula so it is less attractive to insects. The shelf life is fairly short (days) at room temperature. It does not go rank, but ferments a bit and looses viscosity. I have not tested refrigerated or frozen storage. This formula will temporarily stain skin, but seems to wash out of most cotton cloths. Cardiff Red Here is a recipe from the United Kingdom courtesy of Stephen Broadhurst and Dale Murchie and provided by eXposure, an Internet resource for young film makers. Their web site is at http://www.exposure.co.uk and Dale can be contacted at dale@exposure.co.uk: Because of the food coloring used in a lot of blood recipes they tend to stain easily and can sometime look more purple than red. This formula is a more natural alternative that is closer to a Spaghetti Western style arterial red. It washes out of clothes easily and can be eaten reasonably safely. 1-2 Teaspoons Of Arrowroot (A White Powder Found In Health Food Shops) 4 Cups Of Water 1 Oz. Non-Toxic Children's Red Poster Paint Powder 1 Oz. Brown Powder Paint (Or Coffee Concentrate Mixed With Water) Take a teaspoon or two of Arrowroot and add to water heated on the stove. Stir continuously until the mixture becomes gloopy. Add a small amount of non-toxic children's red poster paint powder and stir in. The mixture should now be bright red. Add a tiny amount of brown powder paint or coffee concentrate to darken the blood as required. Store in a bottle or jam jar. Thin by adding water to get the required consistency as needed. For bullet hits you need to thin the blood quite a bit to allow it to spray out. Lo-Cost Blood (Also from eXposure) Add a few drops of red food coloring to the cheapest washing up liquid you can find. Add a drop of blue coloring or some coffee concentrate to create a more realistic color. Produces a runny blood that has a slight tendency to foam. Great for those bucket of blood effects on the cheap. Washes off reasonably well, but tastes foul if you accidentally get it in your mouth. Jelly Blood (Also from eXposure) This recipe is credited to Mike O'Hare, who can be reached at mikethemanwiththeplan@yahoo.com: 3-4 Bottles Of Glycerin 1 Cube Of Strawberry Jelly 1/5 Of A Packet Of Gelatin Red Food Coloring Heat the glycerin in a microwave and add one cube of strawberry jelly. Mix until dissolved. Then add small amount of gelatine and the add red food coloring to desired effect. Keep stirring until mixed well. This fomula is slightly runny, but all of the ingredients are easily found in a supermarket. HalloweenNet Blood Provided by Steve Rowin of HalloweenNet. His web site is at http://www.HalloweenNet.com. This makes a nice thick blood, that may not come out of good clothing. 1 Pint Of Karo Light Corn Syrup 2 Tablespoons Of Red Food Coloring 10 Drops Of Green Food Coloring (Darkness Factor) 1 Tablespoon Of Vegetable Oil Kool-Aid Blood (Originator unknown) Karo Syrup (Light Corn Syrup) Black-Cherry Kool-Aid (Powder) Smooth Peanut Butter (check for allergic reaction) Chinese Red Blood (Originator unknown) 4 Parts Liquid Glucose 1 Part Water Chinese Red Food Coloring Ivory Base (Originator unknown) 2 Cups Ivory Liquid 1 Tsp. Red Food Coloring 1/2 Tsp Yellow Food Coloring