A Newbie Guide

Browsing on an Lj and seen a pretty doll? Suddenly think- "Gee! I want one of em!" Then rush over to some random forum and bug the crap out of everyone by going- "Hi! I'm a newbie! Where can I get a cheap dollfie?" or "Hi! I'm a newbie! So how do you get one of those dollfies?"


1. Background info
*BEFORE* you run off to some random LJ com/forum (*coff*egl/DoA*endcoff*) to pester people, most of the questions you've got have already been asked a gabillion times. Yes. We know. We've had to answer them at one point -_- Why? Because people don't read things like THESE:

(Please note many sites listed are on the forum which will need membership, provided you are over 13, to access)

Aimee's godsend SD FAQ
**EDIT** Cassiel's incredibly awesome Volks FCS guide to compliment Aimee's Volks FCS Guide
**EDIT** Cassiel's Volks guide
discreet's Berman/Hound FAQ
DoA's Picture Request thread created by Hitasura- who was sick of so many repeat posts asking to see a certain doll (just like us -_-)
DoA's Comparison shots, another thread created due to multiple request posts.

2. Choosing one
the lovely black_geek created a Doll Collective of sorts, where she lists the models/prices/heights and websites of nearly all the dolls and companies to date.

Also very useful the Blank Head Database (exactly as it sounds X3) Very useful to see a doll unmodded and unpainted, so you can decide if they will be the right character for you ^_^

The eyes are the windows to the soul, right? So the perfect color, size, type and style for eyes matter a lot. The Eye Database, steadilly growing, is a great resource to check out what's out there ^_^

3. Oh my GOD! So expensive! So much work!
If you've reached this area of the post thinking that- leave. They're not for you.

If you still want to know more, then keep going.

Many people wonder, how the hell do you save money for them?! Answer here.

Basically it's a lot of sacrifice and hard work. End of story. There's no *easy* way of doing it unless you win the lottery or inherit a fortune :S

Rough price estimates to Australia for Minis

4. Purchasing and the wait

Once you've chosen one your heart is set on (please avoid seeing one as pretty but not feeling 100% about it- reselling and getting a complete dead meet with your money isn't very likely, and think of the time wasted by the company just for you *glare*), you'll find that it's very easy to order.

Apart from purchasing from the main companies and reps, DoA has a Doll Marketplace for larger dolls, mini dolls, and tiny dolls. if you want to chance upon a modded/pre-loved doll. This by all means does not mean it will be heaps cheaper than getting them brand new. You may save as little as 10% off the original price, or not even save at all.

Most companies take paypal nowadays and are very easy step-by-step orders. Plus the people are uber nice.

It is advisable to go to the forum (DoA) and check out the buyer section because some companies (a minority) may not be as awesome in dealing with overseas customers (or just customers in general >.>) whether that may be through their service or the quality of their goods. So do your research! ^__^

Please DON'T flood their poor inboxes with "WHERE'S MY DOLL????!!!!!11111oneoneone" because they'd receive hundreds of them dailly from newbies just like you who don't read things like this.

Of course, email them if it's crucial, or leave a message on their message boards. Just try to avoid stressing them out- afterall, they are doing this for *you*. A few years back, 90% of those companies never shipped internationally and never had an english page- you had to go through a service to order.

Besides the companies listed, a great place to find customized heads/limited dolls is here on YJ(<- WTF?! you say- i shall explain later)

5. Clothes
So while you're waiting, busy yourself by making your little one clothes so when they arrive they wont be stark nekky o.O

DoA has a lovely measurement thread to be paired with a pattern archive. Undead Threads is also an awesome pattern site. Zoi also has a section dedicated to MSD Patterns for use with MSD and SMD-sized dolls.

Most of the doll companies sell clothes that can be purchased along with your doll.

Also, DoA has seamstresses for hire over here and wigmakers if you need a specific wig.

Or if you're feeling really generous, this is the clothes search on YJ

6. Arrival!

Congrats! You survived the wait! ^_^ Upon their arrival, some like to hold what is known as an "Omukae Ceremony", which is a welcoming ceremony of sorts. It is up to you whether you do this or not. *When* to do it is also up to you- some do it upon opening the box, whilst others do it once the doll is "complete" with the wig/eyes/face/clothes they visioned them to have.

For more info on this, some DoA members have had official ones held at a Volks store, and others have done it themselves (me included)

General info

7. Face-ups
Fancy customizing your little one yourself? Well, giving them a "face-up", which is the term for painting their faces (putting "make up" on them) isn't that hard.

First you will need a sealant. Melbournites- the Victorian Hobby Centre on Swanston by KFC and the Hobby Place near Melbourne Central and St Francis Church both stock something called "Testors DullCote", which has been found to be the second best sealant to Mr Super Clear- the sealant specific to these "Asian Ball-Jointed Dolls". (By all means, do try to import MSC but Customs is a hit or miss- some get confiscated whilst some get through)

Don't know which one to choose or how they compare? Read this.

*~Materials that *can* be used on dolls (seal them FIRST)
chalk pastels
watercolor pencils
acrylics
watercolors
clear nail polish
acrylic gloss
powder based eye shadow

*~Materials that CANT be used on dolls (regardless of sealing)
anything with oil in it (no oil paint, pastel nor pencil, or make up with oil)
pens
markers

Why? because they *STAIN*

*~Tools
anything from size 0 downward, ROUND brushes (because they come to a fine point when wet whereas liner brushes look...weird)
Q-tips
make-up brushes (for blushing)
acrylic thinner
airbrush

Basics on blushing here and here
A guide to using chalk pastels and a guide to using watercolor pencils.
The effects of using Alcohol
Face up tutorial collective here
And a face up tutorial by the lovely Leechy here
Paul's cool 'how to paint a dd body tutorial'
And look - Questions asked by newbies
Helene's new awesome step-by-step face-up guide


Technical junk-
alternatives to eye putty
Removing glued-in eyes
Serious Airbrush newbie tips

Don't feel confident enough? When you order, some companies ask whether you want it with make or not (other companies like CustomHouse/Volks already have a default make up applied). If you choose the make up option, you will pay extra and will have to submit a detailed description of what you would like them to do. (others like DoD have a drop-dwon box with color themes for you to choose)

Or you could send them to a face-up artist! DoA has a certain section of the forum dedicated to customizers here. These people offer their services for a fee.

There are international customizers and at times are in high demand, so make sure to see if they are currently taking orders before you email them.

Such customizers are HeavyBomb, Satoko Ohno (an extremely famous and well respected artist), Pookie, Kuin and of course many more.

Feeling extra brave? Some owners like to reshape their doll's eyes- Want to give it a try? (Tutorial in Japanese but easy pictures to follow)

8. Basic upkeep
To sand off the seams on your doll, you need to unstring them first. Seph has done a lovely stringing tutorial and even Luts have one here.

To sand your doll you will need sandpaper in various gradients starting from a medium coarse gradient working down to an uber super fine gradient.

Be sure to be in a well ventilated space as resin dust is toxic

Have a basin of water handy and actually sand IN the basin because wet sandpaper moulds to the shape you need and wet resin dust clumps and is less likely to be breathed in.

Sand in CIRCLES unless you want permanent grooves in your doll. Start sanding with the lesser gradients then work your way to finishing it with a super fine gradient.

To clean your doll, I use a mixture of bicarb soda and toothpaste and a toothbrush ^_^ Get a container with a lid and fill it to about 3/4 with the powder. Following the egde, squirt a cirlce of toothpaste on top of the powder. Put the lid on and shake like hell until you get an even clumpy kind of powder.

Use it like normal toothpaste on your doll!

To remove make-up, try to always use acrylic paint thinner- its less harmful than acetone. Or you can be fancy and get yourself some Volks Make-up remover from Volks ^_^

A nifty trick, before you put your doll back together is to spray the joints with sealant as it creates "grip" for them to hold poses better!

OR Suede their joints. (Tutorial in Japanese but pictures very easy to follow!)

Another thing that can be paired with sueding is to wire your doll ^_^

Cleaning should be done fairly regularly if you play with them often. Here are some general tips.


*****SHOPPING!!!!******

YJ?!
YJ stands for Yahoo Japan- a Japanese version of ebay, if you like. The Japanese have a huuuge online market for doll stuff but 99% won't ship overseas and if by chance they did you probably don't know how to use it -_-

So you leave that to the experts!

Shopping services such as Rinkya, Celga, Frill Frill, Crescent Shop, Akibado and Shopping Mall Japan will bid on auctions for you for a fee.

Also- some Korean companies don't ship overseas, and for that you'll need a Korean shopping service. Doya, from DoA has one here!

DoA Shopping Threads
Clothes and Shoes
Eyes and Wigs
Accessories

Wigs

LeekeWorld Japan, Korea, Asia, Europe, main English site (Asia and Europe work by preorder, but if you don't mind paying ems, then the english site is a purchase now kind of thing)
Acquire
Kiriko Moth
Love Replica
J-Series
PoshDolls
Hairstar
To name a few.

Shoes

Minoru world (very recent new English version- used to be Japanese only)
DollHeart

****

Any more questions? Feel free to ask me here or join the huge international community of Den of Angels- a huge forum where you can interact, post pictures, buy/sell stuff and learn a heap of things from the "Workshop" section (be sure to check that out if you have any further questions on customizing!)

For us locals, please join Angels AU, a specific Yahoo group just for us O^^O

****FUN RANDOM JUNK*****

Since the database thing went a bit psycho [/sarcasm], DoA created The Database Database- a database that lists all the databases on DoA XD

Plus, there's an Offsite Database for dollies X3

Cute Japanese tutorial on how to make your own carry case! ^_^
Translated Violin carry-case tutorial

****LINKS*****

Here are the top guns of the BJD world- these are customizers you *must* know because their work is amazing.

Cherry Bomb
Avvelenato
Borderland
Junx and BerryPot (lovely partners in crime)
Caress of Venus
OverDose
Dolls Drug Kingdom
Robin's Egg
Sairin
Sou
Chesca
Wondermom (Omg. 2 hours worth of DoA searching for that ONE link *_*)

Those are just a few, and feel free to lose yourselves in their "links" page- they'll lead to more awesome artists.

*****

Wow. you've reached the end! Congratulations on reading it all! I hope that I've helped you along- these dolls are a wonderful hobby and once you start you'll understand why I created this guide.

I just wanted to prepare you before you go ahead and adopt one, as it can be overwhelming to be a newbie and not know where to start (yes I was once one too).

Hopefully this guide has helped and will continue to help you as you and your doll bond (let's hope you do ^^;) as time goes by, and you'll come to realize that all the back-breaking, eye-straining, wallet-slaughtering work is so very very worth it everytime you look at them.


-Annie love