Hi Guys (& Girls)  ,
*  I'm just wondering if you always line your puppet heads.  Is it necessary?  And if it is, how do you do it?
I'm talking about a foam-based head of course. 
*  Also, do you suggest using reticulated foam for a fabric covered puppet, or save it mostly for the completely foam ones?  So far, I've only used it to make a dyed foam puppet, with no fabric covering.
One last question....
*  How do you decide when patterns are copyrighted?  I usually take ideas from all different patterns and put it all together to make a puppet, and I'm wanting to get started selling them.  What is OK, and what is not?
For an example, the Brazil Puppets patterns that were offered for free online....if you use some of the pattern, but not all of it...is it still OK to sell them, or not?  Really not sure here.   

Thanks in advance for all of your help.  You all will never know how much I have learned, since I've joined this site!  I've been building puppets for about 12 or more years, and I've learned more in the last couple of months, than all those years combined!   

1. I don't line the inside of the head, but you can line the mouth if you think it's going to get a lot of wear and tear.
2. Don't quite understand the question.... You can use foam for pretty much anything, and don't necessarily have to cover it in fabric.
3. You don't. Patterns are copyrighted by their writers/designers, and you don't have any choice in the matter. Many people add a special Creative Commons icon (you'll see one in my muppet pattern) which indicates whether or not it's available to share. Others just put a normal copyright icon/message on the work. However, because many patterns are available on websites, it might not be clear. If the pattern is there for free, it generally means you can use the pattern, sell the puppet: but not sell the pattern. If you're really unsure, contact the person providing the pattern and ask them what copyrights they reserve. As a general rule, I would expect no is going to be the answer, since you'd be making money off of someone else's work that they're providing for free.

1.  I've started lining the heads of my puppets.  It's not necessary but I find that the puppet feels much more comfortable on the heand if  the part of the puppet that contacts the hand is not foam.  especially if the puppet is close fitting.  How do you do it?  I 've been using the method described in the foam book.  Basically I make a fabric sleeve the attatches to the finger tubes of the puppet and extends through the body of the puppet.

2.  I haven't used reticulated foam mainly because of cost and availability issues.  What I know though is this.  Reticulated foam is more durable, breathes better and is lighter in weight than upholstery foam.  Theses factors make it good for either fabricated or unfabricated puppets.  In fact, the very best quality puppets are almost always made from reticulated foam.

Na did such a great job answering question 3 I'll just leave it alone.

I don't lind the heads because when I perform I notice the head gets to much moisture and the liner collects it and it feels nasty.

Reticulated i have use in covering and not covering as well as flocking and just dying and air brushing,

Wow...thanks guys! 
DrPuppet....I think you're the one I've been waiting for!  :D
I ordered your videos and never received the links.  My email is:
sensational_strings@yahoo.com
Let me know what I should do.
Thanks!

I just sent them again to the other email address you gave me in the tutorial post. Let me know if you got them ok. Sorry for the problems.

Jay

hiya,
i dont line the inside of my puppet heads. i tend to find i can grip the foam better and have more conrol of the mouth.
i have no experience with reticulated foam so cant help you there.
are you hoping to sell the patterns or the puppets you make from the patterns?
i have bought a few of the patterns from projectpuppet.com, i was worried about any copyright laws i might accidentally break but their website makes it quite clear that any puppet you make using their patterns is your own creation and therefore yours to sell if you choose. this is because no puppet looks the same and they only sell the basic shape not the finished article. obviously if you try to sell their pattern or other peoples patterns then yep you could get into a spot of bother for that.
thats how i took it anyway. i may have read it the wrong way so dont quote me on that.
like Na said if in doubt just ask the person who created the pattern.

cheers
Spam  

Got it just fine!...Thank you!

Thank you "spam"....I'm not planning to sell patterns, just finished creations.  I will see what I do, maybe just make up my own complete pattern.
Thanks for your help!
Sara

Hadn't thought about the whole moisture thing.  I don't sweat very much so it hasn't been something that has been a problem.  But I have plenty of friends that do so I can see how it could be a mess.  I think I'll have to reconsider the whole head lining thing.

Thanks for asking the question Sara

Jon