What attracts you more: the head mold or the faceup?

I'm still trying to choose my first doll, so whenever I look around I try to remind myself to pay a lot of attention to the face mold since faceups can be changed later on.
I think it's a combination of the two for me. I saw this one doll with a gorgeous faceup in the picture but I didn't really like the facial structure, and vice versa. Sooo I think I'd need a nice faceup and face mold. I know, I'm picky >_<

 

I never thought of it till now, but I guess I'm attracted to the mold. most of the time though it fades after I have the mold faceless for awhile but my aiden seems to have different expressions everytime I see him

 

Most times its the facial mold that gets my attention. For instance, Luts Dark Elf Soo sculpt. One of my absolute faves, although the company faceup isn't that impressive. But I love the shape of her eyes (and of course her cute little ears), so I bought two of them. They both have custom faceups and are simply the most gorgeous dolls, ever (although I'm a bit biased).

But sometimes the faceup can make all the difference. I've seen a few molds that I didn't really care for (most of the Dollshe boys, for example) because the company faceup pics just didn't do them any good. But then I'd see owner pics with these incredible custom faceups and think, "Wow, that doll is gorgeous, must have!"

So, I think both the face sculpts AND the faceups are important in their own way.

 

Both. I tend to really like the default face ups on most molds and that's what helped me pick the doll I chose since it's my first. I really don't think I could do a face up on my own (since I don't have a practice head - yet) but I'd really like to try it. But for now, my Rao is going to stick to the default.

I am looking at various heads, though, trying to decide which would a, fit my Rao's body mold and b, look nice on her. Once I decide it's just a matter of saving up. ^_^

 

Definitely head mold first, and then face-up. I tend to judge faceups, yes, and a doll with a beautifully done one can convince me of the potential of certain headmolds, but first and foremost it is the unchangeable features that I'm attracted to. For instance, eyes that are too large or noses that are too pointy will generally mean that it's a doll I won't fall in love with. May like him or her, sure, think they're beautiful, yes, but I won't want to own one even if it had a fantastically gorgeous face-up. I think the face-up is there to enhance the given features of the mold.

 

same of aelice mixture of both, because, when i see certain face up and that i found them beautifull, it give me the intention to buy the doll, but, for many mold i prefer them without the make up, and i love imagine them with my personnal make ..

 

Wow, this is a surprise! When I first started looking at tons of different doll faces, I was wondering how regular BJDers chose dolls. My assumption was that it was probably the norm for people to try to look past face-up and imagine the dolls as just a head mold, so that they could pick the 'face' they wanted. I didn't think initial face-up was important at all XD ! I figured since it's just temporary, and consistency of faceup probably wasn't as good as face mold consistency, that it was just 'extra'.

So, obviously you know what I prefer to look at =P . Having an initial faceup done might be nice, if cheap enough (never over $50 addition), but after that I'd plan on doing it all myself. Then again, I dabble in art, so I guess I feel more comfortable with the thought than others might?

When I'm looking at doll faces for the one that I need, I always try and look past the faceup at just the face. Things like the shape of the face, point of the chin, proportions of features, the expression, sculpt of the nose, lips, and especially eye shape is very important. I have somewhat specific criteria of 'ideal features' for dolls as well, though this criteria of course changes depending on what type of 'look' I want the doll to have =P .

For example, I like wide almond-shaped eyes, not particularly slanted up or down; type of 'button nose', not sharp and thin or too wide; full lips, larger lower lip, in a friendly smile; proportions that aren't too close together and childish or too realistic and adult; and a face/cheeks that is neither too full and bulgy or too thin and sharp. Let's not even get into my ideal body types X3 ! But this way, I can easily eliminate lots of face molds that won't do well for me by checking down my list, and isolate the specific features of a face that I want, instead of worrying whether I just like a doll because of it's promo faceup.

 

When I first see a picture of a doll, I am drawn to the face-ups, but what really determines it are the pictures that reveal the sculpt of the face. Seeing a vendor picture of a great sculpt with a beautiful face-up makes my day.

 

I'm glad I found this thread. I've looked at a lot of dolls and I have to say, I find it a bit confusing as to whether it's the mould or the face up I find appealing. I will always take more notice of a doll with dark eyes and white hair, but I always feel this is the wrong way to make a decision as both those things can be changed. I'm trying to look through the face up but it's difficult!

 

I think both mold and faceup play a big part in how well I appreciate the doll's appearance. I've seen different faceups on the same mold and loved the look of one while completely disliking the other, but I've also seen some molds where their lines just don't please me no matter what their faceup adds. And also molds where even if they had a terrible face up I loved them. XD I'm a little strange like that I suppose though. :3

 

Face mold. I always need to see plenty of faceups for the same mold before I decide whether I really like a doll - but of course some faceups are so fabulous that they've made me want dolls whose sculpts I'm not usually a fan of XD

 

i usually go for the face-up but if I like a different head mold I would be it without a face-up and try to do the face-up i like

 

I tend to wait to see how different faceups look on a doll. Sometimes the default faceup can turn me off a sculpt so badly, I think there is no hope for that doll ever being aesthetically pleasing. But then an artist comes along who paints the doll and shows that there is so much more versatility to the mold than what the original company intended in the default faceup. So after seeing this, I will normally give a doll's head a fair chance, waiting a few months to see how other customizers do with that doll.

Other doll heads, I know will look amazing, even with a minimalistic default faceup. You can just tell the potential of the head right away.

And then there are others, where you just know that no matter what, they cannot be saved. *laughs*

 

I would usually check the database here on DOA for the specific headmold that i'm interested in. This way, i could see a variety of looks and if i like the head or not. The sculpt is important since for some molds, no matter how beautiful the faceups are, they don't attract me in the end. So i would say the mold itself is more important. However, faceups can definitely add a lot more to the mold

 

to be honest i think that it is mainly the faceup, or faceups. when i see a doll sometimes i am like yea that is cute. but their are times when i will see the same doll with an amazing faceup that i find really inspiring. and that often makes me want to buy that doll or be interested in buying that doll.

i think that the face molds can look interesting without a faceup, but the faceup and the possibilities that that doll has artistically are very important to me.

 

I'm more attracted by how the mold was designed than the faceup. A faceup just enchances the head even more so.

 

I tend to look more at the mold first then the faceup. Its true that if a doll has an amazing face up you can look past the mold. However, if I don't care for the mold blank I most likely won't purchase it even if I know there's potential depending on the faceup.

 

faceup first, mold second

 

For me it's both! It's usually a good combination of the two that initially catches my attention, then I look at pictures of the sculpt with different face ups. It's amazing how a faceup can transform the look of a doll, but without a good face sculpt, the faceup can only do so much...

 

I'd have to say both. I need a really good base to get my beginning ideas, but then the faceup just makes it spring to life and voila! Instant love!