Looking to create a lifesized jaguar from a mt. lion hide. Any suggestions on how to color or dye the mt. lion hide to look like the natural color and pattern of a jaguar? I can scan in and make templates for the spot and rosette patterens but need help in perminate coloring of the hide? Thanks
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I would mount it first, and then dye it.
Use hair dye; I would talk to a hairdresser!
They work with the stuff all day long, and
should be able to help with clor selection and application.
Probably make a template that you can pull hair through to
dye only the spots and rosettes; maybe make one large enough
to do an area of a square foot at a time or so.
The fur, the limbs, the tail and the overall morphology are very different. To begin with, the base tawny coat of the cougar is nothing like the hue and tone of a jaguar. You have a lot more to do than just spray on some rosettes. Hair dye is not going to work in the first place. You would be better off with a cold dye for general purposes and a proper mordant. In addition to that, you are going to have to figure a way to countershade the pelt, after you dye the entire hide. The paws are not the same, either. I am not positive that a cougar's head skin will adequately cover the jaguar form, either. You could build a more realistic jaguar from faux fur over a proper form......What next?
if you want a faux jaguar pelt you can buy one at shopforleather.com
they use cow skins and dye them in different colors. it would sure be a lot less work. just keep the mountain lion skin as is or sell it.
good luck!