Measure Eye Opening
20 minMeasure eyelid aperture height and width; consult species eye chart for diameter.
Beginner1 day
Eye Selection Setting Guide
Learn eye selection setting from scratch with a clear step-by-step workflow, recommended tools, safety guidelines, and expert tips.
taxidermy beginnersmodel makers
Workflow
Select Glass Eye
30 minChoose commercial glass or acrylic eye matching species, age, and season coloration.
Set Eye in Clay
1 hourBuild clay orbit around eye on form, sculpt lids, and verify gaze angle matches reference.
Finish Eyelids
45 minPull skin over eye, tuck edges, and detail paint inner lid and tear duct if visible.
Tools Used
Checklist
0 / 8 completedLoading your checklist…
Planning
Preparation
Safety
Execution
Quality
Documentation
Reference Materials
Eye ChartsStandard
Commercial suppliers publish species-specific diameter tables — always verify with calipers.
Gaze AngleFormula
Eyes angled 2–5° outward mimics natural binocular overlap in predators.
Eye MaterialsTable
Taxidermy eye options.
| Material | Use | Cost |
|---|---|---|
| Glass | Premium | High |
| Acrylic | Common | Medium |
| Flat back | Fish | Low |
Glass Eyes
Glass eyes shatter — wear eye protection if dropping during install.
Clay Dust
Epoxy clay fumes when curing — ventilate workspace.
Solvent Glue
Eye adhesives often solvent-based — avoid inhalation.
Safety Notes
- Handle glass eyes over padded surface.
- Verify species-appropriate eye color — errors obvious in finished mount.