Pin-up answers:

Foamboard is probably what you are looking for – found at art supply stores or arts & crafts stores.

Some Foamboard For Sale

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Pin-up answers:

Contact a company called ‘Glamour Shots’; they will look after all of the details for you and the results will be amazing.

Or you can check for local photography studios that do pin-up and/or boudoir photo shoots.

Pin-up answers:

Yes, different metals are sometimes heated during production for various reasons, most commonly to harden the material. This is done by heating the metal to a high temperature (above the transformation range) and holding it. The metal is then cooled rapidly which changes the grain structure and makes the metal very hard and brittle. After this, the metal is tempered to increase its ductility (so it won’t fracture as easily).

This is a process done during production, thus many factors are monitored and checked along the way.

Simply heating a metal (such as a bobby pin) will increase the hardness making it stronger, but also make it more brittle. For the application you sited, this will actually hurt you in that the bobby pin will be more likely to break. You may need to get custom made picks…

Pin-up answers:

Check your local college art department – I am sure there is a student or perhaps an instructor that can help. Of course, your tattoo artist might be good enough for the task…

Pin-up answers:

Edward D’Ancona Gallery
http://www.thepinupfiles.com/dancona.html
Peter Driben Gallery
http://www.thepinupfiles.com/driben.html
Al Buell Gallery
http://www.thepinupfiles.com/buell.html
Enoch Bolles Gallery
http://www.thepinupfiles.com/bolles.html
Vaughan Alden Bass Gallery
http://www.thepinupfiles.com/bass.html
Joyce Ballantyne Gallery
http://www.thepinupfiles.com/ballantyne.html
Rolf Armstrong Gallery
http://www.thepinupfiles.com/armstrong.html

Keep searching at that site. as your taste may not be reflected by these artists…