Trimming, and molding in 3D

The first step is to make sure your mold is capable of making a 3D Design. This is quite simple. Make sure the back shows an identical reversed image of the front. Many molds look as though they are 3D capable, but when examined closely they have slight differences that do not allow 3D Molding.

 Once you have your mold picked out, If it's a full sheet mold cut the mold in half, or in sections for later closer trimming. If it' a 2 piece mold already then you're ready for trimming.

 The ideal way to get the pieces of the mold to give you the best seal is to place the holding clips as close to the design as possible. For this you'll need to cut/trim in closer to the cavity on the mold.

This shows where we have already trimmed the mold so both the front and back align, and have begun trimming for the clip to fit snuggly close to the cavity.

 

Continue To work your way around the mold until all the spots where you want clips are trimmed for fit. We trimmed this with both pieces taped together so we could make sure the notched areas for the clips aligned properly.

This shows our completed notched mold. Notice how the clips are placed tight against the cavity of the candy mold. The reason we suggest tightly placed clips is when the mold is poured, it does have a tendency to be forced apart by the weight/pressure of the pour. Tightly placed clips help to eliminate the spreading apart of the candy mold, which will help cut down on the final stage of trimming the excess from the completed piece.

HINT: the more clips you can use the better the seal. Use small pointed clips for reaching into thin narrow areas. The neck area on this mold seals better with a small clip that can reach in next to the cavity, then a wider clip that can't get into the space between the head and the shell.

  Before you trim/proceed any further, you need to know whether you'll be making a Hollow or Solid piece. Once you trim for making a solid poured piece it will be more complicated using the candy mold for doing hollow pieces.

 If you decided to try a HOLLOW piece then you don't need to do anymore trimming, you can now use the mold as it is. Here's how. 1. Separate the mold so you have both halves open. 2. Fill one of the halves with chocolate. 3. Place the other (empty) half back on top of the filled half. 4. Clips both pieces securely together. 4. Rotate the clipped together mold. Work it so the hard to get at areas fill in first. You want these areas to be filled first because as the chocolate cools it'll be more difficult to get and even fill. The smaller the area the less likely it will fill properly if you wait to long to work the chocolate into it. For really hard to fill areas, try flicking the outside of the mold with your finger to get the chocolate to work in and help remove air bubbles. 5. Once you're satisfied with the small areas, continue to slowly rotate the mold in all directions, side to side, top to bottom, side to bottom, top to side etc. This will create a nice even consistency of the thickness all the way around. Once the chocolate stops moving around in the candy mold it you can now place it in the refrigerator for the final cooling.

  If you have decided on trying a fully filled/solid piece, you'll need to cut a pour hole somewhere in the mold to allow filling. The base would probably be the most likely area to cut the mold, however depending upon the design you may prefer to cut the fill hole in some other area of the candy mold. Try to choose a spot where it will not take away from the actual design of the piece.

 This shows a rough cut pour hole cut out in the base of the mold for making a solid piece.

  A set of helping hands is always great for holding the mold while it's being filled. If no one is available then placing the mold between a couple objects to stabilize it will work.

 Start pouring a little bit, and then rotate the mold from side to side (follow the seam) to check and see if you have a good seal on the seam. You definitely don't want to fill the mold only to have it run all over the table.

   Once the piece has properly cooled, it's now safe to remove it from the mold. First remove all the clips that hold the 2 pieces of the candy mold together. Very slowly separate one side of the candy mold. DO NOT rip the mold apart, they have a tendency to form a vacuum and may break the piece if pulled apart to quickly. Gently pull it apart allowing air to work into the cavity of the mold. This is critical on thinner designs that cannot stand up being forced apart.

  This shows one side of a cooled design removed.

 Once the completed item is fully removed from the mold, now is the time to trim off any excess that may have squeezed into the seams. Using a medium sharp knife simply run it around where the seam was and this will cut off any extra, making a nice smooth design. Don't try to remove all the details created by the seam, it's a waste of time just clean it to remove the unsightly looks.  Even professionally molded chocolates show a slight seam. A properly clipped together mold will require very little if any seam trimming. (our completed Turtle we made for demonstrating here needed no trimming) This shows our Turtle just as it came from the mold. Notice the seam mark down the middle.

  Now we're ready for decorating. We recommend waiting for the completed item before decorating. Most of the time if you paint the mold prior to pouring 3D items as we described above, the painted areas will bleed into none painted or be deformed by the pour.

 A nicely detailed design, such as the turtle here would have different colors designs on his back, maybe an outline between those design for high-lites. For outlining we recommend a candy writer (candy in a tube). Or using a finely pointed object, a brush tends to smear when trying to decorate fine lines. The tip of the brush handle works great along with a toothpick (none flavored tooth pick). Simply dip any of these items into the chocolate and then paint it on the candy piece. This is also a nice time to add extra decorations as desired. Candy eyes really make the pieces look nice.

  

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