Neat resources on how to create moving eyeballs!

Thanks for posting these! Seems like the tinfoil trick might only work with complete eyeballs though, as in eyes that are ball-shaped?

And too bad there doesn't seem to be any info about this mysterious 'auxiliary tool'.

Edit: Oh, actually, I have something to add to the list!

Volks has a 'Dream Fitter' for making Dollfie Dream eyes move. I got part of it (sans the stick thing) with a 2nd hand DD and gave it a try but never really got the hang of it. It was really hard to get the eyes to rest properly on the foam part...

 

Perhaps the best known moving eye system comes from Alchemic Labo - most Unoa dolls have that! (Video for example)

Unoas utilize a faceplate and headback system which have strategic holes in them for ears, horns, and the eye mech which is essentially a bar of resin with slots. The eyes have stems that go in the slots and than therefore be moved right and left.

 

@Kaerra Thanks a million for posting these!!

 

another version...
I hope to install these soon, I bought a few sizes to try and am hoping to avoid scratches since it's got the wool padding.
really excited to see them work in person!
there's a few more videos on IG, plus the main website, but I liked this one showing the install process:
thesecretartstudio Instagram video

thanks to all for the links, it's really great to see the different methods, since I'm sure some heads are more cramped for space, it's good to have some alternates.

 

Joydoll's own version of the eye cradle.
I am sure there are at least a couple Japanese customizers who sell something like this on Booth (or other site like that) and I'm trying to fish these up from my bookmarks.

 

A Chinese artist called H Mao (H 猫) is releasing an 'eyeball movable pad'. And looks like Dollsphere is H Mao's official international dealer. Photos of the mechanism here.

(Dollsphere appears to be a new dealer based in Hong Kong. From what I can find so far, it seems like they only opened shop in mid-May this year.)

Edit: Video showing how to use the mechanism

 

I bought some of those eye cradles from H Mao (aka HatCat帽子猫), and got to try them out in my dolls.

I wrote a fairly long review about them on my doll blog. I also used them when I took this photoshoot.
The summary is: H Mao's design has potential but also has significant limitations. They're quite easy to use, and work well if the eye cradles are suitable for both doll and eyes. But if one of the following happens -- the eyes don't fit inside the cradles, or the cradles can't fit properly inside the doll head -- then they're completely ineffective. Other designs (like the Secret Art Studio's eye caps) may be better for the diversity of eyes and doll heads out there.

Some pics from my blog review.






Testing with different eyes - Enchanted Doll (orange eyes) and Soul in a Box (blue eyes) fit quite well.





Inside the doll head.



How it works in one of my dolls. I used a toothpick with blunt ends (sanded down with a sanding block) to move the eyes.



My blog review also describes when the eye cradles don't work effectively in a doll. Pic:


H Mao has since redesigned their eye cradle mechanism. As of writing this post, there's a preorder currently open for this version 2 eye cradle on their Taobao store, but I think it'll close in about a week or so. They might reopen preorders later on.

Hope this little review helps! I think eye cradles have potential but there's a lot of work ahead, and not every doll or eye can use them.

Have you managed to try out the Secret Art Studio eyecaps in your dolls yet? I'm super keen to see how effective those ones are, they seem be more versatile than H Mao's but also trickier to install.