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Thread: Dorsal Fins: Yae or Nae?

  1. #1
    Senior Member MeliPixie's Avatar
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    Dorsal Fins: Yae or Nae?

    I've been waffling back and forth on the idea of dorsal fins. The dorsals I'm referring to are the ones that run a good length of the tail and have lots of short rays and very thin membrane between.

    Myself I think they are beautiful and add personality to the tail! But, at least in my opinion, they make it look a little less natural, at least for what a mermaid might evolve to need. To my knowledge (which admittedly is limited so please correct me if I'm wrong) fish have dorsal fins mostly because their tail moves side to side. On a tail that moves up and down, it seems to fold and bend unnaturally. And I know dolphins have smaller dorsal fins, but that is not the type I'm talking about.

    So how do you all feel about these long, fish-like dorsal fins? Do you like/love them, or do you dislike/hate them? Are you neutral? I'd love to hear reasons too please! Have a great evening (US time anyway) everyone and I'll be back after work!

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  2. #2
    Well... I personally like them if they bend naturally, and are actually membrane looking. If they actually belong on the fish the mermaid is. XD

  3. #3
    Member Chesapeake Pod
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    I'm a sucker for a dorsal fin. They look so pretty on a tail.

    But you're right about swmming; it can look out of place with a dolphin kick. I really love Stella the Siren's fins on fabric tails. The organza is cut short enough and flows well enough that it looks more natural. But I've yet to see a silicone tail that looks natural with a dorsal fin. *insert sad mer sighs*

  4. #4
    Senior Member Pod of Oceania Mermaid Jaffa's Avatar
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    I LOVE dorsal fins! I've even sewn them into my fish suits (one piece swimsuits)!

    So that my tails and swimmers match.
    Last edited by Mermaid Jaffa; 02-21-2017 at 11:18 PM.
    Formerly known as ireneho

  5. #5
    Senior Member MeliPixie's Avatar
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    I agree with you guys in that I do love them aesthetically <3 I just wish they could look a bit more natural for myself, the tail I'm designing is after a koi fish and a dorsal fin could just MAKE it, you know? But I'd rather not use one because of the simple fact of it being evolutionarily unnecessary and unnatural. I'm very scientifically oriented and it would ruin the tail for me, in my heart

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  6. #6
    Senior Member Undisclosed Pod Mermaid Tula's Avatar
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    I did a row of shark like fins down the back for my dorsals. I'm debating on doing something similar on my new tail, or possibly doing the longer dorsals with the thin membranes.
    Hi! I'm Sam, aka Mermaid Tula, aka Comatose Angel.
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  7. #7
    Senior Member MeliPixie's Avatar
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    Quote Originally Posted by Mermaid Tula View Post
    I did a row of shark like fins down the back for my dorsals. I'm debating on doing something similar on my new tail, or possibly doing the longer dorsals with the thin membranes.
    Ooh, that sounds awesome! Have you posted any pics around here? I'm still learning how to navigate ^^;

    Sent from my Shellphone using Tapatalk for Android
    Currently deciding on a color/design and saving up for my first tail!

  8. #8
    Senior Member Undisclosed Pod Mermaid Tula's Avatar
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    http://mernetwork.com/index/showthre...ll=1#post75449

    Here's the post that has pictures of my tail ^__^
    Hi! I'm Sam, aka Mermaid Tula, aka Comatose Angel.
    Hey everyone. I just opened my store on Facebook.
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  9. #9
    Senior Member Undisclosed Pod Mermaid Tula's Avatar
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    http://mernetwork.com/index/showthre...l=1#post114569

    Also here's the video. You can kind of see how the dorsals stand when I move.
    Hi! I'm Sam, aka Mermaid Tula, aka Comatose Angel.
    Hey everyone. I just opened my store on Facebook.
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  10. #10
    Senior Member MeliPixie's Avatar
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    Thanks for sharing, those look so cute!

    Sent from my Shellphone using Tapatalk for Android
    Currently deciding on a color/design and saving up for my first tail!

  11. #11
    Senior Member Undisclosed Pod Mermaid Tula's Avatar
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    Thanks. I love my Reptar, but she's going into retirement. Hopefully this next tail will have the dorsals lined up a little bit better ^___^
    Hi! I'm Sam, aka Mermaid Tula, aka Comatose Angel.
    Hey everyone. I just opened my store on Facebook.
    http://www.facebook.com/tulastidepool

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  12. #12
    Senior Member MeliPixie's Avatar
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    Practice makes perfect! ^_^

    Sent from my Shellphone using Tapatalk for Android
    Currently deciding on a color/design and saving up for my first tail!

  13. #13
    So far, I have not seen a dorsal fin that I personally like. My dream silicone tail does not have a dorsal fin. They just look too 'rough', unelegant and distract too much from the elegance of a tail. Just my opinion!

    I hope someday a tailmaker will design some dorsal fins that no one has seen before, maybe I just need to see a different kind of dorsal fin to like it!

  14. #14
    Senior Member MeliPixie's Avatar
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    Quote Originally Posted by Mermaid Tula View Post
    Thanks. I love my Reptar, but she's going into retirement. Hopefully this next tail will have the dorsals lined up a little bit better ^___^
    May I suggest this time, perhaps making the back half of the tail two pieces (left and right) and sewing the dorsal fins into the seam? That will help keep them aligned Just don't forget to measure in a seam allowance in the middle there!

    Sent from my Shellphone using Tapatalk for Android
    Currently deciding on a color/design and saving up for my first tail!

  15. #15
    Senior Member MeliPixie's Avatar
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    Quote Originally Posted by MermaidLyara View Post
    So far, I have not seen a dorsal fin that I personally like. My dream silicone tail does not have a dorsal fin. They just look too 'rough', unelegant and distract too much from the elegance of a tail. Just my opinion!

    I hope someday a tailmaker will design some dorsal fins that no one has seen before, maybe I just need to see a different kind of dorsal fin to like it!
    I'm hoping the same, myself. Maybe someday <3 (Sorry for the double post, I didn't see this before.)

    Sent from my Shellphone using Tapatalk for Android
    Currently deciding on a color/design and saving up for my first tail!

  16. #16
    Senior Member Undisclosed Pod Mermaid Tula's Avatar
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    Quote Originally Posted by MeliPixie View Post
    May I suggest this time, perhaps making the back half of the tail two pieces (left and right) and sewing the dorsal fins into the seam? That will help keep them aligned Just don't forget to measure in a seam allowance in the middle there!

    Sent from my Shellphone using Tapatalk for Android
    That's a good idea. It all depends on which fabric and techniques I'll be using. I've been thinking about coating the fabric in silicone
    Hi! I'm Sam, aka Mermaid Tula, aka Comatose Angel.
    Hey everyone. I just opened my store on Facebook.
    http://www.facebook.com/tulastidepool

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    User previously know as "Comatose_Angel"


  17. #17
    Senior Member MeliPixie's Avatar
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    Quote Originally Posted by Mermaid Tula View Post
    That's a good idea. It all depends on which fabric and techniques I'll be using. I've been thinking about coating the fabric in silicone
    Oh, that'll be interesting!

    Sent from my Shellphone using Tapatalk for Android
    Currently deciding on a color/design and saving up for my first tail!

  18. #18
    Senior Member Undisclosed Pod Mermaid Tula's Avatar
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    I got the idea from a few places, but this thread about silicone and fabric fins by Moonflower really kicked me into gear http://mernetwork.com/index/showthre...ght=moonflower
    Hi! I'm Sam, aka Mermaid Tula, aka Comatose Angel.
    Hey everyone. I just opened my store on Facebook.
    http://www.facebook.com/tulastidepool

    Mermaid Tula's Facebook Page


    User previously know as "Comatose_Angel"


  19. #19
    Senior Member Pod of the Midwest Mermaid Marius's Avatar
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    I'm not a fan of them. I think they can look stunning in the water, but I'd never intentionally design a tail with one. I find that the full dorsals, the kind that run most of the length of the tail, highlight the mer's break at their knees whilst swimming and detract from the believability of the mer. They can also be EXTREMELY uncomfortable to sit on if they're poured thick, which would make gigs that are upwards of 1.5 hours a pain.

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  20. #20
    Senior Member MeliPixie's Avatar
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    Quote Originally Posted by Mermaid Tula View Post
    I got the idea from a few places, but this thread about silicone and fabric fins by Moonflower really kicked me into gear http://mernetwork.com/index/showthre...ght=moonflower
    Wow, that's incredible! Such ingenuity!
    Quote Originally Posted by Mermaid Marius View Post
    I'm not a fan of them. I think they can look stunning in the water, but I'd never intentionally design a tail with one. I find that the full dorsals, the kind that run most of the length of the tail, highlight the mer's break at their knees whilst swimming and detract from the believability of the mer. They can also be EXTREMELY uncomfortable to sit on if they're poured thick, which would make gigs that are upwards of 1.5 hours a pain.

    Sent from my SM-G935P using Tapatalk
    That's a good point about the knee break, that's really where the realism starts to crack. And I never even thought about sitting in the tail, that would be so uncomfortable!

    Sent from my Shellphone using Tapatalk for Android
    Currently deciding on a color/design and saving up for my first tail!

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