Metallics

KingUlrikFlamebeard · Post by **KingUlrikFlamebeard** » 27 Jul 2005, o 21:06

Ok, over my years painting and posting them on the net (maybe the last, three or four years) I have had many comments on my metallic painting. All say it's too bright. Now I for one quite like the bright colours as IMO they fit the armies (in my eyes anyways), but I want to try and darken the colours.

Here's how I do my Silver -

Boltgun Metal base > Black Ink > Chainmail > *optional* Chainmail & Mithril Silver mix (use this occassionally) *optional* > Mithril Silver

And my gold - (been using the Tin Bitz and Dwarf Bronze only recently, and DB is an GW OOP colour IIRC)

Tin Bitz > Dwarf Bronze > Shining Gold > Flesh/Chestnut/Brown Ink wash > Shining Gold & Burnished Gold > Burnished Gold > Mithril Silver (Highlight)

Now, to me this looks ok but I do want to try and get it darker to add depth. So I'm asking any tips? Pointers? Better ways of doing it? I only have GW colours, but may buy Vejello (sp?) if they're better or just for the hell of it.

Thanks.

KU

Lonewolf · Post by **Lonewolf** » 27 Jul 2005, o 21:08

got any pics?
would really help to visualise where you are upto

KingUlrikFlamebeard · Post by **KingUlrikFlamebeard** » 27 Jul 2005, o 21:14

Probably the best pics I have to date are Bugman, just done him.

https://img319.imageshack.us/img319/5310 ... an59fp.jpg

The pics maybe a bit blurry, but they're still viewable.

KU

Lonewolf · Post by **Lonewolf** » 28 Jul 2005, o 03:26

Personally i think your metalics look great

Just a little to clean and new looking.
all i could really recomend would be to add a bit of shading to give a more worn/used appearance.
i use layers of very watered down ink to gradually build up shading.

Click to see full-sized image

Click to see full-sized image

Not the best examples but only pics i could find in a hurry

i know ive got/seen an article around somewhere i'll try and find it.

heres a good little article for metal, it's inteneded more for vehicles etc but can easily be used for other stuff.
Here

KingUlrikFlamebeard · Post by **KingUlrikFlamebeard** » 28 Jul 2005, o 19:20

That's the problem I seem to have, I can't seem to make the metal look dark enough. Everyone say ink it and I do, but the highlights afterwards make it too bright (as I wouldn't leave a pure inked piece as IMO it looks unfinished).

But the sword on your first pic looks great, layering ink eh? I may try it, any tips?

Anyone else got any words of wisdom to part with for me?

KU

Lonewolf · Post by **Lonewolf** » 28 Jul 2005, o 20:33

the best way ive found is to use very thin layers of ink (really watered down) and just build up the layers gradually.
takes some time but does work

Post by **Demi_morgana** » 28 Jul 2005, o 21:47

hmmm... imo the key to effective painting with watered down washes is the patience: for me it's hard to wait until a layer of ink + water will dry before putting another layer, so sometimes I don't achieve effect I'd like...

Post by **mahon** » 28 Jul 2005, o 22:19

Ian's right -t hat's my method too. This and using weird colors for staining... including blues, oranges, or greens...

Post by **Skrit** » 29 Jul 2005, o 02:42

mahon wrote: This and using weird colors for staining... including blues, oranges, or greens...

Lately I've been toying around with tamiya smokes. (after tips from Ramon Laan who in turn got it from Jakob Nielsen!) At first a bit strange to work with but once you get the hang of it, interesting results can be achieved...

tidoco2222 · Post by **tidoco2222** » 5 Aug 2005, o 06:33

I use lots of washes of very dilute paint mainly black and brown, it takes a long while but the end result can be very effective. What you are aiming for is basically dirty water the amount of brown/black is up to you as it is a taste thing, start by a gneral wash and then just keep building the layers up back into the recesses bearing in mind the further into the shadows you go the more black you will need in the mix.
I find this technique works for both gold and silver metalics. You can also experiment with different colours as well to see what effects you can achieve.
The advantage of using paint washes over ink is that it dulls the shine, if you go too dull it is easy to retouch over again.