Recently i posted a thread to ask for some tips on achieving a plausible metal effect using metallic paint. Many thanks to all whose advice i experimented with and have now a system with which i am content. I thought i would share my results so someone else may benefit
Firstly, this is a laborious process i have used which requires patience and a lot of time. I used approximately 10 hours on the metallic areas of a GW Lothlorien Elf. I hope practice and refinement will speed up the process.
Secondly, this experiment was to achieve a pale gold.
1. Undercoat all the areas with a slightly thinned layer of GW shining gold, ensure the coverage is even.
2. Apply a glaze to begin the shading over the entire area. For this i used brown ink, dark angels green and a gel retarder. Thin the ink to approx 1 part ink 5 parts water and add the slightest touch of the green to kill the vibrancy of the brown. Add a small amount of retarder, this helps to thin the glaze a little more but more importantly it stops the glaze from pooling and gives a even coverage. Slowing the drying time gives an old man more time to use his mix!
3. Now mix some Shining Gold with the smallest amount of Mithril silver. Test the mixture on an old painted area that it is sufficiently, but not too much, lighter than the previous coat. I compared it to a dry area of gold on my palette. Now mix in some diluted gel retarder, add enough that when you test it on an old dry piece of the previous colour it will be semi-transparent. I find metallics dry very rapidly but adding the retarder also has many excellent properties, a) it \'holds up\' the metal pieces better than just water, b) it imparts a smoother surface to the metallic paint, c) your mixture will be usable for the duration of the entire process which is helpful in making the consecutive highlights.
4. Apply, feathering towards the darkest area which you leave uncovered. Feathering is almost like a very, very delicate drybrush in which you control the movement of the paint.
5. Now use a hairdryer to speed up the drying time.
6. Using the same ink glaze mixture as before cover the entire area.
7. Repeat stage 3 and 4 although not working the paint so far. You should be working towards a silver highlight.
8. Glaze again. You should notice the dark areas beginning to deepen and the blending being \'smoothed\' by the glaze. Dont over do the glaze as it is a continual build up with each highlight!!
9. Repeat the process until you are using only silver for the final highlight, then glaze once more and finish off with a final retouch of the silver highlight.
I used 7 highlights (anally retentive painter), therefore 7 glazes. I was amazed at the quality of the finish, it\'s realism and the retarder gave it such a smooth look. During the process you will need to keep adding retarder to the metallic paint as you add more paint to maintain the same properties.
I will post the end result soon.
Good luck and special thanks again to those that helped me.
Menace
Firstly, this is a laborious process i have used which requires patience and a lot of time. I used approximately 10 hours on the metallic areas of a GW Lothlorien Elf. I hope practice and refinement will speed up the process.
Secondly, this experiment was to achieve a pale gold.
1. Undercoat all the areas with a slightly thinned layer of GW shining gold, ensure the coverage is even.
2. Apply a glaze to begin the shading over the entire area. For this i used brown ink, dark angels green and a gel retarder. Thin the ink to approx 1 part ink 5 parts water and add the slightest touch of the green to kill the vibrancy of the brown. Add a small amount of retarder, this helps to thin the glaze a little more but more importantly it stops the glaze from pooling and gives a even coverage. Slowing the drying time gives an old man more time to use his mix!
3. Now mix some Shining Gold with the smallest amount of Mithril silver. Test the mixture on an old painted area that it is sufficiently, but not too much, lighter than the previous coat. I compared it to a dry area of gold on my palette. Now mix in some diluted gel retarder, add enough that when you test it on an old dry piece of the previous colour it will be semi-transparent. I find metallics dry very rapidly but adding the retarder also has many excellent properties, a) it \'holds up\' the metal pieces better than just water, b) it imparts a smoother surface to the metallic paint, c) your mixture will be usable for the duration of the entire process which is helpful in making the consecutive highlights.
4. Apply, feathering towards the darkest area which you leave uncovered. Feathering is almost like a very, very delicate drybrush in which you control the movement of the paint.
5. Now use a hairdryer to speed up the drying time.
6. Using the same ink glaze mixture as before cover the entire area.
7. Repeat stage 3 and 4 although not working the paint so far. You should be working towards a silver highlight.
8. Glaze again. You should notice the dark areas beginning to deepen and the blending being \'smoothed\' by the glaze. Dont over do the glaze as it is a continual build up with each highlight!!
9. Repeat the process until you are using only silver for the final highlight, then glaze once more and finish off with a final retouch of the silver highlight.
I used 7 highlights (anally retentive painter), therefore 7 glazes. I was amazed at the quality of the finish, it\'s realism and the retarder gave it such a smooth look. During the process you will need to keep adding retarder to the metallic paint as you add more paint to maintain the same properties.
I will post the end result soon.
Good luck and special thanks again to those that helped me.
Menace
