Black lining - when to be done?

[DunErwit]

Good morning

I have a question: My mini I posted here @ CMON got a comment saying that a little black lining would help to improve it. I agree ... but ...

... I doubt a bit whether I shall black-line my mini although (almost) everything else is finished. I fear to destroy more than I may improve with it ???

Therefore: Is there any special hint on how to improve my mini with black lining at this stage (viscosity, color density, brush / tool to use ...)? Or is it something that normally should be done at an earlier stage when painting... and which I better should forget for this skaven?
(Besides: At the beginning - just after having primed the skaven in white - I prepared his \"deeper\" and more hidden areas with black - but I suppose, this is not enough for highlighting the 3D-effect / black-lining? I admit: Although I have painted quite some minis and other stuff in the recent years, I use acrylic colors and more professional techniques (shading, metal,...) only since half a year ago... therefore my question which might seem to some of you somewhat ridiculous or needless )

Thanks a lot for some hints.

Bye,
DunErwit

 

[Spacemunkie]

The easiest way I find to achieve blacklining is to leave a space when using a black undercoat! I also use watered down paint and feed it into the crevices I want lining - capillary action will allow it to flow where you need it to go.

I rarely use black - I find dark tones of brown, blue or purple work best depending on the base colour.

HTH

 

[Klute]

What he said.
Though I mostly use the thinned paint cappilliary action method.

 

[Galante]

I agree with DunErwit, I too always wonder when to blackline.

Since I prime with white I can\'t leave a space to act as the blacklining.
Sometimes I do it right after priming, but several layers later it\'s gone. Other times I do it in the end and I always mess things alot (I shake a little, not good for blacklining and freehand).

What I\'m thinking of doing is to apply the first basecoat of colour, blackline and then start with highlighting/ shading.

Now to remember this next time...

 

[Ritual]

@Galante
That\'s a good method, I\'d assume. Also, follow Scott\'s advice and avoid using black. Black lines have a tendency to \'pop out\' and be among the first things you notice on a mini, whereas dark brown lines or dark grey lines blend in better with the surrounding colours while still give that sense of definition.

 

[Galante]

Originally posted by Ritual
@Galante
That\'s a good method, I\'d assume. Also, follow Scott\'s advice and avoid using black.

That seems like a good technique, Ritual.
I actually never cared much for blacklining, but after trying it about a year ago I could see that the different \"pieces\" of the mini standed out much better, and looked more neat.
I should probably write these things down

 

[DunErwit]

Originally posted by Galante
Sometimes I do it right after priming, but several layers later it\'s gone.

... Yes, exactly this is happening to me, too. As I mentioned: White primer, then black in some areas & deepenings - and after having finished the mini, there\'s almost nothing left of it.

Other times I do it in the end and I always mess things alot (I shake a little, not good for blacklining and freehand).

And that\'s what I fear, too... :~(


Thank you all for your input. Finally, it seems at least as if I did not misunderstand anything about black lining - but appearently due to lack of experience (I hope ) it simply does not fully work up to now...

So, I will try your suggestions on my next mini - can only get better, no? Thanks.

DunErwit

 

[JakeSh]

I find the easiest way is to prime black and leave a thin line while painting. I\'m doing an Imperial Fist marine right now with a white base, and its rough trying to paint in the black and go over it.

Skaven are usually pretty dark, I think they would benefit from a black base. Have you ever tried it?

 

[DunErwit]

Not yet - this cheiftan was my first one

But I have the impression that priming everything black makes it much more difficult to pinpoint the details, don\'t you think? Depending on the minis deepenings, of course. Even more, when using darker colors then, in some areas it becomes really hard to see clearly, where you\'ve been already and where not (and where you don\'t have to paint... ).

That\'s why I prefer white primer. But perhaps I will try this on one of the next minis - in some way, it\'s certainly only a question of practice.

 

[JakeSh]

Give it a shot. I find black is much, much easier to work with than white. I have no problem finding the details. I also find most colors work better over a dark base than a light base. I used to prefer white primer untill I tried the black. It does take some practice to get good with, but then again, what doesn\'t?

I have better luck painting greys, browns, greens, most blues and purples, and dark reds over a black base. The only time that I really need a white base is with yellow or a very bright red (and I don\'t use either very often).

 

[Rhode]

I blackline my minis when the basecoats of the 2 things to be lined are done. If i already have painted the other side 100%, i blackline the border trying to mess the not ready part instead of the ready.

I dont do blacklining after mini is painted, i pretty much destroy everything fine. But i believe the are better artists to answer better than i am.

 

[QuietiManes]

If I do it, I do it after priming. But it\'s rare I prime white/grey, and rare I\'d blackline if I did.

It\'s possible to do it after it\'s painted but I\'d say it\'s quite difficult to not look like a comic book character afterwards. Using a really thin paint or ink helps of course. With a touch of future floor finish or dish soap, to cut the surface tension of the paint/ink/water.

I\'d probably use a very fine marker/pen. You can get them at any office supply shop, Pigma Micron (I think?) are popular, I\'ve got some \"pigment liners\" by Staedtler. They\'re usually in with the drafting supplies.

 

[Dragonsreach]

Originally posted by JakeSh

I have better luck painting greys, browns, greens, most blues and purples, and dark reds over a black base. The only time that I really need a white base is with yellow or a very bright red (and I don\'t use either very often).

You might find painting a bright colour like Yellow easier if you paint an initial coat of grey over the black primer. JTY on here uses that technique and it looks pretty good in real life.

 

[Talion]

I usually base coat my mini with white (unless it\'s a dark mini). I then black line everything, anywhere where two colours meet. I then tidy up the line with white again.

I then just paint over the white, knowing only to go as far as the white edge, any miss-haps are sorted out as and when they happen.

 

[JakeSh]

dragonsreach - I do use that method for the shoulder pads of my Space Wolves. SW Gray, then a coat of white, then yellow. Looks perfect. I\'m not about to do that to an entire mini, though.