NMM overrated?

[EvilEyeVirtue]

Now don\'t get me wrong, NMM, if done right, looks fantastic. But I think a LOT of models are getting the shaft because they aren\'t painted in NMM. Metallic paints can look good if done right and there are a lot of models out there painted to an awesome standard recieving 5\'s or 6\'s, I think it\'s due to the NMM factor. Am I wrong?

 

[matty1001]

I think NMM can be painted very well, or very badly IMO, so models with good NMM are generally going to get high scores.
Metallics can also be painted excellently or really badly AND in between, sort of average. The top end metallics like NMM is noticed more thus givin higher scores, but good metallics will always just be scored averagely even if it is painted better than bad NMM.

Well thats how i see it anyway.

 

[No Such Agency]

Probably not. Even I have caved and started doing NMM.

I have to admit that when done right it can look really spiffy... but until you figure it out your first attempts look like sick ass. Metallics are a lot more forgiving. And, I think, a better idea for gaming, since at non-optimal viewing angles they do look better.

 

[demonherald]

I\'m sure this discussion has been done to death but this is the first time I\'ve put forward my humble opinion....

Both techniques can look awesome. I find that a lot of people seem to be more impressed with NMM as it seems more difficult.

I personally think it falls into several levels but true masters of NMM such as Alexi Z and Arkaal have a knack to produce it with such realism you cannot fail to be bowled over.
However people such as Beltane and Jakob Nielson and Nano have a way with metallics that I find amazing.

Both at top level are simply stunning. When photographed the NMM seems to look a lot better as metallics lose their natural light reflection.
but in real life I always think a lot of nmm just looks flat. Also with practise as your NMM improves you start to see NMM just as it\'s composite colours so the illusion is lost somewhat.

I find myself preferring Metallics done well more and more as their are elements to metallic pigments that add a certain amount of unpredictability and something different to see at all angles and light levels....

just my two penneth

 

[Ritual]

Originally posted by demonherald
I\'m sure this discussion has been done to death

Exactly!!

 

[krom1415]

I like both equally when looking, however I am attempting the NMM myself now, as I find it more of a challenge, and I can get more control over my brush strokes. I think its just personal preference.

 

[MathewBaich]

for me, I like to do both(not on the same miniature IMO). I plan to paint in NMM for one mini then metallics for the next and so on.

 

[supervike]

A good painter will have both of those items on their \'skills\' list.

I have neither!!

 

[Spacemunkie]

Minis don\'t score low because they use metallic paint.

They score low because they\'re arse.

 

[montka]

I would rate most nmm minis lower than metalics, but I suspect the majority of people are impressed by the complexity of the technique and therefore give higher scores.

I haven\'t seen nmm in real life but it rarely looks convincing in photos, which should be the most flattering. Then again I\'d love to see it done in a convincing way! Either techinique is going to involve compromise, interesting to see which is best.

 

[J2FcM]

Perhaps with age, NMM will lose its \"more impressive\" aura that I think it holds over a lot of people.

To me, NMM vs metalics depends on the miniature. I think Jakob Nielsons metalics are partly so awseome, because his mini\'s bring out a dirty futuristic feeling. Where as, a high elf done in metalics always seemed a lil shabby. They are crisp like NMM.
I think the world of Blade Runner would have to be painted in metalics.

 

[supervike]

Originally posted by J2FcM
Perhaps with age, NMM will lose its \"more impressive\" aura that I think it holds over a lot of people.

To me, NMM vs metalics depends on the miniature. I think Jakob Nielsons metalics are partly so awseome, because his mini\'s bring out a dirty futuristic feeling. Where as, a high elf done in metalics always seemed a lil shabby. They are crisp like NMM.
I think the world of Blade Runner would have to be painted in metalics.

Yup, I agree the mini itself seems to help decide. But, I don\'t think NMM will ever lose its appeal on miniatures.

I think that painting miniatures is all about exaggeration. For instance an \'in scale person\' (a person viewed at a distance so they would appear to be 30mm)would never have the brightness of colors that impress us or the attention to detail. Heck, I doubt you could make out any detail in the face at all. The compelling part of miniature painting is to exaggerate that...to make that tiny thing appear to be much bigger.

NMM is just an extension of that exaggeration.

 

[montka]

Originally posted by supervike
an \'in scale person\' (a person viewed at a distance so they would appear to be 30mm)would never have the brightness of colors that impress us or the attention to detail. Heck, I doubt you could make out any detail in the face at all.

Just look at the Lord of the Rings range

Just a matter of taste I guess. I don\'t think I could learn to appreciate the OTT style of World of Warcraft or NMM though, just not for me.

 

[generulpoleaxe]

nmm requires smooth transitions and a carefull study of real reflections.

when you pass this knowledge over to the metalics painting you get some awsome metalics.

both done correctly look great.
both done haphazard look poo. (and that\'s a technical term )

 

[Trevor]

Good NMM looks awesome. However, I have decided that I prefer metallics for my own stuff, mainly because I\'m not particularly good at NMM and it rarely comes out anything like I want it to.

I don\'t think its overrated though.

 

[Karpiu]

I juts started to try out the NMM and NMG abut since i have still a limited color palette i think that its not so convoncing yet. But still I like to use metalics and metalics for me are still a better choice.

 

[Tony Manero]

i started painting NMM (and i still like it very much!) but now i want to exercitate with metallics, just to see if i\'m (un)able with them too lol. Yeah amazing NMM overwhelm an amazing metal on this site but slowly this tendency is starting to decay (mainly with metallic use by spanish painters). Anyway imho JR nielsen, beltane and so on paint some spiffy metallics