Two part question here. I can't seem to get my paints to look smooth and not grainy. I thin them but I'm wondering if maybe they are thinned to much or maybe not enough. Also I just can't seem to figure out highlights. Where to put them or what colors to use highlighting something. I know it's fairly general questions but any tips would be much appreciated.
Paint smoothness and highlights
- Thread starter Alabama
- Start date
arc1977
New member
Hard to diagnose from the picture quality, but a few things can lead to grainy paint. What consistency are you thinning to? Remember a few thin coats are better than 1 thick. Use a good primer, a thin good primer. I love army painter or p3 primer. The temperature. Of where you paint, if it's too hot it dries funny.
Bloodhowl
New member
Check out the articles in the sticky thread:
http://www.coolminiornot.com/articles/1222
http://www.coolminiornot.com/articles/1223
http://www.paintingclinic.com/clinic/newhighlight.htm
http://www.coolminiornot.com/articles/1222
http://www.coolminiornot.com/articles/1223
http://www.paintingclinic.com/clinic/newhighlight.htm
BloodFather of Kharnath
New member
So much contributes to paint smoothness. Did you prep the mini well? The mold line on the top part of his sword tells me maybe not 
As far as consistency, as a general rule I tend to dilute less the lighter my paint gets. So shadows are very thin, mid tones are less thin, and my highlights can be the least diluted because they tend to get chalky very easily. But I also once told someone that smooth painting is really all about pushing the paint around so that it settles evenly across a surface. It shouldn't pool anywhere, and it needs to be even when it dries. Also, no matter how thin you make your paint, you've got let let layers dry in between or you will only tear up the last layer when you add a new one, and this takes away from smoothness. Again, with diluted paint it becomes purely about pushing around the paint so that it settles evenly. This is the toughest thing for newcomers to understand. Don't let it pool, don't let it settle in cracks and crevices. It's good to often end brush strokes over edges of surfaces, otherwise you leave a big pool wherever you lift up your brush. Finally, keeping your paint even has a lot to do with keeping it barely damp with paint, which means brushing off excess fluid on a paper towel, and then testing the consistency on your thumb or hand. This is incredibly important. Follow this advice for smooth layers. This description or advice I just provided isn't explained in this way very often to new painters, so I hope that you or any other painters take this to heart as it is what I've learned through trial and error after my year of painting.
Finally, take better pics, even for WIP shots. It helps with C&C, and develops good habits overall for your gallery submissions.
As far as consistency, as a general rule I tend to dilute less the lighter my paint gets. So shadows are very thin, mid tones are less thin, and my highlights can be the least diluted because they tend to get chalky very easily. But I also once told someone that smooth painting is really all about pushing the paint around so that it settles evenly across a surface. It shouldn't pool anywhere, and it needs to be even when it dries. Also, no matter how thin you make your paint, you've got let let layers dry in between or you will only tear up the last layer when you add a new one, and this takes away from smoothness. Again, with diluted paint it becomes purely about pushing around the paint so that it settles evenly. This is the toughest thing for newcomers to understand. Don't let it pool, don't let it settle in cracks and crevices. It's good to often end brush strokes over edges of surfaces, otherwise you leave a big pool wherever you lift up your brush. Finally, keeping your paint even has a lot to do with keeping it barely damp with paint, which means brushing off excess fluid on a paper towel, and then testing the consistency on your thumb or hand. This is incredibly important. Follow this advice for smooth layers. This description or advice I just provided isn't explained in this way very often to new painters, so I hope that you or any other painters take this to heart as it is what I've learned through trial and error after my year of painting. Finally, take better pics, even for WIP shots. It helps with C&C, and develops good habits overall for your gallery submissions.
