Extreme Highlights on Metal...

[ScottRadom]

Hey guys,

I\'ve gotten some good tips and hints on my latest work and the one comment I keep hearing is to \"Bring the Highlights\" on the metal\'s up. So far I\'ve been using going from a 1:1 Boltgun Metal/Black base (I call this Choas Metal! I totally made up the name and recipe myself....) and layering a little boltgun, a little less chainmail, then trying to apply ample mithril silver.

If I am to bring the highlight to a point brighter then mithril silver should I be mixing a lighter metalic? Should i be searching for a different metalic source? Should I just concentrate on shading all the other metals so as to make the highlights that much more pronounced? Should I do all of these?

Thanks!

 

[green stuff]

You can find brighter silvers in enamel ranges.

But if you want to stick to acrylics, contrast is your friend.

 

[Einion]

FWIW Mithril Silver is light enough for most people. So if you take it that you get pure Mithril-coloured highlights (enough coats that it\'s not still showing through the colour underneath) if it\'s not quite looking bright enough it\'s more about the surrounding colours; in short, there needs to be enough contrast for the silver to look its brightest.

Einion

 

[droogie77]

The Vallejo Game colour silver is very bright .

 

[Darkmessiah]

try lookin at air brush colours,. like vallejo air\'s \'steel\', because their supposed to be airbrush colours they have a much higher pigment concentrasion, therefore brighter. although lookin at increasing ur contrast should ur first port of call

 

[Dragonsreach]

Scott you might find it easier to reverse the process and down tone the primary colour with GW Baddab Black Wash (or Vallejo Black Glaze)
That will help darken the metal and allow you to work the highlights up and give the effect you are looking for. To increase the effect of Steel shadows add Asurmen Blue Wash in to the black
I\'d also like to second the recommendation of Vallejo Airbrush colours especially the Chrome. Brilliant paints to work with.

 

[Amazon warrior]

I have some \"white\" metallic paint, but I\'m not sure I\'d recommend it, it\'s kind of pearly/glittery. As everyone says, better to increase your contrast, then regular mithril silver should \"pop\" like you want it to. Take a look at that metallics article by Automaton- he\'s the man for this kind of thing. Mattsterbenz has written one for true metallics with GW washes, too.

 

[ScottRadom]

Thanks guys. I will continue to explore and expand my technique!

 

[chris passeno]

It\'s all relative.

I usually start with a 50:50 mix of black ink and gunbolt, just like you. Then I wash in a 1:1:10 mix of blue ink, brown ink, and water/future mix. Then I work up my high lights to straight chainmail in 3 to 4 layers.

I\'ve been thinking of late that I might get a pot of Mithril and continuing on up to straight mithril.

 

[generulpoleaxe]

base coat boltgun.
highlight with thinned mithril and vallejo metal medium so that you use the translucancy to get the smooth transition (easier than normal layering once your used to it)

use washes etc to add colour and shade making sure the shadows have contrast.

tweek contrast with thinned metal medium bringing out the parts where you want the light to real catch (get a metal necklace or bracelet that is clean and move it around in the light, the metal medium is bringing out the brightest glare spots)

 

[markstorch]

Though I have yet to try it yet, I have been told that Valejo\'s metal medium can be added to make the final highlight even lighter while still maintaining the metalic look.

 

[The Lord of Sol]

But starting with a dark base is easiest I think. Starting with a 2:1:1 of Chaos Black, Boltgun Metal, and Tin Blitz and leave that as the main metal color, like 30% or so of the finished area have that showing.

 

[generulpoleaxe]

Originally posted by The Lord of Sol
But starting with a dark base is easiest I think. Starting with a 2:1:1 of Chaos Black, Boltgun Metal, and Tin Blitz and leave that as the main metal color, like 30% or so of the finished area have that showing.

shadows don\'t reflect like metalic paints so washes/juices/glazes etc are needed to get rid of this reflective quality as well as add colour.

 

[ScottRadom]

Cool, thanks to all. I\'m really trying to improve this part of my game.

Vallejo Air- Love it! Just got a couple packs for airbrushing 15mm armor and would like to get more of the range. I\'ll have to internet some up.

I\'m doing a WIP right now and I\'ve finished the basecoat, first series of built up highlights, then knocked it all back down with two coats black wash and one thinned blue wash. Like it so far and I\'ll post some pics up later.