how to paint a large sword, like a giant solid gem?

StarFyre

Active member
3086_G.jpg


that model.. I want to paint the sword like a giant ruby or emerald.

Looking at the tutorials for complex gems don\'t help much due to the shape size of a sword is very different.

Any ideas?

Sanjay
 
Reverse highlight it, and add reflection spots on the opposite part of the light spots. where the curves of the sword are at the lowest would be the best place to highlight. You won\'t be able to get many light spots, but you could do large, long reflections along some edges?

Hope that made sense...
 

Ogrebane

Active member
Just paint it in reverse. IE darker at the top lighter at the bottom. This is how all gems are painted. You will also have highlites on the edge of the blade etc.

Jus do it and show us a pic so we can pick tyou pic to pieces. Good luck.
 

Einion

New member
Originally posted by StarFyre
that model.. I want to paint the sword like a giant ruby or emerald.
I\'m a bit of a pedant so FWIW I would recommend going with ruby and not emerald (v. hard and soft respectively) :D


Originally posted by freakinacage
also, it would be lighter where it is thinner so paint the centre lighter and the very edges dark:
I agree completely on the principle (good picture ref
thumbup.gif
) but shouldn\'t that be dark at the base and lighter at the tip + the sharpened edge?

Einion
 

Avelorn

Sven Jonsson
Nice Einion! But I get a slightly plastic feel out of it.

I think, like in the reference picture supplied by freakinacage, that there should be more lines imitating facets. I also think there could be small specks of light reflections in the lines to make it look more like hard material.. difficult to explain in words but I have a good reference picture on a miniature, check the sword:

http://www.coolminiornot.com/156482
 

freakinacage

Well-known member
bloody hell einion that was quick!! to me that looks too plasticy and not translucent enough. by having the edges darker, it makes it look as if the light is shining through. i wish i had the skills/equipment to demonstrate what i mean

this is the best example i could find
coppersulfate.jpg
 

Einion

New member
Originally posted by Avelorn
I think, like in the reference picture supplied by freakinacage, that there should be more lines imitating facets.
Except that the sword isn\'t facetted... but if that\'s what you want to go for these might help:
http://mineralminers.com/html/rbygems.stm
http://www.gemsbiz.com/docs/Images/Ruby_hs.jpg
http://www.gemprices.com/Ruby-gemstone.jpg

Cabochon stones don\'t look \'gemmy\' in the way one might expect:
http://www.gggems.com/cabochon_ruby.htm

Einion
 

DaN

New member
Blimey Einion!
How did u do that rendering...?

I think it\'s actually quite effective personally, although if you are going for a more \"translucent\" effect you could try using this method...

(I forget it\'s name)
Look at Einion\'s rendering and see where the shaded areas are - as you have primed white, you need only worry about shading. Use a series or washes to get those areas as smooth as possible.

One the shaded areas are done, you can start to introduce a series of red glazes over the whole area, giving the thicker areas more layers.

(This works in my HEAD, but I\'m not sure how it would actually work)
 

freakinacage

Well-known member
thing is with crystals like this, you need to get the balance between reflected light from the shiney surfaces and the light that has shone through and is coming out the other side. does that make sence?
 

demonherald

New member
The pendant picture is a good reference but this is taken in softened Diffused light...
If you can see something similar in the flesh you can get a good idea of where the Brightspots land....

The problem with a blade that size and scale is that there wouldn\'t be many clear areas where light would reach hrough due to the thickness of it unless the material was about 75%transparent...

To sell the idea of Translucency /glass on an object like a sword you really need something behind it to show through distorted as it will be but otherwise it will look more like an attempt at a glowing power sword type jobby.This could be as simple as a rock or pillar on the base..


Similarly on the opposite side of the blade paint the shadows of the giant coming through.

To really give the effect of Glass or gem quality The white spots make it.Again though the scale is a problem to \"sell\" the effect as a big sword doesn\'t necessarily mean big reflections..As an idea have a look at a wine bottle or similar larger Glass bottle compared to a beer bottle of the same glass colour and look at the reflections and light on it....

good luck and if you understood what the hell I just said you should be OK.
:beer:
 

funnymouth

Active member
the key is to use each hilightable surface like a separate gem. the problem with einions rendered image is that it doesnt have that glowing trailing edge, making it look like a solid red shiny sword (like nmm) gems break the normal shading rules, the deepest edges should actually be lighter, and the edges that are nomally hilighted should be almost black except for a few very sharp hilights.
 
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