Trench_Raider12
New member
Hi all,
recently finished paining the Necron Deceiver model, and would appreciate any comments.
recently finished paining the Necron Deceiver model, and would appreciate any comments.
Necron Deceiver
- Thread starter Trench_Raider12
- Start date
Webmonkey
New member
My first thought is to address the photo itself. It's a bit blurred and out of focus. This makes it hard to see and/or comment on the rest of the details/techniques that have been used on the model. Remember,.. a photo can make (or break) a mini,.. regardless of how good the paintjob may or may not be.
1) use a more solid background. A simple sheet of white paper can work wonders. (and when you get a bit more advanced, you'll likely find that you prefer some other color and/or textured backdrops,.. but for now, lets just stick with white.)
2) use your macro setting on your camera. This really helps with getting the proper depth of field for the shot.
3) if your camera has an ISO setting, set it as low as possible (usually around 100 or so)
4) if you camera has any available aperature adjustments, set it to somewhere around 16 (you may need to go up/down a click or two from there, but it's usually a good starting point)
5) use a tripod if you can (or rest your hands on the back of a chair or something as you take the pictures) This helps reduce "the shakes" that also cause blurry photos
I know I haven't commented on paint yet,.. but wanted to see if we could get some better pictures, so that the comment/critiques can be more honest and direct about your work, and about what we like and/or what may need improvement.
Hope that helped,
Webmonkey
1) use a more solid background. A simple sheet of white paper can work wonders. (and when you get a bit more advanced, you'll likely find that you prefer some other color and/or textured backdrops,.. but for now, lets just stick with white.)
2) use your macro setting on your camera. This really helps with getting the proper depth of field for the shot.
3) if your camera has an ISO setting, set it as low as possible (usually around 100 or so)
4) if you camera has any available aperature adjustments, set it to somewhere around 16 (you may need to go up/down a click or two from there, but it's usually a good starting point)
5) use a tripod if you can (or rest your hands on the back of a chair or something as you take the pictures) This helps reduce "the shakes" that also cause blurry photos
I know I haven't commented on paint yet,.. but wanted to see if we could get some better pictures, so that the comment/critiques can be more honest and direct about your work, and about what we like and/or what may need improvement.
Hope that helped,
Webmonkey
Last edited:
Trench_Raider12
New member
Thanks, Webmonkey! Is this any better? I know the head/face still looks a little blurry (new camera for Christmas, still figuring it out).
Last edited:
Webmonkey
New member
As for the photo,.. if you take the time to study it, you'll notice that the primary in focus area is the ankles/feet area, and down through the base. Always try to get the whole thing in focus, and if not, usually the face/chest area is the main focal point for any humanoid model. The human eye naturally seeks other human faces. So if you must choose, then always choose to focus on the face. Also, try a few different pics from different distances 6 inches, 12 inches, and 18 inches away, until you find the distance that your camera likes. This may help get the whole figure inside the "focal bubble". I also recommend getting some photo editing software (GIMP is free from the internet) so that you can crop and color-fix your images. Don't use the program to "cheat", but rather just to correct the image to appear more as it does in real life.
As for the figure itself,.. (please don't take anything I have to say too harshly. I only mean to give an honest critique. Remember, there is no "wrong" way to paint).
Your metallics are nice and smooth, but you could use some more "tonal variety". (I'm terrible at this myself, so who am I to talk? lol) And also some more contrast. Given your copper color, I'd say to maybe mix in a bit of a darker brass color, and use it in the "valleys" as the "muscle-shadows". And then maybe mix a different bit of copper with a brighter yellow-ish gold or maybe even silver, and use that as the "muscle-highlights".
Also, take note of the white highlights you've done in the chest region. I would say that these are "upside-down". You have the highlights running along the bottom edge of each muscle,.. but they really should be on top, seeing as how most lighting sources are over-head. The white highlights are also a little thick/blocky. Try thinning your paint a bit more... it will give you better results. It may take a few coats to get what you want,. but believe me,.. several thinner coats is better then one thick coat. You just have to resist the urge to hurry and get it all done in one day.
The cloth is done fairly well, (but as always, thinner paints and smoother blends can help,.... but that's true of every project you'll ever see, no matter how stunning. Everything can always benefit from thinner paints, more thinned layers, and smoother blends)
Your basing is actually quite nice. I don't really have much critique here.
I'll leave it here for the moment. Hopefully I haven't scared you off from painting.
As for the figure itself,.. (please don't take anything I have to say too harshly. I only mean to give an honest critique. Remember, there is no "wrong" way to paint).
Your metallics are nice and smooth, but you could use some more "tonal variety". (I'm terrible at this myself, so who am I to talk? lol) And also some more contrast. Given your copper color, I'd say to maybe mix in a bit of a darker brass color, and use it in the "valleys" as the "muscle-shadows". And then maybe mix a different bit of copper with a brighter yellow-ish gold or maybe even silver, and use that as the "muscle-highlights".
Also, take note of the white highlights you've done in the chest region. I would say that these are "upside-down". You have the highlights running along the bottom edge of each muscle,.. but they really should be on top, seeing as how most lighting sources are over-head. The white highlights are also a little thick/blocky. Try thinning your paint a bit more... it will give you better results. It may take a few coats to get what you want,. but believe me,.. several thinner coats is better then one thick coat. You just have to resist the urge to hurry and get it all done in one day.
The cloth is done fairly well, (but as always, thinner paints and smoother blends can help,.... but that's true of every project you'll ever see, no matter how stunning. Everything can always benefit from thinner paints, more thinned layers, and smoother blends)
Your basing is actually quite nice. I don't really have much critique here.
I'll leave it here for the moment. Hopefully I haven't scared you off from painting.
Trench_Raider12
New member
Thanks for the critique.
I'm moving on to other stuff to paint, but will definitely keep all of this in mind.
I'm moving on to other stuff to paint, but will definitely keep all of this in mind.
