Smoothness

[cookster]

Probably the hardest/most important thing in painting is getting smooth layers etc. Anybody have any tips for this.

I\'ve found that you don\'t need a lot of different colors in your highlight. You just need a lot of shades. For example instead of scorched brown, dark flesh, dwarf flesh, elf flesh progression a lot of shades of dark flesh and dwarf flesh looks better.

Anybody want to share tips. Im trying to improve my painting.

 

[bayrodney]

Simple...

Thinning + Watering down = Good coats

 

[Einion]

A smooth surface is mostly a matter of working with thin paint using the right kind of brush - soft obviously. Smooth transitions are mostly a matter of building up slowly using the same things.

Originally posted by cookster
I\'ve found that you don\'t need a lot of different colors in your highlight. You just need a lot of shades. For example instead of scorched brown, dark flesh, dwarf flesh, elf flesh progression a lot of shades of dark flesh and dwarf flesh looks better.

If I\'m getting what you mean here this is a matter of getting the colour transitions right (trying to keep the hue consistent from highlight through to shadow - something I feel very strongly about for historical models) but with fantasy minis you can do all sort of things with colour depending on one\'s taste.

Einion

 

[Ogrebane]

Patience is the key.

 

[Kaple]

Yes...thinning is vital. But it is also important to have a good surface to work on.

On THIS mini I took great care to spray it evenly. 3 coats in a dry room, at a distance of 20-25 cm seems to work best for me.

Friendly

- Rune

 

[Ritual]

On metal minis it can be a good idea to use some really fine sand paper to smooth out the surface before priming. That helps you get smooth results.

 

[Avelorn]

yep. And you can even use a thin layer of milliput and then use sandpaper. That will produce a very smooth surface. It is important however that you do not bury the details. Best to use on cloaks and flat areas.

 

[Modderrhu]

Or even a wash of milliput and water over the surface of the metal. Once the water has evaporated, the milliput will cure inside the dents and holes in the metal. Sandpaper to follow that.

 

[Avelorn]

Originally posted by Modderrhu
Or even a wash of milliput and water over the surface of the metal. Once the water has evaporated, the milliput will cure inside the dents and holes in the metal. Sandpaper to follow that.

pretty much what I ment, I somehow didn\'t explain it as good.

For metal you can use steelwool as well.