Stupid Formula P3!

[Aliengod3]

So I thought it would be nice to paint yarry from enigma. He has been sitting on my self crossing his arms giving me that look he gives waiting for me to take him off the shelf to paint and I finally said, \"OK Yarry. You win!\" I get him preped, lay down the primer, and start base coating. I decide to use some P3 paints that I have not tried yet to do his skin. I work on his face for about 2 hours and when I look at it closely it is not blended at all after all the work I put into it! I do not know what it is about P3 paints but I just cannot use them! I dilute them to milk consistency but the never cover properly and the blends look terrible. Has anyone else had problems with these paints that can share some tips on how to get them to work properly?

 

[NGArtStudios]

I know what you mean. I tried using them shortly after they were released after hearing a lot of good things about them. Hated them. As hard as I tried to get a decent consistency, I just couldn\'t, either too much water or too little. When I finally did manage to get acceptable layers the final result tended to be either very glossy, or a dull milky glossy effect if that makes sense. So after a couple of days of playing with them I set them aside, never again. I am happy with my VMC.

I guess I can\'t really give you any tips as how to remedy your problems apart for chucking them and going back to using paints you feel most comfortable with.

 

[Hinton]

Sorry, can\'t offer any advice on how to get them to work properly as I seem to have the same problem. They seem kind of thick - probably better for basecoating - and all of the ones I have always come out glossy.

 

[jahminis]

i paint almost exclusively with P3...
i am completely in love with \'em...

i don\'t know how to remedy your problem though, \'cause i paint straight from the pot, unless i\'m mixin\' a highlight or shade...

i don\'t thin my paints like everyone talks about here...
when i dip in the lid, i just get a little paint on my brush, dip it in the little puddle of water on my tile, and mix on the back of my thumb...
when i mix two colours on my tile, i just add a drop or two of water so it doesn\'t dry too quick, but not really to thin the paint much...

i don\'t see how people talk about 5:1, or 10:1, water to paint ratios as bein\' effective mixes to paint with...

i don\'t end up with streaks, or clogged detail, i just put a little paint where it needs to go...

anyone who has given up on their P3 is more than welcome to send \'em to me, \'cause i use it every single day, and will continue to do so:drunk:...

cheers
jah

 

[gohkm]

I love the P3 paints, as well. Although I do admit I only use them for basecoating. All the blends and shades and highlights I make do with either GW or Vallejo.

Gotta thin them down a bit, though, maybe only a drop or two of water, to help them flow better. Great paints, P3.

 

[Aliengod3]

I find that, with paints in general, I always have flow problems. Whether I dilute my paints or not I can never get it to come off my brush right, and I use Raphael too

Jah I have no idea how you get good results straight from the pot. Although that is how one of my friends paints and he normally gets good results.

@NG: VMC are pretty good. I really like the color emerald. That color works wonders.

 

[jahminis]

well, in a sense i do thin my paints, i just don\'t know if i go so far as the consistency of milk, as most people describe their basic paint to water ratio...

i only get good results because i have a very simple style...

i would not like to have to switch my style up to paint like the guys who custom mix nearly all their colours...

sometimes i mix a transition tone for my layers, but usually i just skip that and go for bold transitions...

usually it\'s only the final highlight that is a custom mix...

i don\'t know why you feel that you have so much trouble gettin\' the paint to flow right off the brush...
to me, acrylic has a funky texture anyway, and is usually a little bit of a struggle the whole way through...
as long as you can figure out a personal way to achieve the results you want, your good to go...

i think you\'ve found that method for yourself, \'cause your minis rock...
maybe don\'t anaylize it so much...
maybe smoke some herb, and you won\'t worry about it so muchlol...

good luck in your quest, my friend...

i\'m off to smoke one before i get back to work on my minis...

cheers
jah

 

[MmmmBalf]

I can\'t comment on P3 as I haven\'t tried them yet, but as to your flow problem, have you tried using a flow medium instead of water? I use Jo Sonja\'s Flow Medium. I find that I get a much better flow than thinning the paint with water, and that you don\'t get any pigment separation like you often get with water.

Felt a bit strange using it at first, because it\'s white , but I soon discovered the benifits. I\'d recommend giving it a go if you haven\'t before.

Balf

 

[Aliengod3]

Originally posted by jahminis
maybe smoke some herb, and you won\'t worry about it so muchlol...

Me and drugs do not mix. Tried smoking a couple of times but my lungs burn like crazy and I get super paranoid.

Thank you for the words of encouragement though Are you still in mexico?

@ Balf: I will look into the flow medium. Thank you for the suggestion.

 

[Jericho]

*shrugs*

Never really had the problem with the consistency or coverage of P3 paints, but then again I don\'t thin down paints to ridiculous levels either. Yes they do go shiny once in a while (Gnarls Green is the only one that does it regularly for me), but it\'s never caused me any grief since I\'m happy to Dullcote stuff afterwards.

 

[ScottRadom]

I didn\'t like them too much, and really despise their inks. Some nice colors in the range and I don\'t want to give up on them yet though.

I pretty much stick to vallejo model color nowadays with a little of the GW foundation colors. Vallejo Air metallics are super awesome!

 

[lizcam]

Biggest problem I\'ve found is they split when thinned and I thin WAY down to almost a water consitancy for the most part. Because I thin so much nothing covers very well in one layer so that part doesn\'t bother me much.

 

[Joek]

Curiosly, the flesh tones are the only one P3 colours I have, and I love \'em to bits. Like some others I use flow retarder all the time now - it\'s helped my painting tremendously - I tend to water my paints down significantly, and the retarder just keeps the pigment in there just enough!

 

[Trevor]

I would say you are maybe thinning too much. I do think different paints suit different peoples styles, but I find it odd when people can\'t paint with certain makes, thye just need to be used in slightly different ways.

If you really don\'t like them, I\'d swap my VMC for your P3

 

[Aliengod3]

I do not like giving up on my paints either. I will find a way to use them. I do not thin my paints too much, maybe 2 or 3 parts water to 1 part paint but the blending looks terrible. Life was so much easier when I used 1 part water 1 part paint however I like the effects that can be achieved with thinner paints which is why I practice with thinner paint.

Lizcam you are right. When the paints are thinned they separate and it is frustrating. When that happens I never get an even base coat.

I have a small bottle of liquitex drying retarder but I am scared to use it lol.

It is strange how I get great results with commission pieces I paint yet when I paint minis for myself nothing turns out right. I guess I am my biggest critic :~(

 

[slah]

You don´t have to thin the paint a lot when doing basecoats.

remember the reason you have to thin a lot when blending/glazing/juicing or whatever you want to call it is that you want the colour underneath to show through the glaze. You dont want that to happen when basecoating, so you only have to thin enough for the paint not to go \"clumpy\".

 

[3dken]

P3

I think the paints are great! They, like all brands of paint, take a little time to get use to them. Each brand and sometimes each color has their own learning curve. I do HIGHLY recommend using P3\'s mixing medium (or equivalent) for their paint or any other brand. When using the mix-medium you can thin down the paint a lot and it has smooth coverage (still translucent) and it won\'t be blotchy or leave tide marks. I also recommend using it in your washes, inks or paints, for the same reason. This paint line, like Citadel, uses a vinyl based acrylic that\'s why it has some shine. But, I always dull coat my minis after painting so it\'s no big deal to me.

 

[Aliengod3]

I use matte medium on occasion. Brush on sealer from reaper minis too on occasion. I tried using the same mixing ratios that I would normally use when I use GW paints and it did not work. I get great blends with GW paints but I guess you are right, I need to get the consistencies right with P3 paints. Too bad painting is not as easy as reading.

 

[Donga]

I used to HATE P3 paints! I got Menoth base & highlight. Khador flesh and Midland flesh. I had proplems with my problems, stripped a couple of minis. Swore, carried on and you know what.

I Love P3 now.

I\'ve even stopped having to add flowimprover to get the results I want. Most of the time I dilute with my magic mix anyway (1/4 flow improver, 1/4 matt medium, 1/2 water with a good squirt of drying retarder). I even use tap water, I live on Chalk hills so I have the hardest water known to mankind. I don\'t even have issues with chalkiness. They layer well, feather well and cover well.

I think it\'s just a matter of getting used to the insanely high level of pigment and the bonkers quick drying. Dilute to counter.

I will be getting more at some point.

(but we all have differant experiences, if you don\'t like P3, stick to what you like)

 

[mattsterbenz]

I\'ve never had any problems with blending my P3 paints. Maybe it just has to do with the different methods of blending varying between painters. I primarily use the feathering technique, but have used P3 for wet blending with pretty good results. I only use water. It could also have something to do with the fact that I use the GW range together a lot with P3. Maybe P3 blends a lot better with a GW paint mixed in than it does alone.

The only dislikes I have about the P3 range are the metallic paints. I think that\'s pretty much a general consensus though.

-Matt