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Basic painting questions!


Injek

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Hey, B&C! Normally this is where I'd put; "Long time lurker, first time poster." but seeing as how neither would be true, we'll skip that step. :D

 

So, like it says in the description, I've just recently gotten into Warhammer, and I was hoping I could bother you all with some of the more basic things, that I don't understand how to do (practically everything. <.<). I was reading (Link to GW "How to paint Tactical Marines" ) and I was wondering what it meant when it says:

 

...a 1:1 mix of Scab Red and Chaos Black.

 

as well as how I'd achieve that, once some kind soul takes pity on me, and answers my inane questions. :D

 

I was also wondering what it means when it says to "highlight" something. I mean, obviously you're using a lighter, yet similar coulour, but do I just paint a little bit along the edges? Dry-brush it on? Purge the Xenos, cleanse the Heretic?

 

Finally, how do I "wash" something? Do I water down an ink? I'm sure that's going to be the most idiotic question of them all, because I have a voice in the back of my head that's telling me it's a separate colour, not a technique. Regardless, I figure while I'm making a fool of myself, it can't hurt to ask! ;)

 

Also, I'd like to apologize if this isn't the right place for this / there is already a thread for this kind of stuff. :lol: I'm still getting used to the forum, I'm not sure what all these buttons do! :P

 

Also also, I'd like to apologize if my overuse of the faces made anyone feel like gouging their eyes out. It's a habit. I've had SO many people misread my posts, it's just easier to get the message across this way.

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and I was wondering what it meant when it says:

 

...a 1:1 mix of Scab Red and Chaos Black.

 

as well as how I'd achieve that, once some kind soul takes pity on me, and answers my inane questions. :D

 

Alrighty. When someone writes 1:1 they mean an equivalent mix (50% each) of the relevant paints, for example: One drop of Scab Red to one drop of Chaos Black. If someone were to write 3:1 it'd mean three drops to one drop (75% of one, 25% of the other). I hope I've got that clear enough but if I have not let me know. :P

 

I was also wondering what it means when it says to "highlight" something. I mean, obviously you're using a lighter, yet similar coulour, but do I just paint a little bit along the edges?

 

Essentially, yes. The raised areas (usually edges) are the things that require 'highlighting' to give a greater depth to the paintjob. If a model has no highlights, it'll look blunt, flat and exactly what it is; a painted model.

 

Dry-brush it on?

 

Drybrushing is a different technique to highlighting but uses similar artistic principles. What 'drybrushing' is generally used for is to place lighter colours on highly textured areas such as hair, fur or chainmail. That's not to say it cannot be used in lieu of proper highlighting but it is discouraged to apply it in that way as the results are messier than using the previous technique.

 

Now, I'm going to assume you've heard of drybrushing and understand how to do it but for the sake of completedness I'll explain it anyway: First get your colour of choice. This colour should be lighter in hue to the coat of paint underneath. Now dip your brush in the paint (preferably with a specific brush for the job but you can make do with pretty much any suitably sized brush) and vigorously rub it back and forth on some kitchen towel/tissue paper until very little paint comes off the brush at all (I recommend not thinning your paint when using this technique as I find it counter-productive). Now, taking care to brush lightly against the grain of the subject detail, paint the model. You should find that a light coat will build up on the raised areas, effectively highlighting them against the recesses.

 

Purge the Xenos, cleanse the Heretic?

 

Hopefully, yes, but not with your paintbrush. :P

 

Finally, how do I "wash" something? Do I water down an Ink?

 

For most painters, including myself, washes and inks are bought at a gaming shop that sells paints (although washes tend to be more common these days). A 'Wash' is basically (powder) pigment suspended in a solution and it performs a similar job to 'Inks'* (liquid pigment in a solution) which is basically: 1) to provide a means to unify the highlights and the base colours, allowing them to look blended together and; 2) to rest in the recesses and provide better depth than the base colour can.

 

*Inks also have a glossier finish than washes, due to their nature. It may or may not suit your style.

 

Now then to 'Wash' something basically means to put a Wash on a model, whether in a specific place or all over. I recommend to water it down, much like regular paint, and thin it to a 1:1 mix with water, preferably on a palette or a tile. If using Inks, I'd also recommend thinning them. As to application, well, if you are being specific in placement paint it on like, well, paint. If not, slather it on - just be careful you don't get large pools of the stuff resting on flat areas and, to a lesser degree, blobs of it in recesses. A decent coverage is good. An uneven and overenthusiastic job is bad.

 

I'm sure that's going to be the most idiotic question of them all, because I have voice in the back of my head that's telling me it's a separate colour, not a technique. Regardless, I figure while I'm making a fool of myself, it can't hurt to ask! ;)

 

In a quest for knowledge, there's no such thing as an idiotic question, only an idiotic answer. ;)

 

Also, I'd like to apologize if this isn't the right place for this / there is already a thread for this kind of stuff. :lol: I'm still getting used to the forum, I'm not sure what all these buttons do! :D

 

Also also, I'd like to apologize if my overuse of the faces made anyone feel like gouging their eyes out. It's a habit. I've had SO many people misread my posts, it's just easier to get the message across this way.

 

Don't worry about the emoticons, they are a means to convey intent. Without emoticons many posts in this forum could be misunderstood badly.

 

Hope this helps. ;)

Hey, B&C! Normally this is where I'd put; "Long time lurker, first time poster." but seeing as how neither would be true, we'll skip that step. :D

 

So, like it says in the description, I've just recently gotten into Warhammer, and I was hoping I could bother you all with some of the more basic things, that I don't understand how to do (practically everything. <.<). I was reading (Link to GW "How to paint Tactical Marines" ) and I was wondering what it meant when it says:

 

...a 1:1 mix of Scab Red and Chaos Black.

 

as well as how I'd achieve that, once some kind soul takes pity on me, and answers my inane questions. :D

 

I was also wondering what it means when it says to "highlight" something. I mean, obviously you're using a lighter, yet similar coulour, but do I just paint a little bit along the edges? Dry-brush it on? Purge the Xenos, cleanse the Heretic?

 

Finally, how do I "wash" something? Do I water down an ink? I'm sure that's going to be the most idiotic question of them all, because I have a voice in the back of my head that's telling me it's a separate colour, not a technique. Regardless, I figure while I'm making a fool of myself, it can't hurt to ask! ;)

 

Also, I'd like to apologize if this isn't the right place for this / there is already a thread for this kind of stuff. :lol: I'm still getting used to the forum, I'm not sure what all these buttons do! :P

 

Also also, I'd like to apologize if my overuse of the faces made anyone feel like gouging their eyes out. It's a habit. I've had SO many people misread my posts, it's just easier to get the message across this way.

Hey fella, welcome to the board!

 

A 1:1 mix is just a even mixture of two colours, it's a ratio to mix your colours.

 

Highlighting is using one of a selection of techniques including layering, drybrushing and edge highlights to give colours depth and make them appear more realistic, and less flat. Google the techniques and you'll find countless tutorials.

 

Washing can refer to either an ink wash, or a wash using the citadel wash range. In both cases, it is the application of a much thinner paint or ink to allow it to run into the model's recesses to give the appearance of shade or depth. Again, google will give you loads of pointers.

 

Hope that helps!

 

WotF

 

Edit - D'oh ninja'd! ;)

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