Akylas Posted February 4, 2014 Share Posted February 4, 2014 Hello, Until recently I've avoided mixing different paints out of fear that it would get too complicated. However, after reading a guide that suggested that you could make slightly "cooler" or "warmer" blacks by mixing certain colors in I've taken the plunge on a test mini and I like the effect I've gotten. The problem is I'm not sure how to duplicate the color across painting sessions. For those who mix paints together do you have a way of ensuring a certain ratio each time? Also, would a cleaned out Citadel paint pot work for storing a premixed color after you've gotten the ratio down? Sorry for the beginnerish questions. I've never attempted anything like this before. Link to comment https://bolterandchainsword.com/topic/286455-new-to-mixing-paints/ Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mahoo Posted February 4, 2014 Share Posted February 4, 2014 Their are a few ways to do this.The inexact way is to load up a brush with 1 colour, wipe it all on a pallet, load it up again with an equal amount of paint of another colour, wipe it on the pallet and mix it up. You've then got a 1:1 mix. (add more of the second colour to get a 1:2 mix etc) The right way to do it is to get a syringe of some kind (I use one from an old tooth whitening kit my mum had) and make a mix up that way. Using that you can guarantee your ratios are spot on each time you mix a batch up. I've used old paint pots to hold mixtures before and that worked fine. Two points worth noting, 1) make sure your mixing colours are well shaken so the paint in the pot is well mixed etc. 2) write down your ratios and mixing colours, nothing worse than finding your perfect colour and forgetting what the mixture was when you try to make some more 6 months later. Hope this helps dude. Link to comment https://bolterandchainsword.com/topic/286455-new-to-mixing-paints/#findComment-3586252 Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bartali Posted February 4, 2014 Share Posted February 4, 2014 Pretty much as Mahoo said. Vallejo paints come in dropper bottles and I find that makes getting repeatable paint ratio's easier. Also consider glazes to get the effect you're after. Paint the area black and then use heavily thinned paint to tint an area - blues to cool the black, reds/browns to warm it up. The paint should have the same consistancy of a wash, but get rid of the excess glaze of your brush on a paper towel. You want the glaze to tint the area evenly rather than flood the recesses Link to comment https://bolterandchainsword.com/topic/286455-new-to-mixing-paints/#findComment-3586260 Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hemal Posted February 4, 2014 Share Posted February 4, 2014 Mixing paints is the way to go in my view - using syringes (I use disposable plastic ones that measure upto 5 ml - I NEVER throw away my kids' calpol syringes!). You get better blends, better tonal variation, ability to play with colour (e.g. you could make the face of a model tonally different to the bdy by subtly altering the mix of paint you use - works well with things like Savage Orks for example...makes the face stand out a bit more) and more miniature than toy soldier... Link to comment https://bolterandchainsword.com/topic/286455-new-to-mixing-paints/#findComment-3586371 Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kaedes Nex Posted February 4, 2014 Share Posted February 4, 2014 My friend who is a biochemist gave me a handful of disposable plastic laboratory pipettes. The little squeezy bulbs we all used in high school chemistry. Buying brands like Vallejo and Reaper make it really easy to do this since you can get precise mixes just from the dropper bottles they come in, drop by drop. Link to comment https://bolterandchainsword.com/topic/286455-new-to-mixing-paints/#findComment-3586773 Share on other sites More sharing options...
Akylas Posted February 5, 2014 Author Share Posted February 5, 2014 Thanks a lot everyone. I had a look around and both pipettes and plastic syringes are easy to get and inexpensive. Mahoo: method number one was what I tried the other day, something like a 1:5 Kantor Blue to Abbadon Black mix. Looking forward to getting it more exactly. I'll make sure to keep a notebook. Bartoli: I'll have to try that glazing method at some point as well. I tried a cool black, will have to test a warm black as well. Hemal: Ah, plastic syringes. For some reason I could only think of the ones with the needles at first (probably not an efficient paint mixing tool). Mixing paints always kind of scared me, but I have to say after testing a "cool" black, it looks so much deeper than just the Abbadon black straight out of the pot. I'll have to experiment more in the future after I get this one. Ultramartini: Thanks. Pipettes are another good option. I'm sure I used them in some long forgotten class but no longer remember. I do have some reaper and vallego colors, although I have to admit having an attachment to the Citadel colors after using them for years. Another way in which I'll have to expand my horizons, it seems. Link to comment https://bolterandchainsword.com/topic/286455-new-to-mixing-paints/#findComment-3587325 Share on other sites More sharing options...
Akylas Posted February 20, 2014 Author Share Posted February 20, 2014 Quick update: I was able to get a couple plastic syringes and made a pot of blue-black paint. Everything came out perfectly and the recipe has been noted down. Another hobbying fear defeated, I guess after I get comfortable with mixing that leaves glazing and blending to work on. :P Link to comment https://bolterandchainsword.com/topic/286455-new-to-mixing-paints/#findComment-3598549 Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hemal Posted February 20, 2014 Share Posted February 20, 2014 Quick update: I was able to get a couple plastic syringes and made a pot of blue-black paint. Everything came out perfectly and the recipe has been noted down. Another hobbying fear defeated, I guess after I get comfortable with mixing that leaves glazing and blending to work on. Nice one - and that is how GD winners are made ;-) Blending is pretty straight forward, especially now we have acrylic medium in nice runny form (lahmian). key to glasing is lots of really thin coats, in tiny amounts on the brush. ANd nice, flat base coat to work on.. Link to comment https://bolterandchainsword.com/topic/286455-new-to-mixing-paints/#findComment-3598662 Share on other sites More sharing options...
lhg033 Posted February 20, 2014 Share Posted February 20, 2014 I NEVER throw away my kids' calpol syringes! Genius! I had never thought of using these despite having a ton of them knocking around. Link to comment https://bolterandchainsword.com/topic/286455-new-to-mixing-paints/#findComment-3598858 Share on other sites More sharing options...
Forté Posted February 20, 2014 Share Posted February 20, 2014 If you want the same colour to be used across a whole army I'd suggest getting some empty bottles from Reaper to keep it consistent. Otherwise, batch paint and use a wet pallet so your paint stays usable for longer before it dries. Link to comment https://bolterandchainsword.com/topic/286455-new-to-mixing-paints/#findComment-3599201 Share on other sites More sharing options...
Akylas Posted February 23, 2014 Author Share Posted February 23, 2014 Hemal: Ha Maybe a Tin Daemon in my case is more likely. I'll keep that in mind about blending when I try it. lhg033 I can vouch for how great plastic syringes work. I used some meant for glue this time but I also bought a couple of those children's medicine one and they seem a bit sturdier. forte I used an old gw pot I'd soaked and washed out. Thanks for the tip on Reaper bottles. I was wondering if I could get empties somewhere. Now I have a lot of 40k Black Legionnaires and 30k Raven Guard to paint. :D Link to comment https://bolterandchainsword.com/topic/286455-new-to-mixing-paints/#findComment-3600956 Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jamafore Posted February 23, 2014 Share Posted February 23, 2014 Testors makes packs of empty glass jars. they have like 4 - 6 in each plus 2 pipette thingys. I haven't found them at Hobby Lobby, but I have found them at a dedicated plastic model shop, plus on their site. They are the size of their Model Master series of paints. Link to comment https://bolterandchainsword.com/topic/286455-new-to-mixing-paints/#findComment-3601082 Share on other sites More sharing options...
XKhalilX Posted February 23, 2014 Share Posted February 23, 2014 the best part about reaper bottles. the agitators are mini SKULLS! :-D Link to comment https://bolterandchainsword.com/topic/286455-new-to-mixing-paints/#findComment-3601275 Share on other sites More sharing options...
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