black power weapons?

[Studio Silvernale]

The Alpha Legion was stated to have some units equipped with power weapons that absorbed light rather than having the typical glowing effect. I've tried a few different ideas to do this and none have looked good. This includes various grey and dark blue glazes. Has anyone had any good results they would share a how to with me?

[GrandMagnus]

The obvious problem with weapons that absorb light is that you can't really add highlights to them. I'm guessing some black and blue washes might do the trick.

[Bryan Blaire]

Maybe a jet black weapon with just a tiny glowing core down near the cross guard, showing that light contacting it gets pulled into the blade, rather than highlighting the edges?

[mechadryad]

Use purple highlight. I do all my power weapons this way after I used it on the Black Blade on Sigismund.

 

Basically keep the flat parts black and build up from indigo with the blade getting lighter further towards the edge

[Studio Silvernale]

Use purple highlight. I do all my power weapons this way after I used it on the Black Blade on Sigismund.

 

Basically keep the flat parts black and build up from indigo with the blade getting lighter further towards the edge

Any pics of it?

[Tyberos the Red Wake]

I would use these as references and then apply color theory, physics of light, and your own personal preferences from there:

 

http://images.dakkadakka.com/gallery/2013/9/4/534417_mb-.JPGhttp://starwarsmaven.info/wp-content/uploads/2015/04/Pre-Vizsla-engaging-the-darksaber-in-battle-with-Obi-Wan-Kenobi.jpg

 

I've also seen "black glow" effects in video games where instead of fire, lightning, or other bright lights, the weapon glows with black energy with red edges. I think this gives a pretty good visual cue for a sinister, reverse-light glow if you imagine black, jagged lightning with a hint of red.

[Studio Silvernale]

Yeah I thought about the dark saber as an idea. Black with white edges and some "sparkly" bits.

[mechadryad]

http://imgur.com/a/to7ph

 

That's my Sigismund

[Kastor Krieg]

www.bolterandchainsword.com/topic/332781-blacker-than-black/

Check here. This is an outline as above :D

[Studio Silvernale]

Thanks all. I'll see what I can come up with.

[sockwithaticket]

I would use these as references and then apply color theory, physics of light, and your own personal preferences from there:

 

http://images.dakkadakka.com/gallery/2013/9/4/534417_mb-.JPG

I wasn't expecting to see something of mine used as an example of how to do things!

 

For what it's worth, the centre of the blade isn't pure black, it's very dark purple.

 

 

[NoPityNoRemorseNoFear]

http://imgur.com/a/to7ph

 

That's my Sigismund

How did you paint the Shoulder pad trim on him? I am currently working on my Sigismund and that looks like the exact colours that I am looking for!

[shaun03]

I struggled with this as well, as all my power weapons and dagger are black. The best references are for black blades are actual blades. I skipped the whole power glow effect and i got dinged on in painting comp as it was "lazy" sense they didn't glow. 

 

I used a blade as reference from dark ops knives, there website is but if you need a reference. When I left my last unit it was a moving on gift. So looking at in front me help, if you don't own a knife like that. 

 

I paint with scale color so there paints are really matted which is great so their flat black as the base, than for the final edge of the blade I did 2 different effects, with mix results. One was tape off every but the smallest edge and do a sliver line down it. and the other one less pronounced was to use a pencil and just build layers on the edge. You struggle to see it a distance, but its their.

[Brother-Chaplain Kage]

If you could get hold of some Vantablack to coat the weapon with...

[Dagoth Ur]

If you could get hold of some Vantablack to coat the weapon with...

 

Ask and ye shall receive! :D

 

https://culturehustle.com/products/black-v1-0-beta-the-world-s-mattest-flattest-blackest-art-material

 

Someone in the Black Templars subforum found this. Seems about as close as it gets to vantablack.

[Studio Silvernale]

If you could get hold of some Vantablack to coat the weapon with...

Ask and ye shall receive!

https://culturehustle.com/products/black-v1-0-beta-the-world-s-mattest-flattest-blackest-art-material

Someone in the Black Templars subforum found this. Seems about as close as it gets to vantablack.

Wow! I just ordered a bottle after seeing this.

[OakRiver]

What about painting the blade like it is an obsidian type material?

[Guest Triszin]

 

I would use these as references and then apply color theory, physics of light, and your own personal preferences from there:

 

http://images.dakkadakka.com/gallery/2013/9/4/534417_mb-.JPG

I wasn't expecting to see something of mine used as an example of how to do things!

 

For what it's worth, the centre of the blade isn't pure black, it's very dark purple.

 

 

 

yep, you're right, but thats also how you do the most effective "black" power weapons. the black has a to be a hue with slight color, enough to make it seem to fit with the edge bits. 

 

http://pro.bols.netdna-cdn.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/03/bloodletter-horz.jpg

 

 

if you want it to be mainly black, with no true color, I would suggest a grey for the outline, and to use a blackened grey for the actual blade

[garetheves]

 

I would use these as references and then apply color theory, physics of light, and your own personal preferences from there:

 

http://images.dakkadakka.com/gallery/2013/9/4/534417_mb-.JPG

I wasn't expecting to see something of mine used as an example of how to do things!

 

For what it's worth, the centre of the blade isn't pure black, it's very dark purple.

 

 

 

 

I really like the look of this and seriously tempted to shamelessly steal the idea for all my power weapons! My question is lore wise does it fit in? Up until now ive always done power weapons as silver witha blue glaze as thats how its typically done, but i think those purple/saber type ones look awesome. Would i be shunned for doing my Dark Angel and Iron Hands power weapons that way? I know its my army and i can paint it how i want etc, but i do like to keep somewhat to what fits in with the lore :)

[bluntblade]

Last Son of Prospero has a TSon's force weapon rippling with black fire, for what that's worth

[sockwithaticket]

 

 

I would use these as references and then apply color theory, physics of light, and your own personal preferences from there:

 

http://images.dakkadakka.com/gallery/2013/9/4/534417_mb-.JPG

 

I wasn't expecting to see something of mine used as an example of how to do things!

For what it's worth, the centre of the blade isn't pure black, it's very dark purple.

 

I really like the look of this and seriously tempted to shamelessly steal the idea for all my power weapons! My question is lore wise does it fit in? Up until now ive always done power weapons as silver witha blue glaze as thats how its typically done, but i think those purple/saber type ones look awesome. Would i be shunned for doing my Dark Angel and Iron Hands power weapons that way? I know its my army and i can paint it how i want etc, but i do like to keep somewhat to what fits in with the lore :)

Thank you.

 

No one should be shunning you over the colour of your power weapons and AFAIK there's nothing in the fluff specifying a colour for them. Blue has become something of a convention, but you can and should be use whatever you want.

 

I use purple for my force weapons (the example doesn't fully show up it, but that's a librarian); as it differentiates them from my blue power weapons, which are done in the same style; almost black centre gradually layering out to an almost white edge highlight.

[garetheves]

I would use these as references and then apply color theory, physics of light, and your own personal preferences from there:

http://images.dakkadakka.com/gallery/2013/9/4/534417_mb-.JPG

I wasn't expecting to see something of mine used as an example of how to do things!

For what it's worth, the centre of the blade isn't pure black, it's very dark purple.

I really like the look of this and seriously tempted to shamelessly steal the idea for all my power weapons! My question is lore wise does it fit in? Up until now ive always done power weapons as silver witha blue glaze as thats how its typically done, but i think those purple/saber type ones look awesome. Would i be shunned for doing my Dark Angel and Iron Hands power weapons that way? I know its my army and i can paint it how i want etc, but i do like to keep somewhat to what fits in with the lore

Thank you.

No one should be shunning you over the colour of your power weapons and AFAIK there's nothing in the fluff specifying a colour for them. Blue has become something of a convention, but you can and should be use whatever you want.

I use purple for my force weapons (the example doesn't fully show up it, but that's a librarian); as it differentiates them from my blue power weapons, which are done in the same style; almost black centre gradually layering out to an almost white edge highlight.

I can see a trip to GW on the cards for some more paints :) Did you use a glaze to the lighter purple "glow" or very thinned layer paints?

[sockwithaticket]

 

 

 

 

I would use these as references and then apply color theory, physics of light, and your own personal preferences from there:

 http://images.dakkadakka.com/gallery/2013/9/4/534417_mb-.JPG

 

I wasn't expecting to see something of mine used as an example of how to do things!

For what it's worth, the centre of the blade isn't pure black, it's very dark purple.

 

I really like the look of this and seriously tempted to shamelessly steal the idea for all my power weapons! My question is lore wise does it fit in? Up until now ive always done power weapons as silver witha blue glaze as thats how its typically done, but i think those purple/saber type ones look awesome. Would i be shunned for doing my Dark Angel and Iron Hands power weapons that way? I know its my army and i can paint it how i want etc, but i do like to keep somewhat to what fits in with the lore :)

Thank you.

No one should be shunning you over the colour of your power weapons and AFAIK there's nothing in the fluff specifying a colour for them. Blue has become something of a convention, but you can and should be use whatever you want.

I use purple for my force weapons (the example doesn't fully show up it, but that's a librarian); as it differentiates them from my blue power weapons, which are done in the same style; almost black centre gradually layering out to an almost white edge highlight.

 

I can see a trip to GW on the cards for some more paints :) Did you use a glaze to the lighter purple "glow" or very thinned layer paints?

To be honest you shouldn't need to get much, if anything. Black, white and the base colour you'll be manipulating are absolutely sufficient for this style. You can add more to the mix but that often leads to tonal changes in the gradients. 'Keep it simple, stupid' is a great maxim. I used layers rather than glazes, though with how thin they were there's probably some crossover in definition.

[Studio Silvernale]

If you are asking for official lore on black power weapons, book 3 details out the Alpha Legion. It has an excerpt stating some elite groups of the AL have non-standard power weapon generators that absorb light instead of radiating it.

[garetheves]

I would use these as references and then apply color theory, physics of light, and your own personal preferences from there:

http://images.dakkadakka.com/gallery/2013/9/4/534417_mb-.JPG

I wasn't expecting to see something of mine used as an example of how to do things!

For what it's worth, the centre of the blade isn't pure black, it's very dark purple.

I really like the look of this and seriously tempted to shamelessly steal the idea for all my power weapons! My question is lore wise does it fit in? Up until now ive always done power weapons as silver witha blue glaze as thats how its typically done, but i think those purple/saber type ones look awesome. Would i be shunned for doing my Dark Angel and Iron Hands power weapons that way? I know its my army and i can paint it how i want etc, but i do like to keep somewhat to what fits in with the lore

Thank you.

No one should be shunning you over the colour of your power weapons and AFAIK there's nothing in the fluff specifying a colour for them. Blue has become something of a convention, but you can and should be use whatever you want.

I use purple for my force weapons (the example doesn't fully show up it, but that's a librarian); as it differentiates them from my blue power weapons, which are done in the same style; almost black centre gradually layering out to an almost white edge highlight.

I can see a trip to GW on the cards for some more paints Did you use a glaze to the lighter purple "glow" or very thinned layer paints?

To be honest you shouldn't need to get much, if anything. Black, white and the base colour you'll be manipulating are absolutely sufficient for this style. You can add more to the mix but that often leads to tonal changes in the gradients. 'Keep it simple, stupid' is a great maxim. I used layers rather than glazes, though with how thin they were there's probably some crossover in definition.

Awesome thanks, ill give it a go :)

If you are asking for official lore on black power weapons, book 3 details out the Alpha Legion. It has an excerpt stating some elite groups of the AL have non-standard power weapon generators that absorb light instead of radiating it.

Was more asking for space marines in general, ive got a Dark Angel and and Iron Hands army that i fancy using it on :)