Aplying Lighter paints to Darker Surfaces

[Abyss]

Question, how do you make a lighter color (I.E White) to stay bold on a darker color such as black, when I do this, the color turns out grayish and doest look as bold

[NDAProphet]

I was curious about this, too.

A couple years ago I bought the 3rd ed. boxed set and only recently assembled/attempted the paint the marines within (as Black Templar, of course). After painting my relatively simple Necron army, this has given me insight into the possible difficulties of painting that people talk about.

After a few experimental layers with white over the base coat black/blue (primed with black first), I found that either the black still showed through the white, the white looked too thick or a combination of the both.

[Merforga]

What i ussually do is apply a VERY thin layer. Layer by layer...until it comes to the contrast I want.

[BunnyPuncher]

I have to agree. Try a thin coat of white and then gradually build up the base color you are after. If you don't use thin paints you get that caked up look that is the result of paint buildup.

[Fiend]

To paint white over dark colours: A few thinned down coats of white.

To paint other light colours over dark colours: A coat of white then a few thinned down coats of the light colour.

:werd:

[aguaporf]

when I have for example dark angels with robes i prime them also black and, in order to make the robe bleached bone color i paint them dark brown then light brown then bleached bone then outline with white, works wonders you don't see the lower layers and it's also more "robe-ish" the color it gets

[Civik]

Something else you can try... before painting on the white, put on a neutral grey first.

It helps so you need fewer coats of white.

I've tried this also using a light metallic. Since the metallic colors will completely cover, you can achieve faster results once they are dry.

[emporerbeavis]

good call civik,

Exactly what I was going to say. Grays cover very well. Then layer the white over that and it will give you a satisfactory result.

[Abyss]

ok thanks for the help, Im Planinng on starting nids, and im gonna paint em hwo they look on the codex, prime black, give red highlights

[thesilent1]

good luck.....they were my first army, and I tried painting the codex cover scheme, but for some reason, they just looked too dull. Now, I have a huge swarm of nids unpainted since I still can't find a great scheme for 'em.

Like everyone else said, just start with a gray, then add white over that. For me, however, I use a much lighter grey like Codex Grey so my white looks really bright.

[Abyss]

Well im going to prime it..highlight the joints red...make the head readish with a grey middle contrast...should I add gloss to them?

[Fiend]

NO.

Gloss is evil and bad, mmmmmkay??

You should only ever use gloss on water IMO....well okay maybe on chitin claws for Tyranids as a last resort if you haven't highlighted them well enough....but generally stay well clear of it.

I've deliberately used gloss three times in my painting career - once on a weapon and once on a gem (both unnecessary) and once on some water on a base, which worked.

[Kurgan]

Question, how do you make a lighter color (I.E White) to stay bold on a darker color such as black, when I do this, the color turns out grayish and doest look as bold

Or you can cheat and make folks THINK it is white ;-)

Here is how I did white for THIS MODEL

Black primer coat
Ghost Grey base
1st layer 2 parts Ghost Grey/1 part Skull White
2nd layer 1 part Ghost Grey/1 part Skull White
3rd layer 1 part Ghost Grey/2 parts Skull White
Highlight: Skull White

Now you can increase the ratios and go with 4/1, 1/4 or 3/1, 1/3 if you want to increase the # of layers and a have a more graduale fade in the color.

Alternatively you can put Fortress grey down over the black and then build your white up over that in thin layers as has been suggested.