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I want to ask ye' all for some hints on shading and highlighting purple, specifically a royal purple. Currently painting up a pre-heresy Emperor's Children force, current mix of paint is Vallejo Magenta - Vallejo Violet at a ratio of 2:1... I have not yet found a technique to bring a finish about my models where I can feel satisfied with the outcome. The current steps I go through are:

- Prime grey
- Initial coat of 3:1 water: vallejo violet
- Coat of personal vallejo mix mentioned above, with water:paint ratio of 2:1
- Another coat of the above.
- ???
- Highlight.

This brings my purple out to the tone that I want, however I am unsure as to how or when to shade [with wash?]. I currently highlight with personal vallejo mix and vallejo bonewhite. It's the shading however that is really hampering my painting right now. I just can't decide how or when to do it. Do I run with a heavily watered down black and wash entirety of the model, or edge-line in the recesses? The problem with washing the entire model is that I have to reapply the purple mix again in several coats.

Any experience on these forums with purples and shading?

First wash of Vallejo violet



These models have received the double coat of my purple mix.





And this squad were finished off...

no idea what the vallejo colours look like but pop a pic o of what you have done so far as that will help us give you some ideas :]

OK! I'll have them uploaded and edited into the OP in around 10 minutes.

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There's a couple more shots if you poke through my gallery. Basically; the problem I feel is present is that I cannot get the right 'depth' or shadowing to my recesses. It all feels very -flat- without the shading and yet, when I try to do it, it always feels really messy. :/