Forum adverts like this one are shown to any user who is not logged in. Join us by filling out a tiny 3 field form and you will get your own, free, dakka user account which gives a good range of benefits to you: No adverts like this in the forums anymore. Times and dates in your local timezone. Full tracking of what you have read so you can skip to your first unread post, easily see what has changed since you last logged in, and easily see what is new at a glance. Email notifications for threads you want to watch closely. Being a part of the oldest wargaming community on the net. If you are already a member then feel free to login now.

Hey all
I consider myself a fairly decent painter and have painted many lotr, 40k and some infinity minis. My painting style consists of priming, basecoating (sometimes 2-3 colors) and drybrushing highlights. This has worked for me many times but I think my minus could benefit from one of 2 shading techniques ive begun to hear about: washing or dipping. I have tried to use inkstand and diluted acrylics but this does not seem to be as good a sub as real washes or dips. The dip concerns me a bit because its a polyurethane, will it stink a lot? (I'm talking about minimax floor stain, magic dip) also because it leaves a glossy finish I also have to matte varnish it. I heard someones disaster story where their figure lost all contrast becase they sprayed too much. Im looking for a foolproof method. The washes seem pretty cool but also have a bit of glossyness when dried, though not as bad as dipping. Can someone speak to the effectiveness of either or guide me to a good compromise of a dip that is closer to a wash type of result? I will post pics soon.
thanks

If you are looking for fool proof I'd say go with the Army Painter system. it's all laid out on their website or in little booklets they send with their stuff to FLGS.

Basically it goes like this (read the instructions as I am over simplifying):
1. Prime
2. Base Coat (a bit exaggerated as the dip will mute the colors)
3. Dip
4. Hit with matte varnish
5. profit.

Lol I've looked at army painter but it seems pricey for basically watered down floor stain. Or does it give really amazing results? Thank you for the advice.

iPhone fail sorry

Relevant

Basically I'm realizing I need a dark brown shadow tone on much of my figures


Automatically Appended Next Post:
One more question regarding army painter then. Do I use soft or strong coat? People say strong is too much and dark is right out. I like the look of strong but as I have never done this before I don't want to drop 25 bucks on something I would throw out if I hated it.

I've never used it just read the articles and stuff on the interwebs. Just from a light to dark perspective I would probably go with a lighter shade to have less of a muting effect on your base colors.

Use washes, dips are very different and give different results.

(I use both).

You can dilute paints, but you have to dilute them with actual acrylic medium, and not water.

The gw washes are decent, but so are the various ones from other sources. Another note; most inks are very different than washes, except the army painter inks - they are actually the old GW washes (there is another thread on that - take a look).

The most important thing, is to do a few test models before you put the washes on anything you care about.

best of luck!

This is a nice little video which shows the effect of quickshade quite well. I've only used it a couple of times sparingly, but I do like it.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sj3puC_-Y5U&feature=youtube_gdata_player