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Has anyone tried this?

I am talking about taking chainmail or gun metal (or whatever GW calls them nowadays), or gold, and mixing actual ink with them (not washes, actual ink*) and using that combination as a basecoat rather than just the metallic paint alone. Couldn't find anything searching the dakka archives but maybe my search skills are just terrible.


*Some ink like this, for example:
http://www.daler-rowney.com/files/webform/pdf/DR_FWONLY_ColourCharts_Jan12.pdf
http://www.daler-rowney.com/content/fw-artists-inks

Not tried it, you could give it a go, but rather than using GW chainmail or similar (which is essentially a light blue-grey paint with metallic flakes in it) Vallejo makes a metallic medium for the purpose of turning other colours in to metallics, which is basically just those same metallic flakes but with no pigment.

Depending on what colour you want, as I mentioned in your other thread several companies make off the shelf coloured metallics.

My INSTAR paint line is going to be offering different colour metallics other than golds, bronzes, silvers etc so there is more uniqueness with them as well as better for highlighting other metallic colours the same way you would highlight a non metallic colour.

However, adding ink would take away the metallic-ness (is that a word????) Because it would begin to water it down too much. During early experiments when we were starting to develop our metallic paints, we tried using. a metallic additive and then adding colour to it, but this failed miserably and didn't really give the desired effect we wanted. We even tried silver metallic paint and normal paint together in a 50/50 mix, but this basically ended up not being metallic at all, all that happened was that the colour if the paint ended up brighter but with no metallic presence, at least none that could be seen, so it would stand to reason that your idea would probably end up the same way.

Ultimately, metallics are not easy to make even though they may look it. This also reflects in the price difference of metallics as they take extra work to get them to a suitable level for model painting.

As AllSeeingSkink said, you'd be better off finding companies that make off the shelf colours, you could try airfix or humbrol, by even then, they are pretty limited as well.

Metallics are not for the faint hearted, paint is one thing, metallic are quite another!

AllSeeingSkink wrote:
Not tried it, you could give it a go, but rather than using GW chainmail or similar (which is essentially a light blue-grey paint with metallic flakes in it) Vallejo makes a metallic medium for the purpose of turning other colours in to metallics, which is basically just those same metallic flakes but with no pigment.

I bought a few bottles of army painter bronze metal paint, and I am going to add some of that Roley FW red ink I linked to (which is transparent), in different concentrations to the bronze and see what happens.

I'll post the results in a week or two when I get around to doing it, even if it is a miserable failure lol.

I attempted to mix Runefang Steel with Gulliman Blue (the blue glaze that GW offers) through my airbrush when painting my GKs. The result was... a thin silver paint that didn’t turn bluish at all. That was my result from trying this, hopefully you have better results. If I were to do it again, I’d attempt to glaze it after using the metallic paint, or I’d use a colored metallic from the start.

Just 2 cents from someone who’s tried it before

You can order the Coat d'arms (old GW) colored metallics from Scale Creep Miniatures here in the US.

Could also cheap out and just brush some clear colours over a metallic for a similar effect. I did that on my Harlequins jewels with Vallejo silver and Tamiya clears over the top. Looked ok.

 Bi'ios wrote:
I attempted to mix Runefang Steel with Gulliman Blue (the blue glaze that GW offers) through my airbrush when painting my GKs. The result was... a thin silver paint that didn’t turn bluish at all. That was my result from trying this, hopefully you have better results. If I were to do it again, I’d attempt to glaze it after using the metallic paint, or I’d use a colored metallic from the start.

Just 2 cents from someone who’s tried it before

Bummer. But glazes are different from inks, right? I ordered an ink so I am going to try it, so we'll see if I have better luck

AllSeeingSkink wrote:
Vallejo makes a metallic medium for the purpose of turning other colours in to metallics, which is basically just those same metallic flakes but with no pigment.

I feel dumb for not thinking of using the metallic medium that way, but that makes a lot of sense. I'm going to try mixing up some colored metallics with my bottle and see how it turns out.

I did metallic purple of various but inconsistent hues using mithril silver as the metallic for quite a while until GW's Purple Ink stopped being a thing. Eventually found that Vallejo's Violet Ink and Metallic medium do fantastic and consistent results for what I was after.

Metallic medium specifically is a good starting point as mentioned; their model colour inks and proper inks work well too and i've found blue and orange inks they do to come out superb.

Ill be honest, ive always used a silver base then GW washes over that to get metallic colours.

I generally spray leadbelcher, drybrush necron compound then wash until I'm happy with how dark/light the metallic is.

 malamis wrote:
Eventually found that Vallejo's Violet Ink and Metallic medium do fantastic and consistent results for what I was after.

Metallic medium specifically is a good starting point as mentioned; their model colour inks and proper inks work well too and i've found blue and orange inks they do to come out superb.

Nice. What ink to medium ratio did you use?

If you want bluish tint, I definitely recommend ForgeWorld Grey Knights Steel.

If you want to achieve candy effect - use clear paints all day, any day, every day.

If you want to be extra fancy alchemist - I'd go for GWs pigment set, though I haven't tried it myself: https://www.games-workshop.com/en-EU/Citadel-artificer-tint-set . You can google Duncan showcasing it with silver metallics.

GW at least sold these small amounts of pure colour you could mix into other paints to alter colour. Video they showed was putting in blue(and was it some other colour) into silver to create rather good alpha legion(pre-HH) colour without usual airbrush method.

Looked pretty good. I would look for other companies though as GW ones were expensive and came with sets only so no one colour only option.

It depends what you want.

Clears give you a candy effect moreso than a metallic effect. Just google candy paint and you should find some images.

If you actually want a vibrant metallic flake effect, like you often see on cars on the road, just buy a coloured metallic from one of the companies that make them.

Tamiya and Gunze make alcohol based acrylics and have some coloured metallic options. The colour selection is minimal, but Gunze and Tamiya can be mixed so you should be able to mix up your desired colour. I've used both Tamiya and Gunze metallics and they work fine.

Warcolours also make quite an extension range of coloured metallics, I've never tried them myself though.

http://www.warcolours.com/index.php?route=product/product&path=60&product_id=103

http://www.warcolours.com/index.php?route=product/product&path=60&product_id=99

I never understand why people bother with "tricks" like glazes and whatnot to try and create coloured metallics when you can just, ya know, buy a coloured metallic

Stavkat wrote:

Nice. What ink to medium ratio did you use?

Generally 4:1:1 Ink:metal:airbrush medium but this was for airbrushing. By hand i'd probably recommend 8:1 as the way it moves around on the surface means the ink stains unevenly at lower concentrations.

 malamis wrote:

Stavkat wrote:

Nice. What ink to medium ratio did you use?

Generally 4:1:1 Ink:metal:airbrush medium but this was for airbrushing. By hand i'd probably recommend 8:1 as the way it moves around on the surface means the ink stains unevenly at lower concentrations.

Whoa, much different ratio than I expected. Cool, that will be helpful. I will try that after my test of just using ink and metallic paint.

Scale 75 do a range of coloured metallics

http://scale75.com/en/70-metal-n-alchemy-range

I've only really used the metals (black, thrash and speed) for painting slightly worn armour but I've tested a few of the more brightly coloured alchemy ones and they look promising.

I have actually had good luck with the cheap, generic Martha Stewart brand colored metallic craft paint. They are thick paints so you have to dilute them and go in layers. I use leadbelcher and brush over the metallic, wash with nuln oil, and dry brush with necron compound.

Also, the krylon colored metallic spray paint line works well if you have a large area to cover.

WobblyGoblin wrote:
Scale 75 do a range of coloured metallics

http://scale75.com/en/70-metal-n-alchemy-range

I've only really used the metals (black, thrash and speed) for painting slightly worn armour but I've tested a few of the more brightly coloured alchemy ones and they look promising.

Lot of nice options there (though short on reds). Do you know if they are regular water based acrylics or do they have alcohol and vapor issues like the tamiya ones (which I can’t stand)?

My INSTAR range is entirely water based with no additives, except of course for the powder.

The only downside is we haven't launched yet :(

Stavkat wrote:

WobblyGoblin wrote:
Scale 75 do a range of coloured metallics

http://scale75.com/en/70-metal-n-alchemy-range

I've only really used the metals (black, thrash and speed) for painting slightly worn armour but I've tested a few of the more brightly coloured alchemy ones and they look promising.

Lot of nice options there (though short on reds). Do you know if they are regular water based acrylics or do they have alcohol and vapor issues like the tamiya ones (which I can’t stand)?

Yes, regular acrylics.

WobblyGoblin wrote:

Stavkat wrote:

WobblyGoblin wrote:
Scale 75 do a range of coloured metallics

http://scale75.com/en/70-metal-n-alchemy-range

I've only really used the metals (black, thrash and speed) for painting slightly worn armour but I've tested a few of the more brightly coloured alchemy ones and they look promising.

Lot of nice options there (though short on reds). Do you know if they are regular water based acrylics or do they have alcohol and vapor issues like the tamiya ones (which I can’t stand)?

Yes, regular acrylics.

Cool will have to try those after my experiment probably fails lol.

If you are willing to settle for a opalescent finish vs metallic, Testors white pearl mixes perfectly with artist inks.

Stavkat wrote:

WobblyGoblin wrote:
Scale 75 do a range of coloured metallics

http://scale75.com/en/70-metal-n-alchemy-range

I've only really used the metals (black, thrash and speed) for painting slightly worn armour but I've tested a few of the more brightly coloured alchemy ones and they look promising.

Lot of nice options there (though short on reds). Do you know if they are regular water based acrylics or do they have alcohol and vapor issues like the tamiya ones (which I can’t stand)?

FWIW, the Warcolours paints I linked earlier are also water based acrylics.

http://www.warcolours.com/index.php?route=product/product&path=60&product_id=81

I'm also not a fan of the smell of Tamiya, but I just set myself up next to a small fan on its lowest setting that blows the fumes away from me then have an exhaust fan on the other side of the room (where I normally airbrush). It is a bit annoying, but I have to do the same thing when I'm gluing or filling stuff so it's not a big deal to also have to do it while painting.

Also FWIW people say you "should" use alcohol or X20A to thin Tamiya paints, which is true, but I've used water and it works fine for me. The Necrons I painted here are all done by hairy brush using water as a thinner...

https://www.dakkadakka.com/gallery/images-59981-27484_Necrons.html

Just make sure you clean your brush out frequently and if you're using a dry palette like I do, don't work in the same spot on the palette for too long because paint will start to dry on the palette and when you add new paint it'll start to reactivate the old paint on the palette causing it to become chunky/globby/not nice.

Ok, the ink I ordered arrived so I decided to test the idea out, of mixing a transparent ink with a metallic paint...

2/3-3/4 Old GW 'Shining Gold paint
1/3-1/4 FW Daler Rowney 'Flame Red' Acrylic ink

Leads to a really nice metallic looking red. I am surprised by how nice it came out.

Of course, I used a cell phone camera, and no lightbox or anything so the pictures don't do it justice, but I am very happy with the results.

Will post pics once I figure out how to do that Edit - The pics are here but weirdly oriented for some reason...

Stavkat wrote:
Will post pics once I figure out how to do that ehre.

https://www.dakkadakka.com/dakkaforum/posts/list/205120.page#206763

 Ghaz wrote:

Stavkat wrote:
Will post pics once I figure out how to do that ehre.

https://www.dakkadakka.com/dakkaforum/posts/list/205120.page#206763

Thank you sir

I can't tell if you have a yellow light or if it had given it a Perlescent effect and the light is reflecting off the gold particles.

It's a quick work around but for a proper metallic, it really needs to be a metallic powder of that colour for it to really pop.

However, that said, if you're happy with the result then it was a successful test overall

Paint it metallic and add two layers of ink. It works very good. And it's super simple.