Dakka (Unofficial) Painting Challenge Round 28 June 2017: Legendary

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**Elbows**

Niceguy,

I don't use anything beyond my desk lamps - I just use long-necked ones which I can push close to the mini - and I try to light down low as well. For editing I use free GIMP software to do the white balance and brightness/contrast adjustements.

My background is just a piece of printer paper

Filming dark miniatures is still almost impossible for me, that's why I recommended finding a dark background instead, perhaps it'll push the colours out better? I understand the budget issues - I wish I could afford a legit photography set-up!

**ZoBo**

yup, I use the same setup as Elbows, from the sounds of it

I am thinking about getting some A3 paper and airbrushing it a kinda mottled grey, and maybe a couple more sheets with different mild colours, to experiment...as the plain white can be a bit harsh...but yeah, a couple of cheap flexible-necked desk lamps should do the trick

**n1ceguypaul**

Heers guys got a couple of lamps but dont think they are strong enough. Will give the darker background a shot see if that helps and actual use my dslr as i just got a couple of magnifying lenses to try out. Will hopefully if they work post some better shots. Also will try that software out on my laptao and see if that helps.

Anyway.good job so far guys looking forward to seeing all the finished entries next week.

**Tittlemanscrest**

n1ceguypaul wrote:
Heers guys got a couple of lamps but dont think they are strong enough. Will give the darker background a shot see if that helps and actual use my dslr as i just got a couple of magnifying lenses to try out. Will hopefully if they work post some better shots. Also will try that software out on my laptao and see if that helps.

Anyway.good job so far guys looking forward to seeing all the finished entries next week.

Of course I am not an expert in photography but I have been at the game of photographing minis for a little while. You want to diffuse your light. Direct light will make harsh shadows and drown out your details that you took so long to paint

. My advice is to take the time to make a light box. An easy way to do it is to cut out the sides of a cardboard box and tape in parchment paper. That way the light from your lamps will be diffused. You can use three lamps, two on the sides and one on the top, that way you can get good illumination and eliminate harsh shadows. You just need to do the sides and the top, you are going to have a background anyways. My suggestion is that you use a black backdrop. A 98 cent poster board from Walmart works fantastic. black will pop out all the details and if you look at high level painters they almost all exclusively use black or dark backdrops. Games workshop will tell you otherwise, but I encourage you to experiment yourself and not take my word for it. As far as post editing, I generally don't touch up my minis except for some brightness and exposure options. I don't believe in heavily editing my work, but that is just me.

I hope that helps, I am sure you have thought of a lot of this, but I figure I would share a few tips that worked for me. Of course I am not an expert, and I encourage you to do your own research, but it is just food for thought.

**Modock**

Managed to finish the Iguana. This is my most complexly painted mini to date. Used every blending technique I know. From glazing to loaded brush
technique. The heavy machine gun was painted in NMM, well at least I tried. I need a break now, I think I see orange everywhere.

**kitbashermagos**

https://www.dakkadakka.com/gallery/885819-deamon%20prince%20of%20Slaanesh%20WIP.html My progress almost done, Just the last layers and she/it is done.

**n1ceguypaul**

Damn modock thats very nice. Me likes

**Jadenim**

So I actually finished this a while ago, but I've only just got round to taking the photos:

Notes:
1) Thought I'd try out some different backgrounds, see if it makes it easier to see the detail, so I'd appreciate any feed back on which makes a better photo.

2) Due to cat presence, my house is incompatible with dark coloured materials. There is no solution. I've tried. Believe me, I've tried.

3) Why is that it's only when you come to upload photos that you notice that little bit where your brush slipped. Sigh. I just don't think I'm going to have time this week to go back and touch that up, ho hum.

**Modock**

n1ceguypaul wrote:
Damn modock thats very nice. Me likes

Thanks mate!

**Jadenim**

The shading on that is sublime, good show Modock!

**CREEEEEEEEED**

Here comes Modock to outshine us all once again.

**feltmonkey**

Yeah, that's just fantastic Modock. The use of all those techniques really paid off! To have pictures that big, and that zoomed-in, and for it to still look that good is extraordinary.

**ZoBo**

Oh man...Modock...you just keep getting better man! love your work!

**Drummernathan**

God damn modok! That is absolutely superb.

**Modock**

Thank you all, guys. I really appreciate it.

**PossumCraft**

Literally the best shading I've ever seen, Modock, good job!

Is that a purple used in the darkest shades?

**EmberlordofFire8**

Now, if Bottle and Midget Gems dint finish I may still have a chance... fingers crossed...

**Modock**

PossumCraft wrote:
Literally the best shading I've ever seen, Modock, good job!

Is that a purple used in the darkest shades?

Thanks man, you're too kind!

This is how I did the armor. For the base color I used red orange. Than I was gradually adding yellow for highlighting.
Brightest highlights were done with an offwhite. Shadows were painted with a deep red. For the darkest shadows
I added deep blue to the red.

**PossumCraft**

Blaaaaaaaaaargh. Was hoping to have my kit together so I could properly base before submitting, but alas my container is still not arrived.

So, not quite finished, not quite shadowsun.

Or something. My entry, done.

As usual it looks fine to my eyes then the camera put all these blobs and brush slips on it.
Wish the camera would stop adding paint

Also, apparently it is REALLY hard to photograph white

Maybe I'm just getting old...

**CREEEEEEEEED**

It looks pretty good and aside from the edge base not being black I can't see a problem with it.

**PossumCraft**

I plan to add some snow to the base, so I haven't done the rim yet.

I have a weird 'thing' about painting the rim being the last thing on a mini. Don't know why, but it REALLY digs at me to paint a base rim when there is more to do >.<

**CREEEEEEEEED**

Fair enough. The rim is always the last thing for me as well. It almost holds ritual significance for completion of a model.
Also Paradigm I'm finished if you want to update the front page.

**Bottle**

Canoness Veridyan is my entry for the month!

**feltmonkey**

Very nice!

**Vejut**

Finally got that base done, and first set of model pics on the new phone (weirdly, they seem slightly out of focus...until you zoom in one step. not sure what that's about):

Amentimesu, Typhon Assassin:

**ZergSmasher**

Okay, I'm gonna call my entry finished. May I present Roboute Guilliman, Primarch of the Ultramarines:

To be honest, I feel like I should have done a better job on such a fantastic sculpt. I think he came out alright, but honestly I think "all right" is about the extent of how good I did. I worked really hard to get this model to even this standard, which shows the difficulty of painting this thing. I also need to learn to take better photos where the brightness is more controlled. I don't currently have a lightbox or anything, just a couple of desk lamps, some printer paper taped to the wall, and a really cheap digital camera. Feel free to vote for these images in the gallery.

I am still looking forward to the voting for this month, as there have been some really neat entries so far! I probably won't have anything for next month's challenge, so good luck to everyone who does!

**Chris56**

Great flames on the sword, Zerg.

@Vejut - always with the interesting models!

@Possumcraft - very cool conversion;

@Modock - awesome blending and nmm;

@Bottle - also great nmm and love that sword,the colour really works.

**PossumCraft**

Chris56 wrote:

@Possumcraft - very cool conversion;

I must confess to the nope

Wargames Exclusive made her. Blatant rip-off or homage to a piece of fan art that's been hanging around for years.

Good call taking the flaming whatsits off Robbie's legs, Zerg. He looks much less WTF without them

I'm really looking forward to the voting this month. Some really awesome entries going.

**Chris56**

Ha-ha!
You should have let me believe it - I was super-impressed!

**EmberlordofFire8**

Well done bottle, although I must say that skin work isn't your best. Still an amazing mini, though.