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Ok so I have been doing some modeling and (Rhino and Termies) but as I start painting I noticed my finger prints and they show through the paint any tips on getting finger prints of (or not on to begin with)

Thanks in advance

You might need to wash your hands before you handle your minis. It sounds like it's just the basic oils and stuff creating a mismatched surface or something. Other than that you could try some latex gloves. I'm pretty sure you can get a box of them for pretty cheap. Plus you won't have to worry about getting paint and superglue all over your fingers.

...Oh yeah, I forgot that not everyone else is as insanely clumsy and sloppy as me.

Or, if you're cheap like me, you can just try and hold the models by the base. Although, this can make painting difficult sometimes and if you're trying to paint a vehicle...then just make sure your hands are clean.

When I read the title to this thread my mind started sprinting around and going mental. I thought this was going to be something you were doing on purpose!!!!
I had envisioned a test tyranid with carapace markings done with highly contrasting finger prints. Anyone tried this, I'm going to, it might just be crazy enough to work.
It's those personal touches that really make an army!!! (sorry)
Cheers for the inspiration.

P.S Sometimes I scare myself too!!!!

Alex Kolodotschko wrote:When I read the title to this thread my mind started sprinting around and going mental. I thought this was going to be something you were doing on purpose!!!!
I had envisioned a test tyranid with carapace markings done with highly contrasting finger prints. Anyone tried this, I'm going to, it might just be crazy enough to work.
It's those personal touches that really make an army!!! (sorry)
Cheers for the inspiration.

P.S Sometimes I scare myself too!!!!

That is really creative and a good idea

Avoiding them:
Try really hard to hold models by the base. Especially when undercoating with a spraycan.

Try and get hold of an old pair of needle-nosed pliers to sacrifice to the undercoat. They'll be useless for pretty much anything else, but will let you do no-touch undercoats.

Don't touch anything that's wet. Glue, paint, anything.

Use the very tips of your fingers for manipulating parts.

Or, for the hardcore, use a dremel to sand/file your fingerprints off.


For removing them:
Sandpaper, or a nail file. Be careful!

Yep, washing your hands before you start work is a biggy, particularly if you have naturally oily skin.

Washing the miniature in soapy water before you start painting also helps... particularly if they're not actually your fingerprints.

Hold the mini by the base, or attach it to something (corks work well for regular minis, gluing the base or bottom of the mini to the lid of a glass jar works well for larger stuff) that you can hold onto more easily as you work.

If you're inclined to seal your miniatures, whacking on the first coat of sealer as soon as you have the base colours done is a good idea. Doesn't hurt any more paint that goes over the top (unless you're spraying with gloss) and helps protect those first layers of paint. Particularly if you're a slow painter and are gaming with them while they're unfinished.

I don't know about using a dremel on your fingers, seems like that would just cut you to the bone.

But if you've ever done auto body work, you know that water sanding can and will remove your fingerprints.

I've had mine bleeding before from so much sanding...

HisDivineShadow wrote:I don't know about using a dremel on your fingers, seems like that would just cut you to the bone.

But if you've ever done auto body work, you know that water sanding can and will remove your fingerprints.

I've had mine bleeding before from so much sanding...

That's and interesting suggestion to say the least but I think I like my loopy finger print.


-EDIT- Spelling

insaniak wrote:If you're inclined to seal your miniatures, whacking on the first coat of sealer as soon as you have the base colours done is a good idea. Doesn't hurt any more paint that goes over the top (unless you're spraying with gloss) and helps protect those first layers of paint. Particularly if you're a slow painter and are gaming with them while they're unfinished.

I just wanted to touch on this point...with a matte sealer, you can paint over it? Because I do exactly what you describe...I paint large chunks of models at a time and play with them before they are finished.

I believe the Dermel tool suggestion was for removing the fingerprints ON THE MODEL not his hands....duh.

The prints may be from getting a bit of plastic glue on your fingers while assembling. I try and rub my fingertips together when iget plastic glue on them to keep them clean. If you have plastic glue on your fingers, its not as sticky and easily noticed, but will still dissolve the plastic you are touching. Particularly if you are using that finger to press parts together.

With superglue you may be sticking your fingers to the model and leaving behind an impression.

I used to work at GW and we had a guy come in for a paitning lesson with his newly assembled marine models. They had something white in patches all over them like tissue. I asked him what it was and he said he'd glued the models to his fingers, and left behind skin! He had little patches of skin all over them! I promptly put the model down and got my co-wroker to give him a lesson. So, it could be worse than prints.

try basing your modles first then hold on to the base ive never had a finger print on my modles besides when ive touched them so by using the base to hold it you wont get finger prints on your modles while painting them.

Nurgleboy77 wrote:I believe the Dremel tool suggestion was for removing the fingerprints ON THE MODEL not his hands....duh.

No, it was for the fingers themselves. Can't leave fingerprints if you don't have any!

Lormax wrote:I just wanted to touch on this point...with a matte sealer, you can paint over it?

Yup. GW used to suggest it from time to time in their painting guides.

Actual results may vary a little sepending on the actual sealer and on what paint you're using... but decent quality acrylics will generally paint over matte or satin sealers with no problems at all.

It definitely works just fine with GW paints and sealer, and GW paints have gone fine over the other sealers I've tried over the years.

I just want to clear this up I was trying to get finger prints out of green stuff because it shows up in the paint......But i love the ideas for the paint.

In future, wet your finger and rub it over the green stuff before it dries to get rid of fingerprints.

Or even better, use a sculpting tool instead of your finger...

Or sand the greenstuff down slightly after it cures for 24 hours. A very light sanding will taken them right out...440 grit sandpaper then hit it with some steel wool

Finger prints should not be an issue when painting. You touch wet paint, you leave fingerprints, so simply dont do it.

Regarding sweat fingerprints that you paint over, simply wash your hands before and during painting. Its a good habit anyway particularly if you are handling resin, certain glues or varnish.

The real problem with fingerprints is when sculpting, normally for smoothing over greenstuff/milliput. Often the most controlled modelling can be got with a finger rather than a tool, but fingers leave fingerprints. The answer here when sculting with fingers is to wrap the tips of your fingers in cling film, then wet them then smooth over the putty.