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Friday Quick Tip: What's a Paint Shaper?
By: realgenius

If you already know what a paint shaper is, then you'd better have one in your tool box because these are probably the best hobby tool around. If you've never heard of a shaper before, let me fill you in: a paint or color shaper (google also for "colour shaper" which is a brand name) is basically a brush handle, but instead of bristles the shaper has a flexible silicone tip.



There are a variety of sizes and shapes available and there are a million and one uses for this thing. I received a cup tip shaper for Christmas and was a little puzzled at first. But now that I've had it for a while, I always make sure that it is close at hand when I'm painting.

Here are a few things I've used it for:

Oops! Squeegee: A few times I've touched the brush to the wrong place and instead of going back later and painting a touch up, a quick swipe from a wet shaper can pick up that oops. Wedge and cup tips work best for this technique.

Paint Reveal: You might have done this as a kid; paint a design and then put another color on top and use a tool to remove the top color to reveal the design beneath. I've experimented with this a few times and it can make for some interesting effects. First put down a color and let it completely dry. Then lay down a thin coat of paint on top and while still wet, use the shaper as an "eraser" for the top color. I recommend one of the pointed tip shapers for this type of work.

Putty Smoother: This is one of the original uses for a shaper and one it excels at. Since the tip is flexible and silicone it doesn't stick to even the stickiest epoxy putty. With a little water, the shaper can really to excellent work smoothing out rough areas. Depending on the shape you're sculpting, you could use any style of tip.

Color Shaping/Blending: Another original use of the shaper is using it to smear and blend colors. I used my shaper this way for reflected light from a burning banner. I dabbled down a small line of orange and then used my cup shaper to pull the orange away from the light source. It works great over rough surfaces because the shaper will catch only the top edges were light would naturally fall.

For wargaming-sized work, I recommend the smallest (no./size 0) shapers and if you shop around you should be able to find a 5 pack of assorted tips for under $25. A real bargain for this versatile tool.

Have you used a shaper before? What good tips do you have for using paint shapers?

GD - could you show us some pics of where you've used these (e.g., the burning banner) - it'd be great to see some examples at work.

also called clay shapers or colour shapers

Interesting, those would be incredibly usefull.

I bought a set of these last year and love them, I mainly use them for Green stuffing, I never have finger prints or cracks in my GS now!

sounds good to me. I will be using this alot with my GS

*starts searching*

Would any normal art supply or hobby store carry such?

Im seconding Captain Viper, these are seriously sweet sculpting tools.

were can i find these

Death By Monkeys wrote:GD - could you show us some pics of where you've used these (e.g., the burning banner) - it'd be great to see some examples at work.

The article was written by me. Unfortunately the banner one is at FLGS for a painting competition, but I'll put a picture up of the glow when I next get a chance. It wasn't so much that the effect was spectacular, but that it was fast. I spend a quarter of the time I normally do on it and achieved similar results. So a time saver instead of a better product. Especially of you are doing something like lava bases for a whole army.

You can find shapers at pretty much any fine art store, but you might want to call and make sure they have the smallest size. Check out: http://www.colourshaper.com/stockist.htm

Or order online from Dick Blick: http://www.dickblick.com/products/colour-shapers-tools/ -- less than $20 for the set of 5.

Doh! My bad, realgenius - sorry, man! I'll need to remember to look at the article author! Can't wait to see the pics of the glow - as a lazy painter, I'm always looking for time and effort-saving techniques.

I have seen these before and always wondered about there uses.
Thanks for the writeup. I'll have to see about picking some up.

of course... grey death didnt write this!
the real genius behind the article is... realgenius
well that was an anticlimax.

Death By Monkeys wrote:Doh! My bad, realgenius - sorry, man! I'll need to remember to look at the article author! Can't wait to see the pics of the glow - as a lazy painter, I'm always looking for time and effort-saving techniques.

No problem; I'm a lazy writer, so G_D is nice enough to post it for me.

I've got one, main use I put it to is to apply glue to my bases, since you can get in all the little areas with it, and it has no bristles to gum up..

JediRaptor wrote:Would any normal art supply or hobby store carry such?

Yes any art store will have these any hobby store worth their salt should also carry them. The safer route is the art store though. THey will be with the brushes.

the assasin of night wrote:were can i find these

You can find them at any art store. Most hobby stores also cary them.

i always wonderred what these were for.... now i know, i might get some. tyhanks to the ever helpful dakka forum

Any advice on whether we should get the "firm" or the "soft" versions?

Alpharius wrote:Any advice on whether we should get the "firm" or the "soft" versions?

I personally haven't purchased any myself either. But I would think that both versions would be helpful. Especially when it comes to sculpting.

K I like it S_S

Wifey got the set of five "firm" shapers for a stocking stuffer last x-mas and I *love* them. Makes sculpting GS so much easier, although I do wish they were more firm and I'm glad she didn't get the soft set. Also work great to rub off unwanted paint from elbow bumps and the like, so long as it's not set too long.

I invested in a few of the small fine ones and frankly I haven't used them as much I expected. I use them, but I use a groovey little dental tool for almost all my sculpting.

Particularly I found a set in Michael's for around 10 dollars.