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I need some help figuring out the recipe for mixing paints and thinning them down. I have been looking at the new Masterclass Articles and when they state a 1.1.1 Mix I have no flipping clue what they mean or what measuring system they are using to get the best effect. I paint Orks and am really liking the way the skin comes out. So if people can throw me some comments or articles I could read on how to get better at doing this I would greatly appreciate it!
Cutthroatcure wrote:when they state a 1.1.1 Mix I have no flipping clue what they mean or what measuring system they are using to get the best effect.
You use what ever measuring system you want, just make sure you use the same amount of each. If I make a 4:1 ratio of paint to thinner than I am say that for every 4 amounts of paint I am adding 1 amount of thinner, whether it is a drop, a tablespoon, or a gallon, as long as the amounts are equal in dispensing then the ratio is fine.
If there's a three component mixture, like distilled water, matte medium, and paint then 1:1:1 would be three equal parts, just as Redfinger explained.
I usually use a 10:1 distilled water to matte medium mixture to dilute paints on palette instead of straight water. Can you give us some context in terms of what three components the book is recommending to mix?
This message was edited 1 time. Last update was at 2011/11/28 23:43:40
What harm can it do to find out? It's a question that left bruises down the centuries, even more than "It can't hurt if I only take one" and "It's all right if you only do it standing up." Terry Pratchett, Making Money
"Can a magician kill a man by magic?" Lord Wellington asked Strange. Strange frowned. He seemed to dislike the question. "I suppose a magician might," he admitted, "but a gentleman never could." Susanna Clarke Jonathan Strange & Mr. Norrell
Cutthroatcure wrote:4:1:1 Goblin Green, Golden Yellow, Bleached Bone
And should i use like an eye drop or do you all have an easier method...I am looking for tips and tricks as much as anything.
Also when you mention palette how do you keep the paints from drying super quick, cause I always seem to have that problem.
Also would it be a good idea for me to get some form of chemical paint thinner for my model work?
Vallejo paints come in dropper bottles, TAP plastics sells dropper bottles that you can put your thinner in. Investing in a wet pallete will help extend the life of your paints. And uless you are using oil based paints I would NOT suggest using a chemical thinner, it will cause problems.
Also how would I turn a paint into a wash, cause it says to wash in certain colors that are not actual washes. I just want to learn how to improve my technique.
Les Bursley has a Wash recipe that works wonders here on dakka in the Tutorials section, search for "recipe" in there and it should come right up.
I keep the "base" of that recipe (distilled water, matte medium, and flow aid) in a dropper bottle to mix with paints on palette to make improptu washes and glazes. Works great!
I also transferred my existing collection of GW paints into dropper bottles I got on ebay from a Portuguese seller to help them last longer. I was able to add Slow Drying Extender to them at the same time, which gives them a longer life outside the bottle. As Redfinger mentioned, a wet palette is a good investment as well, keeping paint fresh for very long periods outside the bottle.
What harm can it do to find out? It's a question that left bruises down the centuries, even more than "It can't hurt if I only take one" and "It's all right if you only do it standing up." Terry Pratchett, Making Money
"Can a magician kill a man by magic?" Lord Wellington asked Strange. Strange frowned. He seemed to dislike the question. "I suppose a magician might," he admitted, "but a gentleman never could." Susanna Clarke Jonathan Strange & Mr. Norrell
Wet Palette shopping results. A Wet palette allows you to keep paint wet for longer periods of time and enables techniques such as wet blending.
How to make your own from household items:
What harm can it do to find out? It's a question that left bruises down the centuries, even more than "It can't hurt if I only take one" and "It's all right if you only do it standing up." Terry Pratchett, Making Money
"Can a magician kill a man by magic?" Lord Wellington asked Strange. Strange frowned. He seemed to dislike the question. "I suppose a magician might," he admitted, "but a gentleman never could." Susanna Clarke Jonathan Strange & Mr. Norrell
This thread reminded me that I really need to make a wet palette. Been on my to do list far too long.
"Bryan always said that if the studio ever had to mix with the manufacturing and sales part of the business it would destroy the studio. And I have to say – he wasn’t wrong there! ... It’s become the promotions department of a toy company." -- Rick Priestly
If you like pain and suffering, use just a normal palette and not a wet one. It'll train you to mix the same color you want again and again and mix it in an amount you want. Albeit you'll waste tons of paint doing this.
Back in college I was trained by our very strict professor to mix any color I want using only red, blue, yellow and sometimes black and white. It was a dark part in my life, and the air s filled with blasphemous curses aimed at the gods of art and paint. It's a real pain to mix flesh toneswith those colors... and it's more of a pain to mix the same color AGAIN.
