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Howdy

I was looking at some old WWII photographs and got wondering what a model would look like if painted "in black and white"
Here's the result, it's not the most amazing of paintjobs, but I was just testing an idea, so go easy on me!

Interesting idea, but needs a little touch-up though.

Might need more stark contrast.

needs more blue


or maybe a Deathwatch shoulder pad

Personally I like it. I have tried similar things and most people said it was too bland. If you don't change the actual colors I would suggest painting the eyes and scope lens some bright color like blue, green, red, you get the idea. I think it will make it stand out a lot more.

The model is monochrome not the photo so adding any color would take away from the fact that its supposed to "in black and white"

Starkness would help make it appear monochromatic instead of a plain gray marine.

I like it, add some lighting effects, bit of really dark blue and you've got yourself a night assault force

Seems the majority of people don't even grasp the idea as they suggest adding colours. Might as well not reply if you're not going to bother reading the text that accompanies the pictures.

I like the idea and the execution is good. I thought it looked pretty spot on, to compare I went and converted one of my own pictures to grayscale. Striking resemblance, only difference was the metal bits on mine were brighter, but that all depends on what "original" colours you use.

I feel that it's different, in a good way, rather than just bland. Big thumbs up for trying something different.

So only feedback I can give except big thumbs up is, if you didn't already, take a picture of a painted mini and convert it, to compare and get a baseline. From your effort I'd say you did a great job already.

You need a lot more contrast going on, especially on the metals. Shade down to black and up to pure white extremes, Study NMM / SENMM methods for proper shading patterns. With just the two colours, you have to make the light/dark contrast work for you to get it popping.

Trés cool pal, I like it.

One thought I had was to highlight the colours with lighter variants of themselves. A black and white photo isn't just one shade of black and one shade of white, it's everything in between and then some. Theoretically I suppose you'd end up using the same approach to painting it as you would with OSL, ie painting from the direction of (for instance) the sun, as that side would have lighter greys than the other.

Not such a black n white topic when you get in to the nitty gritty is it

Will you be doing any more though? Would love to see it

I like the idea. Trying to capture the look of those black and white photos, the drab pallette, the spectrum of greys.....doesnt look bad.

My reaction before reading the full text - "can't tell if b+w model, or b+w photo"
This of course means, you've just about hit the nail on the head. Very well executed, bravo!

I've often thought about doing a small IG diorama of some sorts in the style of a b&w or sepia photo but have always dismissed it as a daft idea, but after reading the thread title and then seeing the pictures- getting confused at first of whether I was just looking at a b&w photo- I have decided to go ahead and do it!
Thank you!
A brilliant job!

Thanks for all the comments guys,
I do see where you're all coming from with the whole contrast thing, but in a actual B&W photo, it's not so stark.
I had a go removing the colour from a pic of an ultramarine and worked off that;
*NOT MY MODEL*

Yes it is. Look at the barrel of the pistol and teeth and exhaust on the chainsword. Pure black in the deep shade, pure white where the reflected light flares.