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Hi, all.

I really like some of the models I've seen that show plasma weaponry glowing, or heating up.

I've attempted it myself, but I'm not really sure I like the outcome.

When it's on the tabletop it looks alright, but when you actually look at it, it does look a bit messy.

Can anyone recommend any tips for making it look less... Well, bleh





Regards,

Looks very rushed at the moment, I'd recommend toning down the area of the glow, maybe just a tiny bit around the edges, as well as better definition between dark and light.

Haven't done OSL myself as it's not my cup of tea, but here's a tutorial for it on plasma guns that should help you: http://www.thepaintingshopworld.com/2010/08/06/i-show-you-how-to-paint-40k-plasma-gun-glow-effect/

For drybrushing you'll want to wipe most of the paint onto a tissue until you only see a trace amount come off the brush (You should set aside a special brush for drybrushing as it'll ruin the point of your brushes).

Cheers, Skarwael. I'll check it out.

Definitely use an older, worn out brush for this if you have one. When it comes to drybrushing, I've found the speed at which you drybrush (really, the number of strokes) has way more of an effect than how much pressure you use. I've seen people damn near snap a paintbrush off because they couldn't get the drybrush effect they wanted. Unfortunately, it takes a good long while. Drybrushing is just like private time when we were in high school: keep stroking, and you'll get it to pop eventually.

 Jimsolo wrote:
Drybrushing is just like private time when we were in high school: keep stroking, and you'll get it to pop eventually.

What a great way of putting it

Use paint that is very very very diluted, when you wipe it off on a paper towel it should just look like colored water, then work it for a while over the edges of where your osl would be projecting. Another method is to spray with an airbrush which is actually the most convincing method i've seen.

Don't forget that light also leaves straight shadows/glows; the edges of the glow are pretty unclear.

Obviously as painters we don't try to paint what a light glow ACTUALLY looks like (OSL would be a solid diluted colour, no drybrushing, wouldn't be so shadowed as many people exaggerate it due to global illumination, etc) but something that is pleasing to the eye rather.

Definitly less glow on the gun. its not going to go that far accross the gun. What you have there looks more like ice has spread over the gun's frame. Restrict it to what would be an inch away from the source of the light on the model. So just the very edges around the containment coils.

Try painting the area white then using a diluted wash. I use an Airbrush but you can get the same effect with matt medium to give your paint a translucent look.

Not sure what brand of paint you use so all these tips refer to Vellejo stuff.

I agree it looks naff. I might just paint out the "light" and keep the coils looking white/blue.

i'll play around and see what I like. i'm new to painting, and everything I do is for the first time; I think my imagination out reaches my skill