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2019/10/06 21:04:50
Subject: Apothecary White Contrast Paint - is it Actually White?
About a month ago I picked up a couple of the new contrast paints - Apothecary White and whatever the Black one is called.
Recently I get around to actually using them. The black one seems fine but the white one just looks grey. In fact, I used it on a model that had been sprayed with Grey Seer and the parts I'd painted with Apothecary White looked basically identical to the parts that were still just Grey Seer.
Am I doing something wrong or is the name of this paint incredibly misleading?
2019/10/06 21:49:52
Subject: Apothecary White Contrast Paint - is it Actually White?
queen_annes_revenge wrote: its supposed to be a shade for white, so its a blue grey colour. I applied it over pure white for the wings on sanguinius.
Oh okay.
That's literally the opposite of what I've seen in GW's instructions and promotional releases (which both advised Grey Seer as an undercoat and even showed what was apparently Apothecary White on Grey Seer and which looked actually white)..
2019/10/06 22:06:18
Subject: Apothecary White Contrast Paint - is it Actually White?
I'm still playing with contrast myself, but none of them look in the least like they do in the bottle when applied to a mini.
But what you have to remember about the white in particular is that you can't highlight it, by definition. So therefore the only way to add depth is to add shade, and that's what apothecary white does. The contrast primers are both off whites, one warm, one cold, but the easiest way to make a colour look brighter is put a darker shade next to it, so it wouldn't surprise me if grey seer, an almost white, looks pure white when shaded by apothecary white.
I haven't found a single colour I'm happy to just paint on and leave though. Contrast is hugely useful for heavily textured areas like fur or hair, but outside of that I only find it useful to pick out the peaks and troughs, which I then further refine with conventional paint.
Maybe with more practice I'll refine the rechnique, but we're I tackling wings right now, I'd still add a highlight of proper white, even if it was just a light drybrush.
We find comfort among those who agree with us - growth among those who don't. - Frank Howard Clark
The wise man doubts often, and changes his mind; the fool is obstinate, and doubts not; he knows all things but his own ignorance.
The correct statement of individual rights is that everyone has the right to an opinion, but crucially, that opinion can be roundly ignored and even made fun of, particularly if it is demonstrably nonsense!” Professor Brian Cox
This CamoSpecs video should give you an idea of what Apothecary White looks like:
'It is a source of constant consternation that my opponents cannot correlate their innate inferiority with their inevitable defeat. It would seem that stupidity is as eternal as war.'
- Nemesor Zahndrekh of the Sautekh Dynasty Overlord of the Crownworld of Gidrim
2019/10/06 22:47:48
Subject: Apothecary White Contrast Paint - is it Actually White?
But what you have to remember about the white in particular is that you can't highlight it, by definition. So therefore the only way to add depth is to add shade, and that's what apothecary white does. The contrast primers are both off whites, one warm, one cold, but the easiest way to make a colour look brighter is put a darker shade next to it, so it wouldn't surprise me if grey seer, an almost white, looks pure white when shaded by apothecary white.
But this is my whole point - it *doesn't* look pure white. It doesn't look white, period. If anything it looks like I've painted Grey Seer with more Grey Seer.
Maybe with more practice I'll refine the rechnique, but we're I tackling wings right now, I'd still add a highlight of proper white, even if it was just a light drybrush.
I hope I don't have to resort to that because drybrushing was exactly what I was trying to avoid with white contrast paint.
2019/10/06 23:19:42
Subject: Apothecary White Contrast Paint - is it Actually White?
I've played with it, and I don't think I'll be using AW for white very often instead of my usual recipe(s.)
Contrast has its uses, but I'm glad I dipped into it rather than buying the hype and spending a fortune, I've yet to try a few ideas I've had, so it may redeem itself, but it honestly just doesn't provide results I'm happy with. Perhaps were I a bit less far down the painting road I may feel differently.
We find comfort among those who agree with us - growth among those who don't. - Frank Howard Clark
The wise man doubts often, and changes his mind; the fool is obstinate, and doubts not; he knows all things but his own ignorance.
The correct statement of individual rights is that everyone has the right to an opinion, but crucially, that opinion can be roundly ignored and even made fun of, particularly if it is demonstrably nonsense!” Professor Brian Cox
I found that Apothecary White needs a highlight afterwards, more so than many of the other contrast paints.
It doesn't take much though. Just a single white highlight layer afterwards does the trick.
2019/10/07 05:07:33
Subject: Apothecary White Contrast Paint - is it Actually White?
at the end of the day, there will never be a quick way to paint white. if you want a smooth white, you gotta put the time in and get those layers down.
Heresy World Eaters/Emperors Children 
