Forum adverts like this one are shown to any user who is not logged in. Join us by filling out a tiny 3 field form and you will get your own, free, dakka user account which gives a good range of benefits to you: No adverts like this in the forums anymore. Times and dates in your local timezone. Full tracking of what you have read so you can skip to your first unread post, easily see what has changed since you last logged in, and easily see what is new at a glance. Email notifications for threads you want to watch closely. Being a part of the oldest wargaming community on the net. If you are already a member then feel free to login now.

Is it possible to water down metallic layer paints, such as Castellax Bronze, and will this give a faded/washed out effect?

Have large parts of a Dreadnought to paint, but don't want it all that bright/clear.

Or would it be better to use the layer paint as normal and then put a wash over it?

Thanks.

Watering paint down doesn't dull it. If you want to dull a paint, you need to apply a wash, glaze, or filter over the top..

It's going to come out blotchy.

Better to wash over it.

Thin it with medium (Not water) and try it over a test surface. I think you’re going to get more of a sparkly effect with that bright bronze. Do you have a real life picture of a surface you’re trying to replicate?

If you’re trying to get a old bronze look where it’s coming out from under corrosion or paint then you want to stipple it on in patches with a makeup sponge.

I've had success mixing inks and metallics. That's what I'd try if you want to mix something, since I don't think you really want too much medium in there, that will make it more transparent.

But to get it "dull" I think your best bet is a wash over the top though, so your metallic will still cover well. An "ink wash" might be even better, but totally depends on who "dull" you want it to get.

I would second that medium should be added not so much water.
I find GW paints tend to be a fair bit transparent so i tend to paint a similar non-metallic colour underneath first.
I find that first step helps better define any edge of a metallic paint colour.

What effect are you trying to achieve? Do you want to change the colour, or the amount of glitter? If you want to keep the 'pure' metallic colour, but lose some of the glitter, then you need to thin it with a medium or mix in a paint that is an identical, but non-metallic version of the same colour.


If you want to change the colour, but keep the same amount of glitter, then you can put a thin wash or glaze over metals to adjust them, but over large smooth surfaces it can have problems with coffee staining.


A more controlled approach is to use a thin glaze - more viscous than a wash, but still pretty translucent - over the top of your metals. If you have some glaze medium or similar, these are easy to make from your existing colours. I don't like to use just water to make a glaze because I find it hard to control.


Another approach is to mix an ink in with your metallic before you apply it. The intense pigment in inks means you don't need much and so you won't change the properties of the metallic, but you can shift the colour quite significantly. I will often add blue ink to silver, or red/brown to gold if the 'pure' metal colours I have don't look quite right.

Thanks for the tips everyone. I think putting a wash over the top looks like the best way to go, but I might try some ink and paint mixing on some test surfaces.

You could always mix the metallic colour with a non-metallic matte one. I do this loads.

As suggested, you’ll want a solid metal base. Otherwise it will look splotchy.

Put a wash overtop and then dry brush up to brighten the ridges / flat plates.