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.

What do people here normally use for adhering pigments to bases? I've heard you can use Isopropyl alcohol, but that it might not fix the pigments well enough for frequent handling. Please correct me if I'm wrong.

I've been looking at pigment fixers designed for the task of fixing pigments, and I see that most of them are enamel-based. However, I found one from Green Stuff World that says "Acrylic pigment binder for fixing pigments onto your models." Anyone got experience with this one and/or the enamel-based ones?

I don't use anything. Everything I've tried has affected the appearance of the pigment. Not necessarily negatively, but enough to remove the dusty effect that I want. I've heard good things about speciality pigment fixers, but I'm dubious. Never tried them myself yet.

Similar experience to the above post. Anything that truly "fixes" the pigment affects the finish so much that it may as well not be dry pigment imo. If the pigment is resting in the crevices in basing sand or something similar then it'll stay fixed just fine. As long as the pigment isn't on an exposed, flat surface that might get rubbed against then you'll be okay.

I've had mediocre success with Mig pigment fixer. But as stated, all fixers will more or less alter the pigemntation, for better or worse.

This doesn't sound too promising.. thanks for the input. What I'm looking for is exactly the dusty effect dry pigment gives. Oh well, I'll try a pigment fixer and see what happens.

Yeah, my attempts to use pigment fixer for exactly that purpose was that it had the same effect as varnish - i.e. the dusty effect entirely disappeared.

Pigment fixer is good for thick mud effects, but dusty sandy ones? No.

You can still use your pigments. They will stick to surfaces that are rough enough, even with handling. If you need to top then up you can always do so. The dust will settle in crevices, which is where you want it anyway.

 queen_annes_revenge wrote:
You can still use your pigments. They will stick to surfaces that are rough enough, even with handling. If you need to top then up you can always do so. The dust will settle in crevices, which is where you want it anyway.

That's good to hear. If I'm not satisified with the finish after use of pigment fixer, I'll definitely try that.