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.

I've seen a few tutorials where painters use inks - but they rarely seem to say why exactly, hmmmmm....

I'm thinking expanding my paint collection to include a few inks and try to use them but I'm not sure what for. I just like the idea of having an expanded repertoire of effects and techniques. But before I do I'm wondering if anybody might like to share their experiences. What do you use inks for? When do you turn to inks instead of paints? What effects can you achieve? And which ink range do you recommend?

Curious to hear any thoughts on this....

Inks/shades/washes/tints/filters/contrast paints all work kinda the same, but with different properties.

Washes mostly go into the recesses, but will tint the surfaces some.
Inks will pool in the deeps, but generally do a more even job tinting the overall model.
Contrast paints do a bit of both.

By and large you don't use inks straight out of the jar. You thin them.

What you thin them with and how much you thin them has a big impact on what they do. Lightly thinning ink with paint medium can substitute for paint, especially through an airbrush. More thinned dark colors are good washes, and thinned light colors are good glazes. The right combination of water, medium, flow enhancer, and ink makes what is essentially contrast paint.

I use artists inks to thin regular paint instead of water when I want a super saturated colour.
You can also do this with contrast paints.

I use inks through an airbrush primarily. Their high pigmentation means they can be thinned waaaay down so you can do some interesting things like glazes and effects like OSL. I used to use white ink for zenithal priming and white armour but I prefer Tamiya acrylic-lacquers for that now.

I particularly love inks over metallics to get metallic versions of the ink. The glossy properties of ink helps maintain the sheen you want too.

I also mix white ink into my highlights so they have good coverage and don't dry out on the brush.