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Hi, I'm trying to improve my edge highlighting a little. At the moment I'm getting quite an inconsistent look, I do believe I've thinned my paints enough but for some reason I end up with a rough line. I know most of it comes down to practice as well.

I just wanted to make sure I'm using the correct brush for the job, I'm currently using a W&N Series 7 size 0. I find that it doesn't hold much paint, the bristles bend out of shape while highlighting and I'm thinking I need something firmer/stiffer.

Does anyone have any suggestions?

Thanks

That's the question of my hobby journeys and unfortunately I still did not find an answer... Many people will tell to "just use the side of the brush", but this does not work for 50% of the cases when you need to apply edge highlight. I tried Nevskaya Palitra (a russian alternative to W&N) and their size 1 is too thin to hold any paint at all. I tried with Insane Detail of army painter, again it is too thin... Someone suggested artificial brushes from GW, smallest size, but the price of this brush is insane.

this month's WD has an article on edge highlighting which you may find useful.

I use a #2 flat brush.

Using the edge is a good tip. But as mentioned there are times whereby you can't use the edge and have to paint a highlight in a 'normal' way. I would suggest having a dedicated edge highlighting brush for areas of which you use the edge of the brush (I also feel this gives on of the neatest lines) as this can wreck your brush overtime, and use your normal detailing brush for normal edge highlights.

Ultimately it comes down to practice but personally I wouldn't be using my best Windsor & Newton brush to edge highlight using the edge of the brush, rather I use it for details and layering etc.

HTH

I would suggest using a small brush with an angled, rather than pointed, tip.

Thamor wrote:
Hi, I'm trying to improve my edge highlighting a little. At the moment I'm getting quite an inconsistent look, I do believe I've thinned my paints enough but for some reason I end up with a rough line. I know most of it comes down to practice as well.

I just wanted to make sure I'm using the correct brush for the job, I'm currently using a W&N Series 7 size 0. I find that it doesn't hold much paint, the bristles bend out of shape while highlighting and I'm thinking I need something firmer/stiffer.

Does anyone have any suggestions?

Thanks

I would actually suggest that you go with a larger brush. It takes a little more control, but I find it has a better result.

I find the W&N S7 size 0 has a really small body, and is really only good for tiny spot highlights or something like eyes. Generally I prefer the size 1, or even the size 2 for just blocking in line highlights.

That is why I use #2 flats. Takes some practice, but find I can put highlights down faster and with more control vs a fine tipped brush

 Ifurita wrote:
That is why I use #2 flats. Takes some practice, but find I can put highlights down faster and with more control vs a fine tipped brush

Can you be a bit more specific. Different brush companies have different size measurement, some use numbers, other letters.

 DalinCriid wrote:

 Ifurita wrote:
That is why I use #2 flats. Takes some practice, but find I can put highlights down faster and with more control vs a fine tipped brush

Can you be a bit more specific. Different brush companies have different size measurement, some use numbers, other letters.

A brush around the size of a GW medium base brush (their smallest flat -- or more accurately, a filbert -- and non-angled) is ideal if you're using flats to edge highlight.

The advantage of a flat brush is that it holds its shape better than a round, as the bristles are much shorter and the brush is assembled differently.

The disadvantage of a flat brush is that natural bristles tend to form a point, which isn't desirable in flats; therefore, most flats are synthetic. And, that means they kink (though the life expectancy is pretty good compared to rounds).

So in a perfect world, I'd highlight my models with new, shiny flat brushes. But since my graveyard of flat brushes is plenty large already, I end up using sable round brushes.

Another possibility for edges on large models, like tanks and up, is one of the old GW round drybrushes (the blue-handled ones in the previous generation). They work really well, and they have good longevity, too.