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G'day guys

I'm just getting started using contrast and I'm planning on doing an army using shyish purple as the main base colour over a metallic undercoat. How thickly should I be putting it on? should I be doing multiple layers or just one singular coat? Can I still highlight using regular paints (was gonna go with like xereus purple then genestealer purple for highlights). I'm still trying to get the hang of contrast in general but I don't have many spare models to test it out on and I'd rather not muck up any of my main ones if I can avoid it.

Thanks for the help

Shyish purple is dark, I would dilute it plenty and do layers until you’re happy.

Best results I've seen is airbrushed contrast over metallics but you can definitely do it using a brush too. Go for thin layers and build up to what you want.

Someone did a video and it seemed viable... I'm curious about using it to achieve and easy bronze effect.

I’ve done some fleshtearer over runefang. It works best diluted with contrast medium- you still get the coverage and the gathering in the cracks, but neat it covers too well and you barely get metallic shine through.
Haven’t used Shyish though.

My 'contrast over metallic base' experiment turned out like this. That was just a single, generous layer of contrast over Army Painter Plate Metal spray.

Painting it on in light coats will remove the pooling effect that the contrast paints are specifically designed for, but may let you build up successive shading layers like a heavy glaze... I have yet to experiment with that.

But yes, there's nothing stopping you from highlighting over the top of it.

I asked a similar question when they first came out and some other folks posted some helpful examples in the thread linked below. Hope it helps...

https://www.dakkadakka.com/dakkaforum/posts/list/776645.page

 insaniak wrote:
My 'contrast over metallic base' experiment turned out like this. That was just a single, generous layer of contrast over Army Painter Plate Metal spray.

Painting it on in light coats will remove the pooling effect that the contrast paints are specifically designed for, but may let you build up successive shading layers like a heavy glaze... I have yet to experiment with that.

But yes, there's nothing stopping you from highlighting over the top of it.

You could also try highlighting the metallic colour before applying the Contrast.

From what I've seen, you end up with quite a smooth sheen. I'm considering trying Black Templar or Basilicanum Grey over Grey Seer or a similar grey base then drybrushing lightly with silver for a different metallic effect.

Make sure any metallic layer is _very_ dry (not just touch-dry) before adding any layers on top - otherwise, the metallic surface may dissolve slightly, giving odd-looking results.

As others have suggested, I frequently highlight a metallic layer before adding a shading layer, but the shading layer will flatten out all underlying colours a little, meaning you should deliberately slightly over-do the highlighting in expectation of the desired result after shading. Yes, you can add further highlighting after shading, but that can be awkward with so many layers underleath.

The video where Chris Peach uses Talassar Blue over Reyributor Armour, the Contrast paint is thinned two parts Contrast medium to one part Contrast paint.

 Tyranid Horde wrote:
Best results I've seen is airbrushed contrast over metallics but you can definitely do it using a brush too. Go for thin layers and build up to what you want.

I dont understand how you can spray contrast paints and get the same effect :S. How do you get it to flow in to the recess etc like that?. Or even if its not supposed to go in recess, how is air spraying it supposed to work as apposed to thinned regular paint air spray?

Thank you so much, bless your heart.

 Stormatious wrote:
I dont understand how you can spray contrast paints and get the same effect

When you're painting Contrast paints over a metallic base you're not looking for the same effect as you would if you're using Contrast for a one coat base and highlight.

Oh ok thanks.

Thanks for all the good advice y'all, I'm gonna give it a go with some contrast medium and see what kinda result I get

 Stormatious wrote:

 Tyranid Horde wrote:
Best results I've seen is airbrushed contrast over metallics but you can definitely do it using a brush too. Go for thin layers and build up to what you want.

I dont understand how you can spray contrast paints and get the same effect :S. How do you get it to flow in to the recess etc like that?. Or even if its not supposed to go in recess, how is air spraying it supposed to work as apposed to thinned regular paint air spray?

Thank you so much, bless your heart.

It doesn't work like it does when brushed, that's generally the point of airbrushing them as you're after the transparency of the paint rather than the recess shading you would normally get. Think of it like a candy paint or Tamiya clear colour. If you want shading you go in after and work it up.