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This isn't for anything in particular (a few ideas are swimming around in my head) but I was thinking about how to achieve a hammered metal texture like this, or more obviously, this.

With the latter where the hammer points are obvious, I would think it's just a case of a fairly decent layer of putty being worked over with a right-sized sculpting tool (greatest description ever) but how would you go about achieving the more subtle effect, especially on a flatter surface than the example bowl?

Steiner wrote:
This isn't for anything in particular (a few ideas are swimming around in my head) but I was thinking about how to achieve a hammered metal texture like this, or more obviously, this.

With the latter where the hammer points are obvious, I would think it's just a case of a fairly decent layer of putty being worked over with a right-sized sculpting tool (greatest description ever) but how would you go about achieving the more subtle effect, especially on a flatter surface than the example bowl?

I haven't tried it, but off the top of my head I would think that establishing a medium metallic colour and then lightly stippling in a slightly darker, then a slightly lighter, metallic could work really nicely.

I would try to mess with the surface before painting and see how it works out

Okay, if I get the chance to experiment I'll update you on how it goes. Got some relevant stuff on order so hopefully the wait won't be long

could you do something like this


and then before it dries use the end of a paintbrush to add the hammer texture on top?

For the subtle effect I would just commit to painting the effect very carefully by hand, following the lights and darks of your subject photo.

I've achieved a simalar effect by covering the surface with a very thin layer of green stuff, and pressing the textured surface of a GW base into it.

Steiner wrote:
With the latter where the hammer points are obvious, I would think it's just a case of a fairly decent layer of putty being worked over with a right-sized sculpting tool (greatest description ever) but how would you go about achieving the more subtle effect, especially on a flatter surface than the example bowl?

Same method, but more... subtle?

Martin Kovacs' vids are excellent. Only just started watching after someone here on Dakka linked them, and I've no intention to start tank modelling, but it's something to watch his desired effects materialise. Personally I might go with Rihgu's suggestion, although I wonder if tapping with a sculpting tool might be a bit too slow compared to stippling with a brush, especially when that brush is soaked in the solvent that's keeping everything going. In that case I wonder if a thin layer of some putty with a longer working window would help. That or do a patch at a time.

Just spitballin', but to get the very subtle effect of the first bowl, I think the 'right-sized sculpting tool' might have to be something with a fairly shallow convex surface or a large diameter, else you could too easily end up with the effect of the beaten tabletop. A paintbrush with a broad butt-end, as above, the small end of a wax carver, or a paper embosser/dotting tool with a large ball head.

Thanks for the suggestions. My sculpting tools are very basic and truth be told I have very little experience with it outside of smoothing work when filling gaps, so it's great to hear the recommendations of where to look. I'll let you know when I get round to trying how it goes!

I achieved a beaten metal look on the shield and breastplate of this orc by using one of Darren Lathams tutorials.


This one in fact.

Rather then using greens, I used a number of silvers.