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Made in gb
Dakka Veteran





My painting is a decent standard id give myself a 6 or 7 out of ten but I cannot see for the life of me how people on Instagram paint their absolutely amazing minis. They can do super close ups and they look perfect.

So I was wondering, does anyone use a magnification aid to do mega details? My eyesight is fine but I can't understand how the tiny details are so good!
   
Made in us
Regular Dakkanaut





My eyesight is getting worse, I have a magnifying-light thing that I use for even not-so-tiny details, checking for mold lines, even some assembly tasks. I need a better one, but haven't seen any good ones that aren't $$$. I've also done the head-mounted magnifier thing, but it' slight was garbage (I ended up sticking a flashlight on the side, but I just need to pony up the $ for a better one with a nice LED on it)
   
Made in ca
Nurgle Predator Driver with an Infestation





Antioch Illinois

Coh Magnussen wrote:
My eyesight is getting worse, I have a magnifying-light thing that I use for even not-so-tiny details, checking for mold lines, even some assembly tasks. I need a better one, but haven't seen any good ones that aren't $$$. I've also done the head-mounted magnifier thing, but it' slight was garbage (I ended up sticking a flashlight on the side, but I just need to pony up the $ for a better one with a nice LED on it)


Same. Really good light goes a long way.
   
Made in us
Nurgle Chosen Marine on a Palanquin





Best head mounted magnifier is the Optivisor. I use the #5 lens for general painting but when it comes to doing a really clean job on small details go with the #7 or #10 lenses. Lenses make a big difference with getting the (thinned) paint exactly where you want it.
   
Made in us
Nimble Skeleton Charioteer





timd wrote:
Best head mounted magnifier is the Optivisor. I use the #5 lens for general painting but when it comes to doing a really clean job on small details go with the #7 or #10 lenses. Lenses make a big difference with getting the (thinned) paint exactly where you want it.


I have something very similar from a lifetime ago when my best friend was an apprentice jeweler and pushed me into lapidary.
   
Made in us
Sure Space Wolves Land Raider Pilot





NYC

Headmounted Magnifying Visor.

It's a must have. You can increase your painting quality immensely just by using one. I have one from Amazon for $11 with a little flip down extra magnifier for painting eyes and faces.


Automatically Appended Next Post:
Headmounted Magnifying Visor.

It's a must have. You can increase your painting quality immensely just by using one. I have one from Amazon for $11 with a little flip down extra magnifier for painting eyes and faces.

This message was edited 1 time. Last update was at 2018/09/14 15:25:16


 
   
Made in us
Legendary Master of the Chapter






I cant stand using optics.

dunno why but it gives me a head ache

one thing i remember some one saying here was to take pictures. lots of them

a phone camera will pick up lot of mistakes you may have missed.


 Unit1126PLL wrote:
 Scott-S6 wrote:
And yet another thread is hijacked for Unit to ask for the same advice, receive the same answers and make the same excuses.

Oh my god I'm becoming martel.
Send help!

 
   
Made in us
The Marine Standing Behind Marneus Calgar





Upstate, New York

 Desubot wrote:
one thing i remember some one saying here was to take pictures. lots of them

a phone camera will pick up lot of mistakes you may have missed.



That damn evil camera!

I recently got a Brighttech lamp (they gave a few away for reviews). I feel like I’m getting all the criticism of the final pics, but in real time when I can still do something about it. Or at least try. I’m still getting used to it, banging the back of my brush against it and messing with the focus depth and posture. But I feel it helps. Some of that might just be the painting in better light (which it also helps with a lot).

   
Made in gb
Furious Fire Dragon





Midlands, UK

I tried a magnifying setup once and while I could see everything much bigger and clearer, it really messed with my depth perception and I struggled to actually get the paint where I wanted it. So I ditched it almost immediately and ever since I've just made sure I've had good light.

   
Made in us
Combat Jumping Ragik






Beyond the Beltway

Get some reading glasses, +2.75 or +3.00. Fairly cheap and effective. I use them. They do not mess with my depth perception the way a single magnifying lens does.

 
   
Made in gb
Shas'la with Pulse Carbine





Norwich

I find I can't paint with one, I picked up one of theose helping hand magnifiers with the crocodile clips.

It made my painting worse because my brain couldn't determine how far I was from the miniature so I ended up getting paint in places I didn't want it.

But that's just me, everyone's different

Red Harvest

While a good idea with the reading glasses, they shouldn't be used for long periods of time, the human body has a horrible way of adapting to changing conditions over time and your eyesight shouldn't be one of them

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Made in pt
Hallowed Canoness





The Void

I have a head mounted magnifier for extreme detail work. I like it. They really do help a lot.

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Lemme at least leave a good hoof beat they'll remember loud and long


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Made in si
Camouflaged Zero






I use these magnifying glasses. I can't paint without them anymore, especially cause I mostly paint Infinity minis.









This message was edited 1 time. Last update was at 2018/09/16 13:46:06


 
   
Made in us
Regular Dakkanaut





Sweet, I'm glad you like those Modock -- A few days back I ordered a similar set off Amazon. I like the opti-visor style, but couldn't find one at a reasonable price that also included the light, and I find the extra light to be essential.

This message was edited 1 time. Last update was at 2018/09/16 12:52:40


 
   
Made in gb
Stalwart Ultramarine Tactical Marine





Stevenage, UK

 Modock wrote:
I use these magnifying glasses. I can't paint without them anymore, especially when I mostly paint Infinity minis.



Any chance of a brand/model name on these dude, they look great.

Ta,
Rikk
   
Made in si
Camouflaged Zero






 Rik Lightstar wrote:
 Modock wrote:
I use these magnifying glasses. I can't paint without them anymore, especially when I mostly paint Infinity minis.



Any chance of a brand/model name on these dude, they look great.

Ta,
Rikk


I don't think they are a specific brand more like a generic chinese "model". I bought them last year and I paid about 20€ for them. The seller I bought it from doesn't have them anymore.
I think they are exactly like these ones, https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/362419307223 .

The only thing that bothers me is that the 2.5X and 3.5X lenses aren't practical cause I have to hold the mini too close to the eyes.
But 2X or less are great.

Now you can get them even cheaper, for the money they are perfect.

This message was edited 2 times. Last update was at 2018/09/16 14:06:00


 
   
Made in gb
Stalwart Ultramarine Tactical Marine





Stevenage, UK

 Modock wrote:


I don't think they are a specific brand more like a generic chinese "model". I bought them last year and I paid about 20€ for them. The seller I bought it from doesn't have them anymore.
I think they are exactly like these ones, https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/362419307223 .

The only think that bothers me is that the 2.5X and 3.5X lenses aren't practical cause I have to hold the mini too close to the eyes.
But 2X or less are great.

Now you can get them even cheaper, for the money they are perfect.


Legend, thank you, ordered some for under £10

Rikk
   
Made in gb
Leader of the Sept







Cool. I just picked up one as well. Now I can pretend I'm wearing NV goggles while painting

Please excuse any spelling errors. I use a tablet frequently and software keyboards are a pain!

Terranwing - w3;d1;l1
51st Dunedinw2;d0;l0
Cadre Coronal Afterglow w1;d0;l0 
   
Made in ca
Fixture of Dakka





Surrey, BC - Canada

I just bought some cheap reading glasses from a drug store and instant improvement. You can even try on different strengths to find what is best for you.

Cheers,

CB

   
Made in fi
Hoary Long Fang with Lascannon




Finland

If you get a LED lamp with a magnifying glass, don't go over 3 dioptres. I got one with 5 dioptres. The magnification is fine but the focal point is so close to the lamp that your paint brush is going to hit the lamp 24/7 and that will feth up your painting. And yeah depth perception is pretty hard with it too.

Then I got me some cheap reading glasses (+2.00) from a pharmacy, and that really helps focusing up close.

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3500
2000 
   
Made in gb
Basecoated Black




East Midlands

I returned to painting after a 30 year break. I found that good lighting cleared up most of my sight problems.

Having good light overhead with a couple of strong adjustable lights left and right helped immensely.

Working with big piece of white card on my desk behind the model makes resolving the model edges and the tip of the brush easier.
   
Made in us
Combat Jumping Ragik






Beyond the Beltway

Presbyopia. One of the things it does is make details harder to see in dimmer light. My Dr tells me the eye cannot dilate enough anymore. My painting table is white. I use good lighting too.

 
   
 
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