highlights

[lord marcus]

i'm scared. i don't want to destroy the paintjob with crappy highlighting, so i need help! any ideas?

[Githros]

Here is a tutorial video I watched the other day. He has some other ones that I've watched and thought were helpful, especially the one on glazing. It's so simple how he shows to do the techniques.

Highlighting link : 100_4945.flv - Video - Photobucket - Video and Image Hosting
Glazing Link : Video of Glazing - Photobucket - Video and Image Hosting

Hope they help man and good luck!

[hairyyahoo]

those vids ain't bad gith, but they ain't great either. the guy demonstrates the blending technique quite well but the placement of the highlights makes me shudder the results on the power armoured marines is that they look like models standing under a lamp rather than dynamic characters in their own right. if you were to take the process he describes and highlight each armour plate so that it's darker in the middle and lighter towards the edges i think it'll look much better.

marcus, the only way you're gonna get better at painting is to do it. try stuff out for yourself. sure you won't get it right to begin with but i garentee you you'll get better with practice. get a few models with the sole intention of using them to practice your painting on. that way if it doesn't work out the way you want it you won't have ruined a paint job you're proud of and if it does work out well then you can apply the things you've learned to the models you do care about

[Brother Warchild]

Looking threw our TUT's section this is def something we need to get a TUT on. Like Hairy said Dynamic Highlights

[hairyyahoo]

why do i sense a tute request coming my way in the very near future?

[Githros]

Originally Posted by hairyyahoo

those vids ain't bad gith, but they ain't great either. the guy demonstrates the blending technique quite well but the placement of the highlights makes me shudder the results on the power armoured marines is that they look like models standing under a lamp rather than dynamic characters in their own right. if you were to take the process he describes and highlight each armour plate so that it's darker in the middle and lighter towards the edges i think it'll look much better.

I agree, to me when he showed the final product the highlight just didn't seem...right. It looked like the top 2/3 of the shoulder pad was tooo bright compared to the darker 1/3 left. I'm sure it would have looked much better if the placement of how the light was gonna hit it with just a ceiling light compared to a light source designated right on top of the mini. I do think though that it shows a noob like myself at least the technique of highlighting(the process in which to do it).

marcus, the only way you're gonna get better at painting is to do it. try stuff out for yourself. sure you won't get it right to begin with but i garentee you you'll get better with practice. get a few models with the sole intention of using them to practice your painting on. that way if it doesn't work out the way you want it you won't have ruined a paint job you're proud of and if it does work out well then you can apply the things you've learned to the models you do care about

I couldn't agree more. Practice is what makes perfect. Try it on a couple of test models, if you don't have any you could try asking at the GW store for some of their test bits to try it on before you commit to a real model. This way you can try what works and what doesn't, and try out different spots where you get the best look that you like.

I did this when I was trying to get the shade of gold that I was going for my grey knights, and then went even further with different models trying out what colors look best with whatever colors you choose.
Good luck man and let us know how it goes!

[Rellik]

what are you trying not to ruin?

[hairyyahoo]

Originally Posted by githros

I do think though that it shows a noob like myself at least the technique of highlighting(the process in which to do it).

hell yeah it does, even i found it informative on that front

[the bearded snot]

I know some painters who don't highlight at all. Their first coat is the lighter one as they find it easier to shade a color than to highlight it. Can't say that I've tried this method as it is a big change from my usual one.
Aniway it's really like Hairyyahoo said, you can only progress through practice

[hairyyahoo]

Originally Posted by the bearded snot

I know some painters who don't highlight at all. Their first coat is the lighter one as they find it easier to shade a color than to highlight it. Can't say that I've tried this method as it is a big change from my usual one.
Aniway it's really like Hairyyahoo said, you can only progress through practice

so they work backwards from the lightest tone to the shadowed recesses? i imagine that technique features inks and washes quite heavily

[Rellik]

Originally Posted by the bearded snot

I know some painters who don't highlight at all. Their first coat is the lighter one as they find it easier to shade a color than to highlight it. Can't say that I've tried this method as it is a big change from my usual one.
Aniway it's really like Hairyyahoo said, you can only progress through practice

i read about this i forget where but the end result is gorgeous!

[the bearded snot]

Originally Posted by hairyyahoo

so they work backwards from the lightest tone to the shadowed recesses? i imagine that technique features inks and washes quite heavily

Yes, backwards to the shadow. For best result, they use multiple coats of heavily diluted paints. The consistancy of a wash, but without washing the area, rather painting as usual

[Prince of the Night]

Highlights are rather easy to achieve, as long as you keep it simple.
Example: if you want to highlight blue, ONLY use 2 colors. Your darker or base color and than your final highlight color, a lighter shade of the base color. While painting each layer, just add a little of the lighter color to your mix until your final highlight.


In this example, the skin was achieved by using this method. This can be applied to any color combo and style.