Paint/ Ink Washes

[Night Shadow]

Are paint / ink washes overrated? I don't know I never really tried, when I try to shade in where for example where two armor platies meets on a Space Marine I always directly paint the shade in, not wash it. Is washing a very good technique, or when your skills grow, do you find yourslef just directly painting the shade inyourself if you can grasp what I am saying about directly painting it, sometimes I have a hhard time explaining myself.

[Baron von Lexus]

I think washing and direct painting can both be used ot acheive the same effect and the only reaon I've been doign soe washing recently is to learn and perfect how to do it. I normally dont like the glossyness it sometimes leaves behind but thats something you have to master.

I dotn really see an advantage of one over the other.

BvL

[liveevil2000]

I do both.

I like washes because it gives you that accidental art. Sometimes the wash does something you didnt expect and its good. As for painting it on. I do that too, in combination with the washes.

I dont think washes are overrated at all. You just have to go with what feels right to you and what look you are going for.

I like some commercially made washes that are out there. But I usually make my own. I feel I have better control.

My 2 cents

[Night Shadow]

I guess like was said, you just half to master it, because I go on google and look up pics and I see were people shaded and it looks like there is just to much of it. So I didn't know if it really was like overkill, but you just half to master it like everything else.

[Sir_Servo]

I love washes. For me the organic feel that you get from just dropping was onto an area and have it fall to where it may brings out depth that I might not have seen before. Now unlike some of my friends. I don't finish with a wash. I usually do a wash half way through so that I can Highlight where I need to and that drastically cuts down on that glossy look that was stated eairlyer in the thread.

My two cents,
Servo

[r4wr89]

yea i think it's one of those things you have to learn to use in moderation, i guess...but do people use it for heavily armored models very much ?

[Sir_Servo]

Originally Posted by r4wr89

yea i think it's one of those things you have to learn to use in moderation, i guess...but do people use it for heavily armored models very much ?

As I have yet to paint a GW vehicle I can't speak for that, but as far as Flames Of War is considered I use it in moderation.

When I paint Treads I will paint them a bright silver and then black ink them and then go over with a few different color browns to simulate dirt/mud.

Servo

[liveevil2000]

Here is an example of a piece I did and once you hit it with 2 coats of matte. You will never see the gloss.


Look at the bottom of the tank's side near the tread. You will see where it pooled in the corners slightly to give a dirty look. The camo here was all airbrushed so a wash with very light pigmentation is the right tool. It also fills the joints between plates and rivets.

Note the areas between his glove and the sleeve of his coat. That is not black lined it is the wash settling in.

If you take note of the leather on the sides of the turret. You can see the highs and lows of the bag.

Experiment with washes. Remember you dont have to use it straight out of its container. Try thinning it out on your brush with some water. See what that does. I think I might have made more containers of different color washes than I care to list. The best way to learn is to do. Get some junky minis you dont care about and play around with it.

Here is a definition I found in the Painters Dictionary which helped me out when I first started using washes.

A wash is a thin layer of ink or watered down paint (usually a darker shade of the colour being washed over) that runs into the recesses of the miniature creating shadows.

[Baron von Lexus]

He where did you get Krieg evil??

[munkey joe paints]

I agree It has its uses and BOTH are great for some things. I yend to steer from GW inks as I dont really like them but I do use some commercial washes and make my own. when speed painting or doing a low end army for a customer I use washes. and I will always use washes on tanks and bases as I like the effect!

[Brother Warchild]

I read somewhere that the new GW ink is coming in the same pots as the foundation paints(bad idea) and they are cutting a few of the colors like brown and a couple others just cant remember right know.I also use a mid way wash then highlight,i have been learning slowly about ink and its color uses but it does add alot to a mini.

[Warmaster Romulas]

i know this is off topic but what a killer avatar munkey
where did you get it from?

[munkey joe paints]

Originally Posted by Warmaster Romulas

i know this is off topic but what a killer avatar munkey
where did you get it from?

WELLL my good buddy (Warchild) was surfin the net and saw it. he thought of me and PMed it to me. I thought it was the COOLEST EVVA!!! so I put it as my avatar!

And on topic.... anything in the GW or foundation pait pots is a bad idea!

[Rellik]

i like using inks, and foundatuons as well. once you get the hang of it it works wonders

[liveevil2000]

Originally Posted by Baron von Lexus

He where did you get Krieg evil??

I did that for somebody a few months back. He needed 2 tanks done before an RT and he only had 1 week to get it done. Soooooooooo ... that's where I came in.

[hairyyahoo]

when i use inks and washes it's mostly to aid the blending process rather than to shade a colour.

and about the new inks thing i had that confirmed by the manager of my local gw, he's been ranting and raving for a couple of weeks about how cool they'll be. non glossy, non pooling and yes in the new foundation pots. and we will be loosing some of the colour range but it'll be the ones that are least used.