When you have a hammer...
everything looks like a nail
Contrast paints
When you have a contrast paint… every model looks like it needs a thick coat.
When not to contrast paint
Some people believe that contrast paint is the one and only tool for everything. It’s not. No more than the hammer is a tool for every situation, only a thug would think in such a way. There is a reason that even Games-Workshop doesn’t recommend them for everything despite having the market cornered with their formula.
Flat Surfaces
Capes are a great example because you would think they are great for contrast paint but you would be wrong. At least they aren’t great for just contrast paint. First, apply a base layer and then at the very least drybrush your highlight and then you can apply a contrast because it will give the paint something to grip onto. See you may not see it but a micron’s difference means a lot when your a thinned paint. With large flat surfaces, the surface tension will break the contrast paint so it will split and separate. However, if you have that drybrush down first it has something to latch onto.
What is it good for?
Capes!
Like I said it’s large surface areas…
Each of those scales is a small surface area, same goes with fur and so and so on. It’s not the actual size of the model it’s about flat surface areas.
Don’t buy the hype
Contrast paints are by far, the least new painter friendly paints I know. Full stop. I don’t think recommending just them to new painters is a good idea even remotely. To get these paints to work properly you need to understand how paint flows, surface tension, pooling, values, and so many other basics of painting. Sure you can just contrast paint away… but I have news.
The ARMY PAINTER came out with that along time ago, its called dip washing.
Contrast paints all act in different ways and knowing how each of them flow is extremely important to their use.
So… big brain what is the answer?
Wash
No No NO! Wash! As in Washes!
Games-Workshop calls them Shades these days and many painters who paint only for table top will call them…
“Liquid Talent”
Shades are essentially just watered-down paints meant to flow easily into cracks and crevices just like contrast, but they lack that sticky and glossy quality that allows contrast to tint high areas giving the effect that it has highlighted the area. So they have that same tendency to pool. But you can more easily learn with these paints.
So, when is it not appropriate?
When you want to step up
I believe that editor didn’t get the memo that this is a miniature painting blog…
(Your the editor, yes the people know that, that is why the joke is funny. Your literally talking to yourself in text) Erhm. So
What does stepping up mean?
Well, the common vernacular means ‘To give extra effort or take on additional responsibilities, especially when doing so is critical’ though the Urban dictionary has a number of colourful different meanings…
When you're stepping up with your painting you are levelling up, showing your talent and so on. If you want to show you're a master builder you don’t go around hammering everything leaving two-dollar divets everywhere. You may do seamless joins and so on.
When your showing off your talent, you show that you understand a number of techniques but it doesn’t mean you throw away your hammer. Contrast paint is still a tool just not the one and only tool.