Technique Toolbox: Pre-Shading
May 27, 2014 by elromanozo
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Amazing! I’d never thought if using a number of undercoats in this manor. Would this method work if you were undercoating a large number if models at the same time? And could you use other colours instead of black/grey and white?
Thanks !
It does work on multiple miniatures at once. Search for my speed painting tutorial about necrons, and about a space marine, right here on Beasts of War ! Be careful, though not all colours are good primers.
Good vid, heard about people pre-shading with rattle can’s but never seen it done.
I look forward to Tuesdays. Always something good to download.
This is genius. I was brought up with the GW priming school of thought. White for light colours, black for dark. Spray even coats ALL over the model.
But this makes so much sense, I am embarrassed not to have figured it out.
I need to go build some new minis so I can have a go.
Nice job Romain.
I’m very flattered by everyone’s comments… thanks guys ! I try my best… 🙂
And remember, guys : short, controlled bursts !
Awesome video, short and sweet. I think I saw another of Romain’s videos on this topic on BoW from waaay back in the day, where he was pre-shading some kind of lizard-man type figure. My GF has a bunch of werecreature figures, I’ll make sure she sees this video to give her a head start (kind of new to miniature painting). As always, I love the “monologue” in these videos. “Chaps and chappesses,” “It is sooooo well ventilated in here, you wouldn’t believe it,” etc. I’ll admit to sneaking onto BoW at work sometimes, and a little bit of unconditional… Read more »
Well spotted ! I’m glad I could help ! 🙂
Love the serious facial expression while shaking the paint can!
Thanks ! One rarely looks smart when shaking cans, especially on video… I decided not to care.
I started doing this a few months ago (as I recall, I thought it up for myself but I may well have seen something somewhere before… probably did).
It works brilliantly for speed painting. Using thin washes of paints (see Romain’s other excellent videos) you can quickly get a great look for minimal effort. I use it a lot for horde things (in my case, recently, Bolt Action Soviets and the Genestealers from Space Hulk).
Great as usual Romain. Only thing I’d add is make sure your can is at room temperature, had some funky results when I’ve used a can that was stored at a cold temp.
Tuesday’s technique toolbox day is essential for all painters.
Indeed… I didn’t think of people in non-temperate climes who store their cans outside their house. Proper storage is, however, in the instructions on the can : never store in a hot place or somewhere too cold, to avoid risks of explosion, breaking, or issues with gas pressure, and such.
But thanks for the compliments ! 🙂
Temperature can haunt you. I had some problem trying to spray out side in a Canadian winter. It can be but you have to be quick.
An education as always Romain, thanks
Well that looked easy. But then again a professional always makes it seem so! Certainly a technique I never once considered or even would have imagined. Once again BoW (courtesy of Romain) encourages me to try something new. =)
Cool tip, i picked it up from your earlier tutorials, i just cant get the hang yet of using the pre-shade effectivly. Paint to thick, paint too thing, not sure.
Really ? I’m here if you have any questions, you know.
Okay, so quick question. Is there a box of like 20 of these poor armless blue Infinity cloak miniature guys sitting around the studio someplace? Romain should sign the bases and hawk them on eBay.
“This miniature was used ON SCREEN in a Romain Tool Tips video! £50 . . . going once! Going twice!”
Actually, these videos have been sponsored by Corvus Belli… They were kind enough to donate us a few of their Gabriele de Fersen Hospitaler Knight for me to work on.
Thanks to them, I actually have a really well sculpted miniature to work on, the better to show you all the details with ! This is ideal for a tutorial.
I believe we owe a lot of the success of this series to them ! 🙂
It seems like this technique would work especially well with using glazes, no?
It does… It works really well with inks and the secret weapon washes. The point of this tehnique is not only to pre-shade (to do all the shading for you before painting begins, basocally), but also offer a guide for you to use about highlighting your miniature (where the light should come from, which surface should you highlight, and so on). And that works with pretty much every technique ! 🙂
Another great tip from Romain! Now to find a miniature worthy of all these techniques!
Thanks ! The great thing is, you can do that with anything. Especially this pre-shading technique : it’s much faster for the rank and file. It enhances good details and hides the imperfections under black paint… It’s originally a speed paining technique ! 🙂
well i have to say yet another interesting technique.
I wonder, can you use this technique on furred creatures or will the multiple layers cause u to loose the detail? I’m interested in working on figures more than vehicles and shape-shifters and creatures are what my fledgling collection is filled with. I was hoping to learn a way to get 3D/”realistic” looking fur without needing a 2 hair brush and painting in between each and every hunk o air.
It works on fur just fine ! 🙂
I paint fur by using glazes and washes, and careful dry-brushing. No superfine brush required !
There’s a tutorial of mine on Beasts of War, you can look for it… I painted a wolf, to show how to paint fur. It’s already quite old, but it’s still valid, and it’s still there.
THANK YOU Monsieur Paint God!
Oh, flatterer… I’m just doing my job ! 🙂
Outstanding! This is one of my favorite tricks, it’s really fast and gets the mini off “on the right foot”. I’ve actually been using this for a while now, but with your tips on proper base coating and glazing I’ve seen a jump in my painting quality and I feel it’s gotten easier as well.
Thank you!
Thank you!
Thank you!
How kind ! Thanks ! 🙂
I only had the luxury of black & white primer but the effect was still really good thanks Romain! At worst it allows me to see the detail far easier than a black-primed model and had I had a middle tone like grey I could have done half the work at the undercoat stage!
Remember to follow Romain’s tutorials to the letter though. When he says to hold the can closer for the highlights, do it. Otherwise the dispersal will fill the nooks. And noone wants white stuff in their nooks!
Cheers Romain. Looking forward to learning more tricks 🙂