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Painting - Tattoo's

TomB - May 19, 2004 - 11:20 AM
Post subject: Tattoo's

anyone got any tips on painting tattoo's onto miniatures.

I have tried many a time and they have came out a blur. I really want to get it right. any hints would be greatly appreciated

thanks

Grasshopper - May 19, 2004 - 11:43 AM
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Kodagraph fine point pen.

What type of tat's are you thinking about?

crazylegs - May 19, 2004 - 11:48 AM
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There's methods that have success with:

1.) Easier - Micron Pens. They are available in many hobby stores, and come in a good variety of colors (too bad not white). You just "draw" on the tatoos, being careful not to rub the ink until you've sealed it, because they will smudge.

2.) Harder, but better looking - Start with a darker color (you can use micron pens). Paint/Draw the outline of the tatoos. Next take a lighter shade of that color and highlight the raised areas that the tatoo covers. Use as many layers as you feel comfortable with.

The 1st method works fine on smaller areas, or very thin tatoos, but once you cover more area (like 1/2 a slayer face, etc...) you want to highlight as well as it will look funny otherwise.

As a final note, use as thin of paint as you can, as this will help give the effect of the tatoo being "in" the skin. If you don't thin your paints it will make the tatoos look a bit raised, and that will ruin the illusion that you're trying to achieve.

TomB - May 19, 2004 - 12:17 PM
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ive never used pens b4. I always tried using very fine paint brushes. thanks 4 the advice.

KLK - May 19, 2004 - 02:49 PM
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use pens. I use pens for many things: tatoos, details, numbers...

juck101 - May 19, 2004 - 05:29 PM
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i used to use pens but found they were bit rubbish really.
Much better option paint and brush and 20years of pratice Smile

If brush use paint mixted with about 10%water which gives a nice smouth edge.

KLK - May 20, 2004 - 03:03 PM
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OK, when I have 20 years of practice, I'll tell you about my results... now, I only have 2 years of practice... Crying or Very sad

..t3clis.. - May 20, 2004 - 03:19 PM
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Wow boyz, I thought that using pens was cheating Very Happy

Well, if painters that are better than me use pens, I'll give it a shot ASAP (or ASAICAT -> As Soon As I Could Afford That) Trophy

crazylegs - May 20, 2004 - 08:50 PM
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I actually agree with juck101, I just suggested the pens as an idea, because if you don't have alot of experince painting small details, the pens are easier to control. Once you have better brush control, paint thinned to the consistency of milk with some highlight layers will look better, but until then pens are a good substitute, and can look real good.

Traveller - May 21, 2004 - 05:38 AM
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... one of my ogres at my site of the 2.ed minis got some Tattoos. (Ok, it´s not a BB ogre, just the "Pitfighter" Wink

). These are painted not using pens. Not the best, but nice enough for the moment.

Traveller

Tojurub - May 24, 2004 - 04:18 AM
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I haven't used a pen yet, but I was thinking about it quite often, because the GW brushes I have have this nasty habbit of slitting at the tip after I used it for just a few days. I'm trrying to be super careful in storage and cleaning of the brushes, but they still split...very annoying....does anybody have some ideas what (fine) brushes are best for these details?

Khaine - May 24, 2004 - 02:47 PM
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Tojurub wrote:

I use all my GW brushes I've gotten with paint sets or as freebies as dry brushes as their natural tendancy to reek rear as far as lasting long enough to paint anything worth while seem to actually make them better for scrubbing paint to a reasonable level for drybrusheing. I personally use any "Decent" non GW brush tendind to stick twards nylons and synthetic brush types just because they tend to last a bit longer and keep shape a tiny bit better imho.

Inaspin - Sep 10, 2004 - 03:33 AM
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Be bold...that's my advice. No good painting tiny details which are lost to the eye at a distance of 6 inches. Bold, simple, not to much on the body and v thin blacklining. The Albion Truthsayer from Dark Shadoes was a good example I thought.

Does anyone know a link to buy the pen mentioned above...I'd be interested in trying that...?

GalakStarscraper - Sep 10, 2004 - 09:26 AM
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Innerspin wrote:

Does anyone know a link to buy the pen mentioned above...I'd be interested in trying that...?

Here are my two best friends in my universe for doing eyes and really fine detail.

WINSOR & NEWTON SERIES 7 KOLINSKY MINIATURE BRUSH SIZE 000
http://www.dickblick.com/zz058/87/products.asp?param=0&ig_id=6423

AND

SAKURA Pigma Micron .20mm (0005) black (I also use the blue, green, and red version for eyes, tattoos, and clothing details as well (like the insignas on my halflings team's uniforms))
http://www.misterart.com/store/view/001/group_id/1177/SAKURA-Pigma-Micron.htm

I seriously recommend these items.

And my special thanks to Jennifer Haley who introduced these items to me.
http://www.wegotgame.net/jen/tricks.html

Quote:

Quote from Jennifer Haley:
If you are frustrated with how your painting turns out, and you've been using those brushes sold by Games Workshop...those brushes are almost certainly part of the problem. The one that comes with the paint set isn't good for much more than mixing colors.

Galak

Inaspin - Oct 02, 2004 - 01:49 PM
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Thanks....but I am stranded on an island...the U.K. Anyone know an online link to 000 or 0000 brush. Also the .20 mm micro pen mentioned above Worship

juck101 - Oct 02, 2004 - 03:25 PM
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nothing wrong with being on an island Smile

ok try rottring a german company- used to sell loads of tech markers and isographs. Sorry no html link but many local art shops in uk wil have that sort of thing, have a hunt around the ink section.

Musta_Surma - Oct 26, 2004 - 05:58 AM
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Have a look under tips and tutorials on this page, I guess Jenova is one of the best painters in Denmark

http://www.jenova.dk/

GalakStarscraper - Oct 26, 2004 - 08:28 AM
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Innerspin wrote:

Thanks....but I am stranded on an island...the U.K. Anyone know an online link to 000 or 0000 brush. Also the .20 mm micro pen mentioned above Worship

Guess I don't understand this comment. I order more stuff from your island to be shipped to me here than I do from stores here. Why cannot it go the other way????

Galak

Sir - Dec 29, 2004 - 02:47 PM
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this lady has a tutorial about painting tattoos on her excellent website:

http://www.jenova.dk/

dwarfcoach - Dec 30, 2004 - 01:33 AM
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http://www.winsornewton.com/index2.php